TEF Canada takes about 2 hours 55 minutes, all on the same day: listening (40 questions, 40 min), reading (40 questions, 60 min), writing (Section A 25 min, Section B 35 min) and speaking (Section A 5 min, Section B 10 min). IRCC uses the ancien score, with maximums of 360 for listening, 300 for reading and 450 for writing and speaking.
Key takeaways
- About 2h55 in total, and all four modules are taken the same day.
- Writing: A = continue a news article (80+ words, 25 min); B = argue a view (200+ words, 35 min).
- Speaking: A = get information (5 min); B = persuade the examiner (10 min).
- IRCC uses the ancien score: L /360, R /300, W /450, S /450.
On this page
- How long is TEF Canada, section by section?
- Listening: 40 questions in 40 minutes
- Reading: 40 questions in 60 minutes
- What are Sections A and B in TEF Canada writing?
- What happens in the TEF Canada speaking test?
- What score do you need for NCLC 7?
- How to get through a 2h55 day
- Where can you take TEF Canada?
TEF Canada takes about 2 hours 55 minutes, and you sit all four modules on the same day: listening (40 questions, 40 min), reading (40 questions, 60 min), writing (two sections, 60 min) and speaking (two sections, about 15 min). IRCC uses the "ancien score": listening out of 360, reading out of 300, writing and speaking out of 450.
It's a long day. The people who do well usually aren't the ones with perfect French. They're the ones who knew exactly what was coming and had a plan for each block of time.
- ~2h55
- Total time, all on one day
- 80+ / 200+
- Minimum words in writing A and B
- ~15 min
- Speaking time with the examiner
How long is TEF Canada, section by section?
#| Module | Format | Time | Ancien score max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (compréhension de l'oral) | 40 multiple-choice questions | 40 min | 360 |
| Reading (compréhension de l'écrit) | 40 multiple-choice questions | 60 min | 300 |
| Writing (expression écrite) | Section A + Section B | 25 + 35 min | 450 |
| Speaking (expression orale) | Section A + Section B | 5 + 10 min | 450 |
Listening: 40 questions in 40 minutes
#Multiple-choice questions based on recordings. About a minute per question, so the pace is steady rather than frantic. Your attention is the thing to protect.
- Use any gap before a recording to read the options. Knowing what to listen for is half the job.
- Don't leave blanks. A guess can score; a blank can't.
- Train your ear on real-speed French: radio, news, podcasts.
Listen, then answer in French
Short announcements, voicemails, conversations and radio extracts, from beginner to advanced. Each one has a question in French with four options. At the end you get a score and a rough level.
Practice recordings written for French Exam Alert and read by your device’s computer voice. They are not real exam recordings, and the voice sounds less natural than real speakers.
Reading: 40 questions in 60 minutes
#Forty multiple-choice questions on written texts, with an hour to do them. That's a minute and a half each.
5 questions, easiest first. About 8 minutes at the real TCF Canada pace (39 questions in 60 minutes, about 92 seconds each).
Question 1 of 5
Level A1Bibliothèque Jean-Rivard : horaires
Lundi : fermé Mardi au vendredi : 10 h – 19 h Samedi : 9 h – 17 h Dimanche : 13 h – 17 h
Le prêt de livres est gratuit pour tous les résidents de la ville. Pour obtenir votre carte, présentez-vous à l’accueil avec une preuve d’adresse.
Quel jour la bibliothèque est-elle fermée ?
What are Sections A and B in TEF Canada writing?
#Writing has two parts, with separate clocks. They test different things, so treat them as two small exams.
- You continue a news article from its opening.
- Keep the same tone and facts as the start.
- Tell what happened next, clearly and in order.
- Short, but don't go under 80 words.
- You argue a point of view, often as a letter.
- Pick a side and defend it with reasons.
- Use examples and linking words (d'abord, ensuite, en revanche).
- Plan for 5 minutes before you write.
A common mistake is spending too long polishing Section A and rushing Section B. B is longer and it's where your argument skills show. Respect the clocks.
Try Section B against its real 35-minute clock below. For plans and full model answers for both sections, read TEF Canada writing and speaking, section by section.
TEF Canada · Section B: Argue a point of view (letter or post)
200+ words · 35 min« Après leurs études, tous les jeunes devraient faire un an de service civique obligatoire. » Vous réagissez à cette opinion dans un courrier au journal. Défendez votre point de vue avec des arguments (200 mots minimum).
Practice prompt (not an official exam question). Take a clear side. Give several arguments, each with an example, and link them with connectors.What happens in the TEF Canada speaking test?
#About 15 minutes with an examiner, in two sections. They ask for almost opposite skills: first you ask, then you argue.
- 1Section A: obtain information (5 min)You're given a situation and need to find out details by asking questions. Think curious customer: many short, clear questions, politely phrased.
- 2Section B: persuade or convince (10 min)You try to convince the examiner of something, and they may push back. Stay calm, answer the objection, and bring it back to your main reason.
Section B is the one people worry about. Ten minutes is a long time to hold an argument. The fix is structure: have three reasons ready, and reuse them in new words when the examiner objects.
No partner today? The speaking practice timer runs both sections with the real timings and gives you practice prompts.
What score do you need for NCLC 7?
#IRCC converts each module separately, using the ancien score. There's no averaging, so one weak skill holds you back on its own.
| NCLC | Listening /360 | Reading /300 | Writing /450 | Speaking /450 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 298 | 248 | 371 | 371 |
| 8 | 280 | 233 | 349 | 349 |
| 7 | 249 | 207 | 310 | 310 |
| 6 | 217 | 181 | 271 | 271 |
| 5 | 181 | 151 | 226 | 226 |
NCLC 7 in all four earns the French CRS bonus (25 or 50 points) and access to French category draws. Try your practice scores in the TEF Canada score converter or the sliders below.
How to get through a 2h55 day
#Some centres, like AF Lagos, run a computer-based E-TEF Canada. Ask your centre which version you're booked on so you can practise typing French accents in advance.
For arrival, ID and what happens between modules, see what to expect on exam day.
- Myth
I can take the four TEF Canada modules on different days.
FactFor Canadian authorities, all modules must be taken on the same day. Book a date when you can give it the whole day.
- Myth
IRCC uses the /699 score on my attestation.
FactIRCC uses only the "Équivalence ancien score": listening /360, reading /300, writing and speaking /450.
- Myth
A strong listening score can make up for weak writing.
FactThere's no averaging. Each skill converts to NCLC on its own, so every skill needs its own minimum.
- Myth
Section A is the important writing task, so it deserves the most care.
FactSection B gets more time (35 min) and asks for more words (200+). Don't let Section A eat into it.
Check yourself
1 of 4.How long is TEF Canada in total?
2 of 4.What is the maximum ancien score for TEF Canada reading?
3 of 4.What does writing Section A ask for?
4 of 4.What NCLC is 249 in listening (ancien score)?
Where can you take TEF Canada?
#McGill in Montréal is Canada's largest accredited TEF centre. Registration opens about three weeks before each exam and closes at noon on the Thursday two weeks before. In India, AF Bombay and AF Pune run TEF Canada. Further afield, Alliance Française Paris Île-de-France and Alianza Francesa de México run it too. See upcoming TEF Canada sessions for every date we can find, or browse by country on the centres page.
Not set on TEF yet? The TEF vs TCF comparison walks through the differences. Both are worth the same points.
Questions people ask
About 2 hours 55 minutes, and all four modules are taken on the same day. Listening is 40 min, reading 60 min, writing 60 min and speaking about 15 min.
Section A asks you to continue a news article in at least 80 words in 25 minutes. Section B asks you to argue a point of view, often as a letter, in at least 200 words in 35 minutes.
On the ancien score that IRCC uses, listening is out of 360, reading out of 300, and writing and speaking out of 450 each. Your attestation also shows a /699 score, which IRCC does not use.
Section B, where you persuade the examiner for about 10 minutes, is the part most candidates find hardest. Preparing three clear reasons and practising with someone who argues back helps a lot.
Terms in this guide
- Ancien score
- E-TEF / E-TCF
- Score /699
- Attestation
- Alliance Française
- Expression écrite
- Expression orale
- Registration window
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- Le français des affaires: TEF Canada
- McGill Language Test Centre: TEF Canada
- Alliance Française Lagos: E-TEF Canada
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.