Canada has two official languages and aspiring immigrants need to show proficiency in either French or English to be eligible for PR. By showing language proficiency skills you gain valuable immigration points. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts TEF and TCF Canada tests for French language proficiency and CELPIP, IELTS, and PTE for English language proficiency.
Table of Content
- What is TEF?
- TEF Canada Exam Pattern
- TEF Canada Test Fee
- Exam centres for TEF Canada Test
- TEF vs TCF
- TEF NCLC Equivalence (CLB)
- TEF for Express Entry
- TEF for Quebec
- Tips for TEF Test Preparation
What is TEF?
TEF or the Test d’Evaluation de Français is a test designed to evaluate your French language skills. It was created in the year 1998 by the CCI Paris Ile-de-France. IRCC has recognized the TEF Canada test as one of the approved language proficiency tests since 2002.
The validity period of the TEF Canada test is 2 years from the date of getting the results.
The French Evaluation Test (TEF) is recognized by various organizations around the world. The organizations that recognize TEF are:
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- The French Ministry of National Education
- The French Ministry of Interior
- The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
- The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration
- The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration of Quebec
Download Free Immigration and PR Guide PDF
TEF Canada Exam Pattern
The TEF Canada tests are composed of 4 sections:
| TEF Canada Test Sections | Duration | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Written Expression | 60 Mins | 2 topics to cover |
| Oral Expression | 15 Mins | 2 topics to cover |
| Written Comprehension | 60 Mins | 40 Questions |
| Oral Comprehension | 40 Mins | 40 Questions |
NOTE: You must take all of these tests on the exact day or IRCC won’t recognize your certificate.
TEF Canada Test Fee
The TEF Canada test costs INR 24,780 in India. However, if you are opting for the e-TEF Canada test, the exam fee might be INR 22,000. You may still contact the exam centre for further information.
Exam centres for TEF Canada Test
Indian TEF Canada test centres are:
| Location | Website |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad | https://hyderabad.afindia.org/ |
| Bombay | https://bombay.afindia.org/ |
| Chandigarh | https://chandigarh.afindia.org/ |
| Pune | https://pune.afindia.org/ |
| Bengal | https://bengale.afindia.org/ |
| Madras | https://madras.afindia.org/ |
Registration Centers and Dates
Below are the dates for different TEF Canada test centres.
Pune
| Exam Date | Registration Period |
|---|---|
| 22-May | 08/04/24 to 05/05/2024 |
| 19-Jun | 06/05/24 to 02/06/2024 |
| 24-Jul | 03/06/24 to 07/07/2024 |
| 21-Aug | 08/07/24 to 04/08/2024 |
| 25-Sep | 05/08/24 to 08/09/2024 |
| 23-Oct | 09/09/24 to 06/10/2024 |
| 20-Nov | 07/10/24 to 03/11/2024 |
| 18-Dec | 04/11/24 to 01/12/2024 |
Bhopal-Indore
- 16 May
- 6 June
- 20 June
- 27 June
For more test dates, contact the nearest TEF center.
TEF vs TCF
TEF and TCF are two different French language proficiency tests and they differ in various aspects. The table below covers such dissimilarities between the two:
| TCF Canada Test | TEF Canada Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Test de Connaissance du Français | Test d’Evaluation de Français |
| Difficulty Level | A1 to C2 | A1 to C2 |
| Scoring Factors | 0-699 points | 0-1,560 points |
| Result Validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| Result Announcement Time | 15 working days | 2-4 weeks |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours 47 Minutes | 2 Hours 55 Minutes |
| Accepted by Quebec | TCF Canada | TEFAQ |
| Exam Fees | INR 23,800 | INR 24,780 |
| Exam Pattern | a. Reading Comprehension – 39 MCQ; 60 minutes b. Listening Comprehension – 39 MCQ; 35 minutes c. Written Expression – 3 exercises; 60 minutes d. Oral Expression – 3 exercises; 12 minutes | a. Written Expression – 60 Mins; 2 topics to cover b. Oral Expression – 15 Mins2 topics to cover c. Written Comprehension – 60 Mins; 40 Questions d. Oral Comprehension – 40 Mins; 40 Questions |
Depending on your circumstances, you can decide which of these tests suits you better. You can either take the TCF Canada test or the TEF Canada test for Canada PR to show French language proficiency as they are both accepted by IRCC.
TEF NCLC Equivalence (CLB)
Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) is used to measure French levels of proficiency, while Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) measures the English levels.
Once you take a language test, you can measure your scores using the table given below.
| CLB / NCLC level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 546-699 | 558-699 | 546-699 | 556-699 |
| 9 | 503-545 | 512-557 | 503-545 | 518-555 |
| 8 | 462-502 | 472-511 | 462-502 | 494-517 |
| 7 | 434-461 | 428-471 | 434-461 | 456-493 |
| 6 | 393-433 | 379-427 | 393-433 | 422-455 |
| 5 | 352-392 | 330-378 | 352-392 | 387-421 |
| 4 | 306-351 | 268-329 | 306-351 | 328-386 |
You can calculate your score using the above table for these Canada immigration programs:
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Rural and Northern Immigration Program
- Start-up Visa program
- Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
TEF for Express Entry
The minimum French language proficiency to show depends on the immigration program you are opting for.
There are three immigration programs under Express Entry. We have provided the minimum NCLC level requirement according to each program below:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program – NCLC 7
- Federal Skilled Trades Program – NCLC 5 (Speaking and Listening), NCLC 4 (Reading and Writing)
- Canadian Experience Class – NCLC 5 (TEER 2 & 3), NCLC 7 (TEER 0 & 1)
To achieve a greater CRS score, you must aim to score higher on your language test result. The higher the CRS score of your Express Entry profile, the greater the chances of ITA being issued to you.
CRS allows one to score a maximum of 150 points if they are coming to Canada with a spouse and 160 points if their spouse is not coming with them (if their spouse is a Canadian PR/citizen, they will count points as if the spouse is not coming with them).
Follow the guidelines below to calculate your scores.
1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
FSWP scores candidates’ profiles a little differently. A candidate needs to score at least 67 out of 100 points to be eligible for this program.
FSWP gives the highest points for language proficiency and hence TEF Canada test acts as a really important source to gain valuable scores. Out of 100, you can gain a maximum of 28 points for language proficiency.
The maximum score you can get under each ability is provided below:
| NCLC Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | FSWP Points (per ability) | Overall FSWP Points You’ll Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 4 | 16 Points |
| 8 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 5 | 20 Points |
| 9 and above | 371+ | 298+ | 248+ | 371+ | 6 | 24 Points |
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
| NCLC Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | With a Spouse | Overall CRS Points You’ll Get | Without a Spouse | Overall CRS Points You’ll Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 and above | 371+ | 298+ | 248+ | 371+ | 29 Points | 116 Points | 31 Points | 124 Points |
| 8 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 22 Points | 88 Points | 23 Points | 92 Points |
| 7 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 16 Points | 64 Points | 17 Points | 68 Points |
| 6 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 8 Points | 32 Points | 9 Points | 36 Points |
| 5 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 6 Points | 24 Points | 6 Points | 24 Points |
| 4 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 6 Points | 24 Points | 6 Points | 24 Points |
3. Canadian Experience Class
| NOC TEER | NCLC Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | With a Spouse | Overall CRS Points You’ll Get | Without a Spouse | Overall CRS Points You’ll Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 and 1 | 9 and above | 371+ | 298+ | 248+ | 371+ | 29 Points | 116 Points | 31 Points | 124 Points |
| 0 and 1 | 8 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 22 Points | 88 Points | 23 Points | 92 Points |
| 0 and 1 | 7 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 16 Points | 64 Points | 17 Points | 68 Points |
| 2 and 3 | 6 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 6 Points | 24 Points | 6 Points | 24 Points |
| 2 and 3 | 5 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 6 Points | 24 Points | 6 Points | 24 Points |
Since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 it has been targeting candidates with higher French language proficiency. However, to qualify, you need to score at least NCLC 7. The chances of Francophones immigrating to Canada have increased.
IRCC aims to increase the population of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec as well. As mentioned in Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, IRCC aims to invite:
- 26,100 Francophone immigrants in 2024
- 31,500 in 2025, and
- 36,000 in 2026
That’s not all, the Express Entry draws that target Francophones usually require a much lower CRS score. This is another advantage for you if you choose the TEF Canada test for Canadian immigration purposes.
TEF for Quebec
We know that since Quebec operates separately in terms of immigration, you need to take another TEF test to immigrate to Quebec. This test is called the TEF Quebec (TEFAQ) test. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also recognizes the TEFAQ test for Canadian citizenship purposes.
To be eligible to immigrate to Quebec, you need to show at least level 7 of French language proficiency. Once you take the TEFAQ test and the results meet the requirements, you may be eligible to apply for residency in Quebec.
Tips for TEF Test Preparation
Here are some quick tips to prepare for the TEF Canada test:
- Practice makes anyone perfect. Improve your French language skills, by reading French books, watching French movies, listening to French songs, etc.
- You can opt for French classes as well and watch your French improve day by day
- You may take French quizzes online which can help you a lot
- If you practice French by writing and saying the sentences out loud, it will help you memorize the tidbits of the language.
Want to improve your French and gain better test scores in the TEF Canada test? Contact us! With the experience of the past 15 years, Talent Connected Worldwide has helped thousands of aspiring immigrants such as yourself.
No matter what your query is, we are here for you. Don’t hesitate and reach out to us freely.
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