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Canada · French test

TCF Canada exam format, next to TEF Canada

Both tests cover the same four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The TCF exam format for Canada is 39 listening and 39 reading questions, then three writing tasks and three short speaking tasks, about 2 hours 47 minutes in all by our sum of the four parts. TEF Canada has 40 and 40 questions, two writing sections and two speaking sections. As of October 2026, you sit all of it in person at an approved centre.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Section by section

TCF Canada details are from Alliance Française de Toronto and Alliance Française de Calgary, both approved centres. TEF Canada details are from CCI Paris Île-de-France.

SkillTCF CanadaTEF Canada
Listening39 multiple-choice questions, 35 minutes40 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes
Reading39 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes40 multiple-choice questions, 1 hour
Writing3 tasks, 60 minutes2 sections, 1 hour (25 and 35 minutes)
Speaking3 tasks, about 12 minutes including 2 minutes to prepare2 sections, 15 minutes (5 and 10 minutes)
Scores0-699 for listening and reading, 0-20 for writing and speaking0-699 for each test

What is the TCF exam format on test day?

All four tests are compulsory: Alliance Française de Toronto says you can’t register for single parts. Reading, listening and writing are taken together in the exam room, and speaking is one to one with an examiner.

Paper or computer depends on the centre. Alliance Française de Calgary runs everything except speaking on computers with a QWERTY keyboard, the University of Victoria’s sessions are on paper, and Alliance Française d’Ottawa offers both. The University of Victoria says each listening question has four options and one right answer.

TCF speaking test →Expression écrite: the writing tasks →

TEF Canada exam pattern

  • Reading, listening and writing are on a computer; speaking is face to face with an examiner and recorded so it can be marked twice.
  • Reading: 4 options, 1 right answer, and you can move freely between questions.
  • Listening: each recording plays once, you answer as you go, and you can’t go back.
  • Right answers score 1 point; a wrong answer scores 0, the same as a blank.
  • Writing: section A, carry on a news story (at least 80 words); section B, give and defend an opinion (at least 200 words). An on-screen keyboard has the accented letters.
  • Speaking: section A, ask for information; section B, convince someone.

CCI says all four tests must be taken on the same day for Canadian authorities to recognize the attestation.

The shorter citizenship version

TEF Canada has a two-test version for citizenship: listening (40 questions, 40 minutes) and speaking (15 minutes). TCF Canada has no equivalent at Alliance Française de Toronto, which sells only the full four-test exam.

What level citizenship needs →TCF vs TEF compared →
Sources: Alliance Française de Toronto · Alliance Française de Calgary · University of Victoria and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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