Here you will find some useful information which will allow you to best prepare to the TEF test.
Do not hesitate to contact your testing center if you have additional questions regarding the exam.
Sessions are held year-round at facilities operated by our network of testing centers in France and around the world.
The testing centre is responsible for defining the session dates, the registration period for candidates, and the prices.
The registration deadline falls at least one week before the date of the test date. Register as early as possible to allow time for the paperwork to process.
Please contact your local centre directly for more details on test dates, prices or for any other information about the exams offered.
Consult our list of testing centers
If you cannot find any authorized centers offering the TEF examination in your country, please contact us at the following email address: francais@cci-paris-idf.fr
When you register, you will be asked to provide the following documents:
You will also fill in a personal information form when you register. This form will be used to make out your statement of results.
No prior qualification is required to take the exam. Candidates must be at least 16 years old.
Once your registration has been validated, the testing center will send you an invitation by email that you will have to present on the day of the exam with your ID.
Please note! If you have not received your invitation one week before the exam, remember to check the “Spam” folder in your inbox.
To prepare for the TEF, several options are avalaible:
Consult our list of preparation tools
Before the examination
When you register, you agree to the Registration and Testing Conditions (in French).
On the day of the examination, after checking your identity, the supervisor will ask you to sign an attendance sheet on paper or on a tablet computer. Verify to make sure your personal information is correct.
Please note! In the event of an error or a modification that has not been reported on the day of the test, corrections CANNOT be made once the results have been published.
The supervisor will then tell you where to sit for the start of the test.
Instructions to be followed during the tests:
– Turn off your mobile phone and any other electronic devices.
– No dictionaries or reference documents are permitted in the test room.
– No personal effects may be kept on the table during the tests, apart from your identity document.
– No talking with other candidates during the test.
– Latecomers shall not be allowed to enter the room once the test has begun.
– No one shall be allowed to leave the room throughout the entire duration of the written tests.
During the examination
The comprehension tests shall be answered by computer.
The supervisor shall give each candidate a username and password. Candidates shall use these identifiers to access the online testing platform and follow the instructions for each test.
Description of the tests:
Depending on the version of the TEF selected, the exam will be composed of 1 to 5 tests.
Please note! ! The duration of the TEF Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité are not the same.
→To learn more about it, click here.
| bonne réponse | + 1 point |
| pas de réponse | 0 point |
| mauvaise réponse | |
| réponse multiple |
You can move back and forth between the questions on the computer.
There are 2, 4, or 5 answer choices for each question, but only one answer is correct.
| bonne réponse | + 1 point |
| pas de réponse | 0 point |
| mauvaise réponse | |
| réponse multiple |
Please note! Once you have answered a question, you cannot go back and change your answer (you cannot go back to previous questions).
Please note that this test is always recorded to enable a second evaluation to be performed.
The written expression test takes place on a computer. It is then corrected by 2 completely independent evaluators.
There are 4 answer choices for each question, but only one answer is correct.
| bonne réponse | + 1 point |
| pas de réponse | 0 point |
| mauvaise réponse | |
| réponse multiple |
You can move back and forth between the questions on the computer.
The tests are evaluated using a scale of 7 levels, from level 0 (most basic skills) to level 6 (good skills).
This scale refers to the 6 levels (A1 to C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe and the 12 Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / from Quebec (EQNCF).
Your results will be sent to the testing centre within about 2 to 4 weeks from the date of receipt of the session materials. Results will then be sent to you.
Each statement is detailed and personalised (with your photograph and signature).
For each test, it will state:
See an example of the attestation
The results are valid for two years. You can retake the test as many times as you wish allowing for a one-month waiting period between each examination.
The registration fees are determined by the testing centre. The prices may vary from one centre to another and according to the number of tests you take.
Registrations are binding and non-refundable.
In the event of cancellation before the test date for serious reasons (illness, professional obligations, death of a family member, etc.), you must submit valid proof to the centre (medical certificate, employer’s declaration, etc.). Le français des affaires will then examine the grounds for the absence and may give you an opportunity to re-register at the centre at no additional cost.
By signing the registration sheet when you register at the centre, you agree to these terms.
Le français des affaires is committed to serving test takers with disabilities or health-related needs. Candidates with special needs have to provide a certificate to the exam centre: the certificate has to be filled out by a medical doctor (MD) and has to indicate the type of disability.
If the disability allows the candidate to sit for the test, the MD has to indicate which accommodations should be provided to the candidate (Braille version, Extended Test Time, Assistance, etc). Le français des affaires will send the testing centre all the necessary material to put in place those accommodations.
Candidates that are applying for the French Resident Card must get their certificate at the Prefecture. Please notice that only the certificate delivered by the Prefecture will be accepted. For more information.
Candidates that are applying for the French Naturalisation can download their certificate here. For more information : NOR : INTV2009412A du 17 juillet 2020
If your computer keyboard does not include special characters (é, è, ê, ç, à, …), they will also be available on a virtual keyboard, directly on the exam page.
For the Listening and Reading tests, as well as Vocabulary and Structure, only one answer is possible. Each correct answer earns one point and giving a wrong answer does not penalize.
The total points obtained for the good answers does not correspond to the final score. It is converted into a calibrated score which takes into account the differences in difficulty of the questions that make up the test.
The Speaking and Writing tests are assessed by two examiners using a standardized assessment grid. The result of these two evaluations is also converted into a calibrated score.
To find out your Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) score, please refer to the correspondence table.
If you have taken the TEF, TEF IRN, TEF Carte de résident or TEF Québec (TEFAQ) examinations, you will receive an email giving you access to an electronic statement of results (paper certificates will not be issued).
This paperless certificate is an official document that you can present to the authorities.
For the TEF Canada, you will receive a certificate on paper that will be sent to your testing centre. Remember to keep a certified copy of your results because a fee will be charged for any requests for duplicates.
Please note that during the COVID-19 health crisis, the TEF Canada certificates are sent by email only.
| Different versions of the TEF |
Attestation au 01.06.2021 |
| Full TEF (5 tests) |
Electronic |
| TEF Canada |
Electronic during the current COVID-19 health crisis |
| TEF Québec (TEFAQ) | Electronic |
| TEF IRN | Electronic |
| TEF Carte de résident | Electronic |
You can retake the test as many times as you wish.
However, a one-month waiting period is required between two consecutive sittings.
Le français des affaires and its partner centres do everything in their power to ensure that TEF tests are taken under the best possible conditions and that all candidates are treated fairly.
If you experienced a serious problem or an anomaly when taking your test, you can file an appeal with Le français des affaires. In this case, please use the following procedure.
In the event of cheating, forgery, or complications during the test session, observed by the organization requesting your results, the authorised testing centre or Paris Ile-de-France CCI, sanctions shall be imposed by the Paris Ile-de-France CCI Disciplinary Commission.
Depending on the type of fraud or falsification, candidates’ test scores may be cancelled, and they may be banned from taking future tests with the CCI Paris Ile-de-France.
The Disciplinary Commission’s decision shall be sent to the fraudulent candidate, the testing centre and the organization requesting the results.
Please note: Officials from organizations requiring TEF results (Ministry for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Quebec Ministry for Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), employees of prefectures, universities, Campus France, etc.) can access candidates’ results directly through Paris Île-de-France CCI.
Dissemination of exam topics
Exam subjects are confidential. Any reproduction and/or distribution, partial or total, by any means whatsoever (picture, photocopy, internet, smartphone, social networks…), without the CCI Paris Ile-de-France’s authorization is strictly prohibited.
In the event of non-compliance with these instructions, the CCI Paris Ile-de-France is allowed to take appropriate action (invalidation of the test, prohibition to take the TEF, legal action…).