If you're preparing for Canadian immigration (Express Entry, PEP, PNP), you'll need a French language test. Two options are accepted by IRCC: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Both are valid — but they're not identical.
Who administers each test?
- TEF Canada is administered by the CCI Paris Île-de-France (Le français des affaires)
- TCF Canada is administered by France Éducation International
Both are accepted by IRCC and converted to the NCLC (Canadian Language Benchmarks) scale.
Format differences
TEF Canada combines multiple-choice AND open-ended questions. The oral expression section is a live conversation with an examiner, structured in two parts (Section A and Section B).
TCF Canada relies primarily on multiple-choice questions. The oral expression section is approximately 12 minutes with 3 tasks of increasing difficulty, also conducted with an examiner.
Results timing
- TEF Canada results: typically 1 to 10 business days
- TCF Canada results: up to 15 business days after materials reach France Éducation International
- Both certificates are valid for 2 years.
Which should YOU choose?
- Choose TEF Canada if you prefer open-ended formats and live conversation tasks
- Choose TCF Canada if you prefer mostly multiple-choice and want results potentially faster
- Both are equally recognized by IRCC — your NCLC score is what matters, not which test you took
The best exam is the one you're best prepared for. That's exactly what frenchwithben.com is built for.