Glossary
TEF & TCF Canada Glossary
Plain-English definitions for every term that comes up when you prep for the French proficiency exams used in Canadian immigration.
TEF Canada
Also: Test d'Évaluation de Français, TEF Canada exam
TEF Canada (Test d'Évaluation de Français pour le Canada) is a French proficiency exam administered by the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris Île-de-France. It is accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and Canadian citizenship applications.
ReadTCF Canada
Also: Test de Connaissance du Français, TCF Canada exam
TCF Canada (Test de Connaissance du Français pour le Canada) is a French proficiency exam administered by France Education International. It is accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and Canadian citizenship — and is the most commonly taken French exam by Express Entry applicants.
ReadCLB 7
Also: Canadian Language Benchmark 7, NCLC 7
CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark 7) is the French proficiency level required for most Express Entry programs to award maximum CRS points for French as a first official language. CLB 7 corresponds to TEF Canada scores of 207-232 (reading), 249-279 (listening), 310-348 (writing), 310-348 (speaking) — and equivalent ranges on TCF Canada (NCLC 7).
ReadExpress Entry French
Also: French CRS points, French Express Entry bonus
Express Entry French refers to the French-language CRS points awarded to permanent residence applicants under Canada's Express Entry system. Applicants who demonstrate CLB 7 or higher in French — through TEF Canada or TCF Canada — earn 25-50 additional CRS points, often the deciding factor in receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
ReadExpression Orale
Also: TEF speaking, TCF speaking
Expression Orale is the speaking section of the TEF Canada and TCF Canada exams. Candidates respond to scenario-based prompts — typically asking for information or convincing someone of a position — under time pressure. The section is scored on grammar, vocabulary range, pronunciation, fluency, and task completion.
ReadExpression Écrite
Also: TEF writing, TCF writing
Expression Écrite is the writing section of TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Candidates produce 60-200-word responses to specific tasks — often a forum response, a complaint letter, or a persuasive argument. Graders score grammar, vocabulary range, coherence, register, and task completion against official rubrics.
ReadCompréhension Orale
Also: TEF listening, TCF listening
Compréhension Orale is the listening section of TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Candidates listen to audio recordings — dialogues, announcements, interviews, radio segments — and answer multiple-choice questions testing comprehension of explicit information, gist, speaker intent, and inference.
ReadCompréhension Écrite
Also: TEF reading, TCF reading
Compréhension Écrite is the reading comprehension section of TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Candidates read short authentic texts — news articles, advertisements, emails, instructions — and answer multiple-choice questions testing explicit comprehension, vocabulary in context, and inference.
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