On TEF Canada test day, bring your notice to attend (convocation) and a valid photo ID, the same one you used to register and the one in your immigration file: a passport is the safest choice. Arrive early, because latecomers are turned away. The four tests are taken on the same day and last 2 hours 55 minutes in total.
The documents to bring
According to the publisher's pages reviewed by our research, two documents are essential. Check them the day before, not on the morning of the test.
- Your notice to attend for the session, printed or accessible according to your centre's instructions.
- A valid photo ID. For the TEF Canada, it must be the same document as the one you used to register and for your immigration application.
A passport is the safest choice: some centres, such as McGill University or the Alliance française d'Ottawa, require it. On the day of the test, the centre takes your photo on site and you sign on a tablet. The spelling of your name cannot be corrected afterwards: check it as soon as you register.
The schedule for the day
For immigration, the four TEF Canada tests are taken in the same session. Here is their format, based on the publisher's pages. The order of the tests and the breaks depend on the centre: your notice to attend specifies them.
| Test | Length | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 60 min, 40 questions | Computer, free navigation between questions |
| Listening comprehension | 40 min, 40 questions | Computer and headphones, each recording played only once |
| Writing | 60 min: section A in 25 min, section B in 35 min | Computer, separate timing for each section |
| Speaking | 15 min: section A in 5 min, section B in 10 min | Face to face with an examiner |
To arrive used to this pace, go through the full sequence at home at least once. Start with a reading comprehension mock test, with its 40 questions in 60 minutes. Mock tests marked “Free” are available with a free account.
The rules in the room
According to the publisher's testing conditions, these rules apply to all candidates:
- Prohibited items: dictionary, phone and smartwatch.
- No materials: no paper and no notes during listening comprehension and speaking.
- No leaving the room during the computer-based tests.
- Late arrivals: latecomers are turned away.
- No text learned by heart: reciting is penalized as fraud, with cancellation of the test and a one-year ban.
In listening comprehension, the recording starts on its own and cannot be replayed, and you cannot go back to the previous question. In reading comprehension, by contrast, you can go back over your answers. No wrong answer costs you points: answer every question.
Writing: keyboard and scrap paper
Texts are typed into the exam software, which the publisher calls “Paragraphe”. A virtual keyboard appears on screen for accented letters: é, è, ê, ç, à. The physical keyboard, AZERTY or QWERTY, depends on the centre: find out in advance if you are only used to one of the two.
You may be given a sheet of scrap paper. It is collected at the end, and only the text typed on screen is marked. So keep enough time to type and proofread. Our comparison Is the TEF easier than the TCF? explains what the minimum word counts require.
Speaking: face to face with the examiner
The examiner sits across from you. In section A, they play the person you are calling about an advertisement: the situation simulates a phone call, but the exchange takes place face to face. In section B, they play a friend you have to convince.
The test is recorded on a tablet and marked by two assessors: the examiner, then a second assessor who listens to the recording. The time allowed to read the topic is not specified on the 2026 pages: the 2017 candidate handbook provided for one minute, to be confirmed with your centre.
To get used to it, train on a speaking mock test and record yourself within the same time limits. Our article on CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) on the TEF Canada gives the score to aim for in speaking.
Accommodations: ask before registering
If you have a disability or a health condition, give the centre a medical certificate before you register. According to the publisher, several accommodations are possible: an assistant who clicks the answers for you in the comprehension tests, one-third extra time, adjusted volume or reading tools.
If part of the test is impossible for you for medical reasons, it appears as “néant” (none) on the certificate, and only the tests you actually take are charged. A justified absence, with supporting documents provided within one month, entitles you to a single postponement within 6 months, free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
What ID do you need for the TEF Canada?
A valid photo ID, the same one you used to register and for your immigration application. A passport is the safest choice, and some centres require it.
What happens if I arrive late for the TEF?
According to the publisher's conditions, latecomers are turned away. Since registration is non-refundable, being late can cost you the session: allow extra time for the journey.
Are you allowed scrap paper on the TEF Canada?
In the writing test, a sheet of scrap paper may be provided, then collected at the end; only the typed text is marked. In listening comprehension and speaking, no materials of any kind are allowed.
When do the results arrive?
According to the publisher, within 1 to 10 business days, sometimes longer depending on the centre. Our article on TEF Canada results explains the digital certificate.
In short
The day before, get your notice to attend ready, along with the same ID you used to register, then arrive early. Until then, train under real conditions, for example with a listening comprehension mock test, and look at the subscription to access the other mock tests. Remember: the TEF is never taken online, as our article on taking the TEF remotely explains.
Réussir Mon TEF is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), which designs the TEF, or with any immigration authority. Our mock tests are original: they are not official test papers.