The owner of a language test centre has spoken to The Connexion about the differences between the TEF and TCF exams for proving your French level, as required by some French residency card applications.
It comes after the announcement that new stricter language requirements are set to be adopted by January 1, 2026, under rules introduced by France’s new immigration law.
Many employees and self-employed people, for example, will have to demonstrate an A2 level of French language proficiency on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) scale when applying for multi-year residency cards and B1 level for a 10-year carte de résident (up from A2).
Applicants for French nationality currently need to provide evidence of having at least level B1, whereas now they will need to show level B2.
These tests do not apply to British WA 'Brexit card' holders although, depending on the circumstances, Britons moving to France can be required to prove their French level.
One of the recognised ways for applicants to prove their language level is by providing a certificate, earned by sitting an official test.
Read also: New language tests for French residency cards: ways to prove your language level and advantages of each
As detailed in this Connexion article, both the TEF (Test d'évaluation du Français) and TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) are designed for anyone over the age of 16 whose native language is not French.
They do not result in a pass or fail result, but rather provide a level on the CEFR scale by testing four skill areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The final certificate is only valid for two years.
The TEF offers a specific exam for Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité known as the TEF IRN. This test currently evaluates levels A1 to B2 in line with the new requirements for French naturalisation (prior to this month (April 2025), only A1 to B1 were evaluated).
Laurent de Vathaire is the owner and manager of Kangourou Provence, a language test centre based in Marseille that hosts a range of official language exams, including the TEF.
The Connexion asked Mr de Vathaire about the advantages and format of a TEF test, which he believes is “more convenient and modern” than the TCF.
Flexibility
“From a technical management point of view it is possible for us to open multiple TEF sessions at once. So candidates can have more opportunities, more dates, more planned sessions to choose from,” said Mr de Vathaire.
“We typically publish our dates three months in advance, however candidates usually want to register for their earliest convenience.”
“In fact, with the TEF, we can open a session 48 hours in advance. Let’s say you have your appointment at the prefecture in 10 days and you realise you need this language test document. If you contact a TEF centre, they can open a session just for you - although the price may be more expensive than a group session. Of course, it depends on different centres, but technically it is possible.”
He highlighted that this is not the case with TCF exams, where assessment centres are less flexible. They often require candidates to register at least three weeks in advance.
“With the TEF, you also get your results quickly, within a week. TCF is more likely after a month. This can make a huge difference when planning your administrative paperwork in France.”
The official exam board, France Éducation international, states that TCF results should be delivered within 15 working days from the date they receive the completed exam.
Note that for both the TEF and TCF, if the desired language level is not achieved, candidates must wait for at least 30 days before resitting the test.
Modernity
The TEF is a computer-based exam which must be completed in an assessment centre. Candidates have their own monitor, headset and private pod.
“We have maybe 2-5% of candidates that ask if it is possible to have a paper version of the exam, but this is not possible for the TEF,” explained Mr de Vathaire.
“The majority of candidates are quite happy with the computer exam. You mainly just have to click answers with the mouse. The written section is also completed on the computer, so you have to type on the keyboard.”
With this in mind, candidates may want to practice typing on an AZERTY keyboard, however you should also have access to a virtual on-screen keyboard where you can click to insert special characters and accents. If you want to be sure, contact your local assessment centre to verify which keyboards are used.
The TCF can be completed as a paper test or on a computer.
Difficulty
Mr de Vathaire highlighted that, in his experience, candidates do best in the oral expression section - a one-to-one ‘role-play’ interview that is recorded and sent to another assessor in Paris to be double marked.
“Maybe at B2 level candidates may find it more difficult, but I would say that most candidates can reach B1 on reading and listening. The most difficult part for our candidates is the written expression,” he said.
In a previous Connexion interview, Laurence Saunders of La Petite Maison des Langues Language School in Dordogne spoke about the TCF exam. He pointed out that in many cases, if you are weaker on other elements (reading, writing, listening), then “speaking skills often come to the rescue when you take the speaking part of the test and often balance things out.”
This is not so much the case with TEF exams, as Mr de Vathaire explained using B1 level as an example:
“Every 100 points represents a language level. The way that level B1 is granted is you must reach a score of 300 or over across each of the four different skills [reading, writing, listening, speaking], but there is a small tolerance for error.”
To explain, level B1 is achieved if a score of at least 300 is obtained on three of the four skill areas - and a score of at least 267 is accepted on the final, weakest skill area.
Read also: Language tests for French residency cards: examples of questions asked
“The new TEF [since April 2025] has also introduced an adaptive test. So, for the listening and reading part, the first 10 questions are known as the orientation section, after which (depending on the number of correct answers) the software will lead the candidate to one of three different exam parcours (paths): A1/A2, A2/B1, B1/B2,” said Mr de Vathaire.
“The next section of 10 questions will determine which precise language level you fall into,” he added. “We try to tell candidates to put all of their attention into the first 10 questions because this will really influence the end of the exam.”
TEF test tips
The Connexion has previously published a series of articles highlighting resources to help prepare for residency card language tests.
Read also: French residency cards and obligatory new language tests: list of online resources to help
Mr de Vathaire reiterates: “The TEF has worked with a company to develop online training that is not very expensive. At Kangourou, the training is €50 if bought with the test and is very useful. You have mock tests and tasks that are actually designed by the official test editor.”
“The TCF uses the TV5Monde resources which are useful, but not really in line with the examination,” he said.
The updated language requirements are expected to come into place by January 2026, although an exact date has not yet been announced.
Mr de Vathaire advises people not to wait until these changes become applicable: “If someone is hesitant about applying or taking the test, do it now, because it will be totally different next year.”
“The difference between A2 and B1 levels is fairly significant but the level between B1 and B2 is huge. For context, B2 is the level expected by French universities for foreign students to be accepted.”
Read also: Immigration chief replies to Connexion over French residency cards and ‘hard’ language tests
“I actually expect fewer people will take the language tests (at least for French nationality applications) when the new law comes into place. I think they might be discouraged by the difficult level,” he said.
Note that if you are disabled or chronically ill, special arrangements can be made before sitting a language test or you may be completely exempt from the requirement to prove your French level.
Language certificates must be issued by a government-recognised organisation and prove written and oral proficiency at CEFR A2 level or above (oral expression must be assessed in a face-to-face interview).
The TCF or TEF should also be taken within two years prior to a residency card application, at an accredited examination centre.
