TEF vs TCF : Which is easier? [Part 1]

Overview

The presenter compares the TEF Canada and TCF Canada French exams, both of which she describes as accepted for French-language proficiency points in Canadian permanent-residency applications. This first part focuses on their shared features and the format of each test section. She does not make a final recommendation about which exam is best; she says she will discuss other factors and her own choice in Part 2.

Similarities

• Both exams assess French proficiency. The presenter says candidates generally need around B2-level French to take them.
• Results are valid for two years.
• For the immigration points she discusses, the target is NCLC 7. The transcript sometimes renders this as “NCL C.”
• Both exams test four skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
• Both include a range of French accents and dialects.
• Reading and listening are multiple-choice sections with no negative marking, so the presenter recommends attempting every question.
• Neither exam allows candidates to retake just one section. Anyone who misses the required score must retake the exam.
• She says there are adequate online study materials for both exams, despite a perception among some candidates in India that TCF resources are harder to find.

Differences by Section

Reading

• TEF: 40 questions in 60 minutes.
• TCF: 39 questions in 60 minutes.
• Both include questions ranging approximately from A1 to C2 difficulty.
• In the presenter’s account, TEF passages may be used for more than one question, while TCF generally asks one question per passage. She feels TCF has more lengthy passages, requiring candidates to read and understand more separate texts within the time limit.
• She says TEF’s difficulty increased after a pattern change in December 2023. In her view, TEF and TCF are now closer in difficulty than before.

Listening

• TEF: 40 questions in 40 minutes. Candidates can see the question and answer choices before the audio plays and have a short interval to review them. The audio is played once, and candidates cannot move back and forth.
• TCF: 39 questions in 35 minutes. According to the presenter, candidates hear the audio before the question appears, leaving less opportunity to anticipate what information to listen for and less time to review the options.
• She personally finds TCF’s question timing less comfortable because she is used to reading the question and choices while listening.
• She says TEF listening used to be easier, but its audio has become longer and more complex. Overall, she considers the two sections broadly comparable, while judging TCF’s content somewhat stronger in complexity and quality.

Writing

TEF: Two Tasks, 60 Minutes Total

• Section A: 25 minutes to continue a short story or article based on a headline; write 80–120 words.
• Section B: 35 minutes to write an argumentative essay on the assigned topic; write at least 200 words.
• The time is fixed: candidates cannot shift unused time from one section to the other.
• The presenter says Section A can be challenging because topics may be unusual and require quick, creative storytelling.

TCF: Three Tasks, 60 Minutes Total

• Task 1: Write 60–120 words describing or explaining a situation, usually in an informal style. Suggested time: about 10 minutes.
• Task 2: Write 120–150 words in a letter, article, or personal note—for example, describing an experience or expressing an opinion or emotion. Suggested time: about 15 minutes.
• Task 3: Write 120–180 words on a topic presented through two perspectives. Summarize those perspectives, then give and explain your own opinion. Suggested time: about 30 minutes. According to the presenter, this task carries the most weight.
• Unlike TEF, TCF candidates can allocate the hour among tasks as they choose.
• Although TCF has more tasks, the presenter finds its topics more relatable and the writing section comparatively easier than TEF’s.

Speaking

TEF: Two Sections

• Section A: A formal conversation with the examiner. Candidates get one minute to prepare, then speak for up to five minutes, asking questions.
• Section B: The candidate must persuade the examiner, who acts as a friend, to do something. The conversation lasts about 10 minutes.

TCF: Three Tasks

• Task 1: Introduce yourself for about two minutes, covering topics such as hobbies, background, or where you grew up. Candidates can prepare, but the introduction should not sound memorized; the examiner may ask follow-up questions.
• Task 2: Ask the examiner questions to obtain information, using a formal tone. Candidates get two minutes to prepare, followed by a conversation of about three and a half minutes.
• Task 3: Speak on a given topic in a monologue for about four and a half minutes. There is no preparation time, and the examiner may ask follow-up questions.
• The TCF speaking test lasts approximately 12–15 minutes overall.

Key Takeaway

The presenter’s comparison suggests that neither test is clearly easier in every respect. The formats differ—especially in listening-question timing, writing-task structure, and speaking tasks—and her judgments about relative difficulty are personal. She reserves a broader recommendation and an explanation of why she chose her own exam for Part 2.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Akshara, the channel host and presenter, shares her experience preparing for and taking the TEF Canada exam, along with her personal comparisons of TEF and TCF.
• No other speakers or external sources are featured in the subtitles.