TEF Canada vs. TCF Canada: The French Immigration Roadmap (A1 to NCLC 7)

If you’re learning French for Canada, your end goal isn’t “perfect French.” It’s a test result that IRCC will accept for your application and points. For Express Entry, IRCC accepts French results from approved language tests, specifically the TEF Canada and TCF Canada.

This roadmap takes you from A1 to B2 with one priority: measurable progress that matches the real exam formats and the way IRCC reads your scores (NCLC levels). Wherever you see “target NCLC,” verify it using IRCC’s official conversion charts—don’t guess based on generic CEFR levels alone.

Step 1: Define your target (NCLC 7 & CRS Points)

Many candidates aim for “B2” because it represents an independent, confident level for speaking and writing. However, IRCC doesn’t award points for “B2” directly; they use NCLC levels derived from your test scores.

Two common immigration-driven targets

• Target A: Minimum Eligibility. You simply need to meet the minimum language requirements for your specific program (e.g., Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class).
• Target B: The "Golden" NCLC 7. This is the strategic goal for most applicants. If you reach NCLC 7 in all four skills, you unlock significant benefits:
  • Bonus Points: You can earn an additional 25 or 50 CRS points depending on your English level (French language skill points).
  • Category-Based Selection: You become eligible for specific French-language proficiency draws, which often have lower CRS cut-offs than general draws.

To see exactly how these French scores affect your overall ranking, use the official Express Entry CRS calculator.

Step 2: Compare exam formats (TEF Canada vs. TCF Canada)

Both exams are accepted by IRCC for Express Entry. Choose the one whose task style fits your personal strengths, then train specifically for that format.

TEF Canada format highlights

• Listening: 40 questions / 40 minutes. Crucially, each audio is played once and you cannot go back to previous questions (TEF exam rules).
• Reading: 40 questions / 1 hour. You can navigate freely between questions (reading test details).
• Writing: 2 tasks in 1 hour—Task A is continuing a story (80+ words) and Task B is justifying an opinion (200+ words).
• Speaking: 15 minutes total—Task A is obtaining information (5 mins) and Task B is arguing to convince a friend (10 mins) (oral test details).

TCF Canada format highlights

• Listening: 39 multiple-choice questions / 35 minutes. Recordings are played once (TCF Canada overview).
• Reading: 39 multiple-choice questions / 60 minutes (reading test format).
• Writing: 3 tasks in 60 minutes. TCF is known for stricter adherence to word counts: Task 1 (60–120 words), Task 2 (120–150 words), and Task 3 (120–180 words) (written skills tasks).
• Speaking: 12 minutes total, 3 tasks. Includes a scheduled 2-minute preparation time inside Task 2 (verbal skills tasks).

Practical decision rule: If you prefer two longer writing tasks and a longer, free-flowing argument in speaking, TEF Canada may feel smoother. If you prefer three shorter writing tasks with very clear limits and a highly structured speaking interview, TCF Canada may feel more predictable.

Step 3: Convert practice scores to NCLC levels

Your weekly study plan should connect to a measurable outcome. For immigration, the cleanest scoreboard is: “If I took the test today, what NCLC level would I get?” Use IRCC’s official conversion tables to map your practice scores to NCLC 7.

Note on TEF Scoring: If you are looking at historical data, you may see references to a scoring change between December 2023 and May 2024. For current test-takers, simply refer to the standard equivalency charts on the IRCC language testing page to ensure you are targeting the correct raw scores.

The A1 → B2 roadmap (what to do at each stage)

This roadmap assumes consistent study (6–10 focused hours per week). The goal is to move from "survival French" to "immigration French."

Stage 1 (A1): Build your “survival engine”

Main goal: Understand and produce simple sentences fast, without translating every word.

• Listening: Train your ear for French sounds (liaisons, silent letters). Do short daily listening and repeat aloud to copy the rhythm.
• Reading: Read very short texts and highlight patterns (articles, basic verbs, time words).
• Writing: Write 6–8 sentences per day about your routine (present tense). Focus on correctness, not style.
• Speaking: Practice 2-minute self-introductions: name, country, studies/work, daily routine. Record and re-record until it’s smooth.

A1 checkpoint: You can answer basic questions (who/where/when/what) without long pauses, and you can write a short message that is understandable.

Stage 2 (A2): Become functional in everyday situations

Main goal: Handle practical scenarios (appointments, housing, shopping, schedules) with simple accuracy.

• Listening: Practice extracting “the one key detail” (price, time, reason). This directly supports TEF’s one-play listening rule (listening constraints) and TCF’s single-play recordings.
• Reading: Train scanning for facts (dates, requirements, steps). Use a timer and aim to answer simple questions quickly.
• Writing: Start “task-style” writing: short emails, notes, and simple stories. If you’re aiming for TCF, begin respecting word limits early (TCF written tasks).
• Speaking: Role-play asking for information politely (hours, documents needed, rules). This matches TEF “Section A” (TEF oral sections) and TCF Task 2 (TCF verbal tasks).

A2 checkpoint: You can keep a basic conversation going for 3–4 minutes and write a clear, simple message with correct time expressions and basic past tense.

Stage 3 (B1): Build “immigration French” (clarity + structure)

Main goal: Communicate opinions, reasons, and simple arguments in an organized way—this is where most test score jumps happen.

• Listening (speed training): Do timed multiple-choice practice. For TEF, practice moving forward without going back (no going back rule).
• Reading (accuracy under time): Do 20–30 minute “sprints” where you read, answer, and move on. Learn to recognize contrast and cause words (cependant, donc, en revanche).
• Writing (structure first): Create 3 reusable templates:
  • Message/email: purpose → details → request → closing
  • Story/report: context → what happened → result → reflection
  • Opinion: position → 2 reasons → example → conclusion

• Speaking (argument habit): Answer one opinion question per day in 60–90 seconds using the same structure as above. For TEF, extend to longer persuasion practice (10-minute argument section).

B1 checkpoint: You can write an organized opinion text without running out of ideas, and you can speak continuously with clear connectors, even with some grammar mistakes.

Stage 4 (B2/NCLC 7): Turn your French into test performance

Main goal: Perform consistently under real timing, with fewer “easy” mistakes (agreement, tense shifts, unclear pronouns) and stronger argumentation.

What “B2 test-ready” looks like for TEF/TCF

Listening

• TEF: 40 questions in 40 minutes; one play; no backtracking.
• TCF: 39 questions in 35 minutes; one play. Training rule: Stop pausing and replaying. Practice in “single-play mode” so your brain learns to decide with incomplete information.

Reading

• TEF: 40 questions in 1 hour.
• TCF: 39 questions in 60 minutes. Training rule: Build two speeds: (1) fast scan for simple questions, (2) slower “logic reading” for inference and opinion texts.

Writing

• TEF: Continuation (80+ words) and opinion (200+ words) in 60 minutes.
• TCF: Three tasks with strict word ranges (TCF word limits). Training rule: Outline first (3–5 bullet points), then write. For TCF, treat word limits as a “hard rule,” not a suggestion.

Speaking

• TEF: 15 minutes, two parts (information + convincing argument).
• TCF: 12 minutes, three tasks (including preparation time in Task 2). Training rule: Record yourself 3 times per week. You don’t need perfection—you need fluency, structure, and enough accuracy that your meaning never becomes unclear.

A weekly plan you can repeat (A1 → B2)

This template works at every level; you simply increase the difficulty of the content. Aim for 6–10 hours/week.

Weekly structure

• Listening (3 sessions): 20–30 minutes each. One-play only. After each session: write 5 keywords you heard and 2 full sentences summarizing what happened.
• Reading (3 sessions): 25–35 minutes each. Timed. After each session: list the connector words and the author’s main point.
• Writing (2 sessions): One “short task” + one “long task.” For TEF, alternate continuation and opinion. For TCF, rotate tasks 1–3 and respect the TCF writing ranges.
• Speaking (3 sessions): 10–15 minutes each. Do one information role-play and one opinion answer. Keep the same structure every time (position → reasons → example → conclusion).
• Grammar/Vocab (daily mini): 10 minutes. Fix one recurring error (gender, past tense, prepositions) and immediately use it in 5 sentences.

Monthly checkpoint (non-negotiable)

Once a month, simulate part of your exam under real timing:

• TEF: Do a timed listening set with no backtracking.
• TCF: Do a full written session with all three tasks and strict word limits.

Then use IRCC’s conversion tables to estimate where your practice score lands and what needs to improve next month.

When to book the test (timing + validity)

Book your test when your practice results are stable at or above your target (NCLC 7) for at least 3–4 weeks. Language results must be valid when you submit your application. For Express Entry, IRCC states your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your profile and PR application.

Fees are determined by individual test centres, so verify the exact cost with your local provider when you register.

Final checklist: your B2-ready habits

• You practice listening in one-play mode (no rewinding), matching TEF/TCF conditions.
• You can produce structured writing within the exact time and word limits of your test.
• You can speak with a clear structure under pressure (information + argument).
• You verify targets using official NCLC conversions rather than guessing.

If you want a simple next move: choose TEF or TCF today, mark NCLC 7 on the conversion chart as your goal, then run the weekly plan for 4 weeks and measure again. That loop—train, simulate, convert, adjust—is how immigration-focused learners reach a real, test-ready B2.