TEF Canada vs TCF Canada · Updated September 2026

TEF vs TCF: which one is easier?

Both tests are accepted by IRCC, both convert to the same NCLC scale, and both take about three hours. What differs is the shape of every section, and that shape decides which one is easier for you. Here is the honest comparison: listening, reading, writing and speaking one at a time, the score you need on each scale, and a picker that tells you which to book.

Official 2026 formats, both providersIRCC NCLC 7 and 9 cut-offs on each scale60-second picker, nothing to sign up for

The short answer

Neither exam is officially easier, and neither gives more points. Both are graded to the same NCLC levels, and IRCC uses your lowest of the four sections as your level. So the easier test is the one where your weakest section scores highest. For most first-time candidates that is TCF Canada: its comprehension items start easy and get harder, its writing is three short tasks instead of one 200-word argument, and its speaking is shorter and opens with personal questions. TEF Canada is the easier test for confident speakers who can persuade for ten minutes, for candidates with solid grammar, and for anyone who wants a few more seconds per listening item and a fixed section order they can rehearse.

TCF Canada feels easier if

Writing a 200-word argument is your weak spot
You warm up slowly in speaking
Grammar gap-fills cost you points
You like banking easy questions first

TEF Canada feels easier if

You are a confident, persuasive speaker
Your grammar and vocabulary are solid
You need thinking time between listening items
You prefer a predictable, fixed section order

TEF Canada vs TCF Canada at a glance

The structural facts behind every difficulty claim on this page, from the two providers, Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France) for TEF and France Éducation international for TCF. Fees vary by centre; see the TEF fee guide and the TCF fee guide.

	TEF Canada	TCF Canada
Test maker	CCI Paris Île-de-France (Le français des affaires)	France Éducation international
Accepted by IRCC	Yes, Express Entry and citizenship	Yes, Express Entry and citizenship
Listening	40 questions, 40 min (8 sections)	39 questions, 35 min (4 item types, increasing difficulty)
Reading	40 questions, 60 min (7 sections, incl. gap-fills)	39 questions, 60 min (one text per question)
Writing	2 tasks, 60 min, 80 + 200 words minimum	3 tasks, 60 min, 60–120 + 120–150 + 120–180 words
Speaking	2 tasks, 15 min, face to face	3 tasks, 12 min incl. 2 min prep, face to face
Total time	About 2 h 55	About 2 h 47
Score scales	Listening /360, reading /300, writing /450, speaking /450	Listening /699, reading /699, writing /20, speaking /20
NCLC 7 cut-offListening · reading · writing · speaking	249 · 207 · 310 · 310	458 · 453 · 10 · 10
Grammar section	None separate, but reading sections B and C are gap-fills	None
Audio replay	Played once	Played once, no going back on computer
Delivery	Computer (e-TEF) at approved centres; paper at some	Computer or paper at approved centres
Results	Typically a few days to 2 weeks on e-TEF; longer on paper	Typically 2 to 4 weeks; centres receive results within 15 working days of FEI marking
Wait before retaking	About 20 days between two sittings of the same section	About 30 days between sessions
Re-marking	No re-mark; only a procedural appeal	Paid re-mark of writing and speaking, suspended for exams taken from 1 September 2026
Validity	2 years	2 years

Results timing and waiting periods are set by the providers and centres and change; confirm them when you book. Only TEF Canada and TCF Canada count for Express Entry. TEFAQ and TCF Québec are different tests for Quebec programs.

Which is easier, section by section

The question “is TEF harder than TCF” has four different answers, because the two exams build each section differently. Each card gives the exact format of both, where the difficulty actually sits, and who finds which one easier.

Listening (compréhension orale)

Almost the same number of questions, but a very different rhythm.

Edge: TEF

TEF Canada40 questions · 40 minutes · about 60 seconds per item

Eight short sections in a fixed order: conversations with drawings, public announcements, voicemail messages, street interviews, chronicles, interviews, a radio report and mixed documents.
Every recording is played once. The questions and options are in front of you, so you can read the four options before the audio starts.
The section order is the same at every sitting, which makes the paper predictable once you have practised it.

TCF Canada39 questions · 35 minutes · about 54 seconds per item

Four item types that get harder as you go: choose the picture that matches a sentence, pick the natural reply to a question, short dialogues, then longer monologues and reports.
Every recording is played once. On the computer version you answer in order and cannot go back to an earlier item.
The early items are A1 to A2 level, so the first third of the paper is where most candidates bank their points.

Where the difficulty really sits. Neither test lets you replay audio, so both punish a lapse of attention the same way. The real difference is pacing. TEF gives you a few more seconds per item and a fixed section order you can rehearse. TCF starts gently and ramps, so the last ten items are the ones that separate NCLC 7 from NCLC 9.

TEF is easier for you if You need thinking time between items and like knowing exactly which document type comes next.

TCF is easier for you if You want easy points early to settle your nerves and you are used to one-shot, no-going-back listening.

Verdict: Slight edge to TEF for most candidates: more time per question and a predictable structure. TCF is kinder at the start and tougher at the end.

Reading (compréhension écrite)

The section where the two exams test different things under the same name.

Edge: TCF

TEF Canada40 questions · 60 minutes · about 90 seconds per item

Seven sections from A to G: short everyday documents, isolated gap sentences, a cloze text, four short texts to match, graphs with comments, an administrative or professional document, and a press article.
Sections B and C are gap-fills. They look like reading but they are really grammar and vocabulary questions, and there is no other grammar section to absorb them.
Difficulty climbs from A1 to A2 in sections A to D, B1 in E and F, and B2 for the press article in G.

TCF Canada39 questions · 60 minutes · about 92 seconds per item

One short text and one multiple-choice question per item: notices, messages, adverts, web extracts, then short articles and longer opinion pieces.
Items are ordered by increasing difficulty, from A1 signs and messages to C1 and C2 texts that rely on inference and tone.
Every question has exactly one answer that a sentence in the text proves. There are no gap-fills and no explicit grammar items.

Where the difficulty really sits. On TEF, a candidate with strong comprehension but shaky grammar loses points in B and C before reaching the longer texts. On TCF, the difficulty is pure reading: the final items are dense, abstract and full of implied meaning, and they are the ones that decide NCLC 9. Time per question is almost identical.

TEF is easier for you if Your grammar and vocabulary are solid and you like varied, short tasks with a clear routine for each.

TCF is easier for you if You read well but your grammar is patchy, or you prefer to lock in easy points before the hard texts.

Verdict: Slight edge to TCF for reaching NCLC 7: no hidden grammar questions and a gentle start. For NCLC 9 and above the two are equally demanding.

Writing (expression écrite)

Two long tasks against three shorter ones, and the single hardest task in either exam.

Edge: TCF

TEF Canada2 tasks · 60 minutes · at least 280 words in total

Section A, 25 minutes: continue a short news item from its opening lines, at least 80 words. It tests narrative past tenses (passé composé, imparfait) and coherence with the given start.
Section B, 35 minutes: give and justify your opinion on a statement, at least 200 words, usually as a letter or message. It rewards structure, connectors and a real argument.
Both sections are marked on the same 450-point scale that the speaking section uses. NCLC 7 starts at 310.

TCF Canada3 tasks · 60 minutes · 300 to 450 words in total

Task 1, 60 to 120 words: a message to a friend, neighbour or colleague, informal or semi-formal register.
Task 2, 120 to 150 words: an article, blog post or report on an experience or event for a wider audience.
Task 3, 120 to 180 words: read two short opinion texts, summarise each and give your own position. Marked out of 20; NCLC 7 starts at 10.

Where the difficulty really sits. TEF Section B is the task candidates most often fail: 200 structured words with connectors and justified arguments is a B2 exercise no matter how it is dressed up. TCF spreads the risk over three tasks, so one weak answer does not sink the section, but its total word count is higher and Task 3 asks for real comparison and argument in 120 to 180 words. Both exams punish texts that are under the minimum length.

TEF is easier for you if You can build a 200-word argument comfortably and prefer one long piece to three register changes.

TCF is easier for you if You write short texts well, switch register easily, and would rather not bet the section on one essay.

Verdict: Edge to TCF for most candidates: three shorter tasks and a marking scheme that spreads the risk. Strong essay writers often score higher on TEF.

Speaking (expression orale)

Face to face with an examiner in both exams, but you play very different roles.

Edge: TCF

TEF Canada2 tasks · 15 minutes · face to face

Section A, 5 minutes: you are given an advertisement and must phone the advertiser (the examiner) to get information. You do the asking, around ten well-formed questions.
Section B, 10 minutes: using the same advertisement, you persuade the examiner, who plays a friend, to take up the offer or to avoid it. You need two or three reasons, an example and a recommendation.
There is no personal warm-up. You are performing from the first sentence, and Section B alone is two thirds of the exam.

TCF Canada3 tasks · 12 minutes including 2 minutes of preparation · face to face

Task 1, 2 minutes, no preparation: a guided interview about you, your life, your habits and plans.
Task 2, 5 minutes 30 including 2 minutes of preparation: a role-play in an everyday situation where you ask questions and react to the examiner.
Task 3, 4 minutes 30, no preparation: defend a point of view on a topic from a short document.

Where the difficulty really sits. TEF asks for sustained interaction and persuasion around one document, which suits confident talkers and exposes hesitant ones. TCF is shorter and starts with easy personal questions, but Task 3 demands a structured opinion with no preparation time. Both are marked for coherence, vocabulary range and accuracy, and both scales put NCLC 7 at roughly the same level of performance.

TEF is easier for you if You are a confident conversationalist who can ask questions naturally and argue for ten minutes.

TCF is easier for you if You warm up slowly, prefer shorter turns, and like a personal question or two before the hard part.

Verdict: Edge to TCF for hesitant speakers because it is shorter and eases you in. Confident, persuasive speakers frequently do better on TEF.

Putting the four verdicts together

TCF edges three sections for the typical first-time candidate and TEF edges listening, which is why most people who have sat both call TCF the easier test. But the margins are small and they flip by profile: a confident speaker with good grammar will usually post a higher NCLC on TEF. Since IRCC counts your lowest section, decide on your weakest skill, not on the overall impression.

The score you need on each test: is one cut-off lower?

A common theory is that one exam has a “softer” conversion to NCLC. It does not. IRCC publishes the equivalency for both, and the NCLC 7 line sits at roughly the same share of the scale on every section. The numbers below are the minimum score for each level.

Section	TEF Canada		TCF Canada
	NCLC 7	NCLC 9	NCLC 7	NCLC 9
Listening	249 / 36069% of scale	298 / 36083% of scale	458 / 69966% of scale	523 / 69975% of scale
Reading	207 / 30069% of scale	248 / 30083% of scale	453 / 69965% of scale	524 / 69975% of scale
Writing	310 / 45069% of scale	371 / 45082% of scale	10 / 2050% of scale	14 / 2070% of scale
Speaking	310 / 45069% of scale	371 / 45082% of scale	10 / 2050% of scale	14 / 2070% of scale

Scaled scores, not raw counts

On TEF, comprehension sections score one point per correct answer and are then converted to the 360 and 300 scales. TCF listening and reading report on a 100 to 699 scale calibrated by France Éducation international. "69% of the scale" is not "69% of questions right". Use the percentages only to compare the two exams with each other.

Production decides your level

The four cut-offs for NCLC 7 are equivalent by design. What differs is how the marks are earned. TEF writing pools two tasks on a 450-point scale; TCF averages three tasks out of 20. A weak TEF Section B drags the whole 450; a weak TCF Task 3 is one third of the mark.

Your lowest section is your level

NCLC 7 in three sections and NCLC 6 in the fourth is NCLC 6 for IRCC. That is why the section-by-section verdicts above matter more than any overall reputation. Convert any result with the free CLB converter to see exactly where you stand.

What 2,000 scored mock sections say

Opinions about which test is easier are cheap. Here is what candidates actually scored on full-length TEF Canada and TCF Canada mock exams on Mocko in the six months to September 2026, as the share of sections graded B2 or above, the CEFR band that lines up roughly with NCLC 7.

Listening

TEF

20%

n = 530

TCF

18%

n = 105

Reading

TEF

18%

n = 621

TCF

20%

n = 142

Writing

TEF

36%

n = 269

TCF

21%

n = 57

Speaking

TEF

19%

n = 226

TCF

10%

n = 50

Share of scored sections at CEFR B2 or above. Full-length mocks only, completed sittings, staff and test accounts excluded. Sections graded by Mocko's AI scoring, not by the official examiners.

Comprehension is a wash

Listening and reading B2-plus rates sit within two points of each other across the two exams. Whatever makes one comprehension paper feel easier, it does not show up in results. The pacing differences are real, but they trade off.

Speaking is the hardest section on both

Speaking has the lowest B2-plus share on TEF and on TCF, and it is where the two exams differ most. The candidates who lose their NCLC 7 usually lose it here, on either test. Choose your exam for its speaking format first.

A format that feels easier is not a higher score

TCF writing feels more forgiving, yet TEF writers reached B2 more often in this sample. The pools differ and the TCF sample is small, so treat it as a caution, not a ranking: three short texts still need real French, and the third task is a genuine argument.

The practical side of “easier”: dates, results, retakes

If your Express Entry profile is waiting on a French score, the easier test is sometimes simply the one you can sit sooner and get results from faster.

Dates and centres

TCF Canada is the more widely booked of the two in Canada, so it often has the earlier date, but this varies city by city. Check both. Our centre directories list every approved TEF and TCF centre with their booking pages.

TEF centres TCF centres

Results timing

TEF on computer marks the comprehension sections automatically, so results often arrive within days to two weeks. TCF papers go to France Éducation international, and centres typically receive results in two to four weeks. If you are racing a deadline, that gap can matter more than any format preference.

Retakes and re-marking

TEF asks you to wait about 20 days between sittings of the same section; TCF about 30 days between sessions. Neither is a real second chance on marking: TEF has no re-mark at all, and TCF re-marking of writing and speaking is suspended for exams taken from 1 September 2026. Plan for a retake, not an appeal.

TEF appeals TCF re-evaluation

Fatigue and delivery

Both exams run close to three hours and both put the productive sections after the comprehension ones. TEF is 8 minutes longer overall. TEF is mostly computer-delivered (e-TEF) with paper at some centres; TCF is offered on computer or paper depending on the centre. If you type faster than you write by hand, ask which version your centre runs.

Which one is easier for you? Six questions

Answer honestly about your weakest skill and your habits. The picker weighs the same section differences described above and tells you which exam to try first.

Question 1 of 6

Which section worries you most?

The picker is a starting point. The definitive answer is a timed full mock of each exam, compared section by section.

Six things people get wrong about TEF vs TCF difficulty

"TCF is easier because it has fewer questions."

It has one fewer question in each comprehension section and less time to answer them in listening. Fewer questions also means each mistake costs more. The count tells you nothing about difficulty; the item types and the pacing do.

"TEF is full of trap answers."

Both exams write distractors that share vocabulary with the text or audio and differ on one detail. TEF feels trickier to people who have not practised its section routine, because each section asks for a different reading or listening strategy. It is a familiarity problem, not a fairness problem.

"One of them gives more CRS points."

IRCC converts both to the same NCLC scale and awards identical points. NCLC 7 on TEF and NCLC 7 on TCF are worth exactly the same, and the French bonus of 25 or 50 CRS points applies equally.

"TEF has a separate grammar test."

The lexique et structure section belongs to other TEF variants and was never part of the four-section TEF Canada that IRCC accepts. What TEF Canada does have is gap-fill items inside the reading paper, which is where grammar quietly gets tested.

"I can combine my best TEF section with my best TCF section."

No. IRCC needs all four abilities from one test taken in one sitting. If your writing is weaker on one exam, you have to fix it on that exam or retake the whole test on the other.

"The easier test is the one to book."

The test to book is the one where your weakest section is strongest, because IRCC uses your lowest ability as your level. A test that feels easier in three sections and harder in your weak one is the wrong test for you.

How to settle it in one weekend

Reading comparisons will not tell you which exam is easier for you. Two timed mocks will.

1Sit a full TEF Canada mock and a full TCF Canada mock under real timing, a day apart.
2Compare your NCLC level section by section, and circle the lowest section on each.
3Book the exam where that lowest section is higher, and spend your prep time on it.

Try a free TEF mock Try a free TCF mock

Prefer paper? Download the free monthly TEF sample exam and TCF sample exam with answer keys.

TEF vs TCF difficulty: frequently asked questions

Is TEF or TCF easier?

Neither is officially easier. Both are accepted by IRCC, both convert to the same NCLC scale and both demand the same level of French for a given result. In practice most first-time candidates find TCF Canada slightly more forgiving in reading and writing, because its items get harder gradually and its writing is split into three shorter tasks, while TEF Canada gives more time per listening question and suits confident speakers who can argue for ten minutes. The easier exam for you is the one whose format fits your weakest section.

Which is easier for speaking, TEF or TCF?

TCF speaking is shorter at 12 minutes including 2 minutes of preparation, and it starts with easy personal questions before the role-play and the opinion task. TEF speaking is 15 minutes of role-play from the first sentence: you ask about ten questions on an advertisement, then persuade the examiner for ten minutes. Hesitant speakers usually prefer TCF; confident, persuasive speakers often score higher on TEF.

Which is easier for writing, TEF or TCF?

TCF writing asks for three texts of 60 to 120, 120 to 150 and 120 to 180 words in 60 minutes. TEF writing asks for two: continue a news item in at least 80 words, then argue an opinion in at least 200 words. TEF Section B is the single hardest task in either exam, so candidates who struggle to sustain a 200-word argument usually find TCF easier. Strong essay writers often prefer TEF because one polished piece carries most of the marks.

Which is easier for listening, TEF or TCF?

TEF gives you 40 questions in 40 minutes, about a minute each, in eight sections that always come in the same order. TCF gives you 39 questions in 35 minutes, about 54 seconds each, in four item types that start very easy and end hard. Audio is played once in both. If you need thinking time, TEF listening feels easier; if you like banking easy points first, TCF does.

Which is easier for reading, TEF or TCF?

TCF reading is one text and one question per item, ordered from easy to hard, with no grammar items. TEF reading has seven sections, two of which are gap-fills that test grammar and vocabulary rather than comprehension. Candidates with weak grammar usually find TCF reading easier for NCLC 7. At NCLC 9 and above both are demanding, because the final TCF texts rely on inference and tone.

What score do I need for NCLC 7 on each test?

TEF Canada: listening 249 out of 360, reading 207 out of 300, writing 310 out of 450, speaking 310 out of 450. TCF Canada: listening 458 out of 699, reading 453 out of 699, writing 10 out of 20, speaking 10 out of 20. These are the IRCC equivalency figures; NCLC 7 in all four abilities unlocks the French bonus in Express Entry.

What score do I need for NCLC 9?

TEF Canada: listening 298, reading 248, writing 371, speaking 371. TCF Canada: listening 523, reading 524, writing 14, speaking 14. On TEF that is roughly 83 percent of each scale; on TCF listening and reading it is about 75 percent of the 699-point scale, and 14 out of 20 in writing and speaking.

Do TEF and TCF give the same immigration points?

Yes. IRCC converts both to NCLC and awards identical Comprehensive Ranking System points per ability. The additional 25 or 50 points for French, and eligibility for French-language category draws, work the same way whichever test you take. Only your NCLC level matters, never which test produced it.

Is TEF Canada or TCF Canada better for Express Entry?

They are interchangeable for Express Entry, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs. Choose by format fit, by which test has a date in your city soonest, and by results timing. For Quebec programs, check whether your stream wants TEF Canada, TCF Canada, TEFAQ or TCF Québec before booking.

Which test gives results faster?

TEF on computer (e-TEF) usually returns results within a few days to two weeks, because comprehension sections are marked automatically. TCF results generally take two to four weeks: France Éducation international marks the papers and returns results to the centre within about 15 working days. Paper sittings of either test take longer. Confirm timing with your centre if you are racing an Express Entry deadline.

How long do I have to wait to retake TEF or TCF?

The providers set a waiting period: about 20 days between two sittings of the same TEF section, and about 30 days between TCF sessions. There is no IRCC limit on attempts and you can use your best valid result. Note that TCF re-marking of writing and speaking is suspended for exams taken on or after 1 September 2026, and TEF has never offered a re-mark, so a retake is the realistic route to a higher score on either test.

Can I take both TEF and TCF and submit the better one?

Yes. Both results are valid for two years and IRCC lets you use whichever valid result you choose, as long as all four abilities come from the same test on the same day. Many candidates sit a full mock of each first, compare their NCLC level in every section, and only book the real exam where their weakest section scores higher.

How do I find out which test is easier for me?

Sit a timed full mock of each exam under real conditions and compare your NCLC level section by section, not your total. The test where your lowest section is higher is your test, because IRCC uses that lowest section as your level. Mocko runs free monthly sample exams for both TEF Canada and TCF Canada in the real format with AI scoring of your writing and speaking, which is the fastest way to get that comparison.

Keep reading

TEF vs TCF: Key DifferencesVersions, recognition, Quebec and France use cases, and how to choose by goal.TCF vs TEF for Express EntryWhich French test fits your Express Entry profile and timeline.Which Language Test?TEF, TCF, CELPIP, IELTS or PTE: pick the right test for Express Entry.Best TEF Canada BooksEvery TEF prep book rated, with post-2023 format coverage flagged.Best TCF Canada BooksEvery TCF prep book rated, and the Canada-variant trap to avoid.CLB / NCLC ConverterTurn any TEF or TCF score into an NCLC level and CRS points.

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