The 4 Skills, Duration, Sections and what they assess
A very important point I want you to understand
When you prepare for TEF Canada or TCF Canada, I don’t want you to think that you need to learn completely different French for each exam.
TEF Canada and TCF Canada can use the same themes.
For example, you can prepare themes such as:
- Le travail
- L’éducation
- La technologie
- L’environnement
- La santé
- Les transports
- Les voyages
- La famille
- La société
- Les loisirs
- Les achats
- Les médias et les réseaux sociaux
This means that when I teach you a theme, you can build one strong language bank and use that preparation for both TEF and TCF.
You can learn the:
- vocabulary
- grammar
- useful expressions
- connectors
- arguments
- advantages and disadvantages
- examples
- topic-specific language
for the same theme.
So what is different?
The important difference is the task.
You may study the same theme, but the exam can ask you to do something completely different with that theme.
So remember:
Same theme. Different task.
TEF Canada vs TCF Canada — Complete Exam Structure
| Skill | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| LISTENING Compréhension orale | 40 minutes 40 questions You need to understand spoken French in different everyday communication situations. Themes can include: work, education, technology, health, travel, society, etc. You demonstrate: your ability to understand information, identify important details, understand the meaning and purpose of spoken communication. | 35 minutes 39 questions You need to understand spoken French in everyday and social situations. Themes can include: work, education, technology, health, travel, society, etc. You demonstrate: your ability to understand information, identify details, understand situations and interpret spoken messages. |
| READING Compréhension écrite | 60 minutes 40 questions You need to understand different types of written French, including practical and everyday texts. Themes can include: the same broad themes used in TCF. You demonstrate: your ability to find information, understand meaning, identify ideas and interpret written documents. | 60 minutes 39 questions You need to understand different types of written documents. Themes can include: the same broad themes used in TEF. You demonstrate: your ability to find information, understand meaning, identify ideas and interpret written communication. |
| SPEAKING Expression orale | 15 minutes 2 sections Section A: Obtain information Section B: Present and defend an opinion / convince someone Themes can include: work, education, services, travel, shopping, leisure, society, etc. You demonstrate: interaction, questioning, obtaining information, presenting ideas, persuasion and argumentation. | 12 minutes 3 tasks Task 1: Interview / obtain information Task 2: Interaction in a situation Task 3: Express and justify your point of view Themes can include: work, education, services, travel, shopping, leisure, society, etc. You demonstrate: interaction, questioning, communication, description, expressing opinions and argumentation. |
| WRITING Expression écrite | 60 minutes 2 sections Section A: Continue a news story — 80+ words Section B: Express and justify your opinion — 200+ words Themes can include: work, education, technology, environment, society, etc. You demonstrate: narration, organization, explanation and argumentation. | 60 minutes 3 tasks Task 1: Write a message — 60–120 words Task 2: Develop a text — 120–150 words Task 3: Compare two viewpoints and give your opinion — 120–180 words Themes can include: work, education, technology, environment, society, etc. You demonstrate: communication, description, narration, explanation, comparison and argumentation. |
Speaking — I Want you to see the Difference
Both exams can use the same theme, but the speaking task can be different.
Let’s take the theme:
LE TRAVAIL
You can prepare the same vocabulary for both exams:
- un emploi
- un salaire
- un employé
- un employeur
- le télétravail
- les horaires
- la productivité
- les conditions de travail
- l’équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle
The vocabulary doesn’t change simply because you are taking TEF or TCF.
The task changes.
| Speaking | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Le travail | Le travail |
| First task | Obtain information — ask questions to obtain specific information. | Interview / obtain information — ask questions and obtain information in a given situation. |
| Second task | Present and defend an opinion / convince — persuade your interlocutor using arguments. | Interaction — participate in a situation and communicate appropriately. |
| Final task | — | Express and justify your point of view. |
| Main skill | Question → Obtain information → Convince | Question → Interact → Express/justify |
What I want you to remember
If we study Le travail together, don’t study it only as vocabulary.
I want you to ask yourself:
“How could my teacher turn this theme into a TEF speaking task?”
and:
“How could my teacher turn the same theme into a TCF speaking task?”
That is how I want you to prepare.
Example: SAME THEME — LE TRAVAIL
You can prepare vocabulary such as:
- un emploi
- un salaire
- un employé
- un employeur
- le télétravail
- les horaires
- la productivité
- les conditions de travail
- l’équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle
But the task can change.
TEF
You might have to obtain information about a job and then convince someone about an idea.
So you need to be ready to:
Ask questions → obtain information → present arguments → convince
TCF
You might have to ask questions, interact in a situation and then express and justify your opinion.
So you need to be ready to:
Ask questions → interact → express your opinion → justify your opinion
Remember:
Same theme. Different communication task.
Writing — This difference is very important
When you prepare writing with me, I want you to understand that TEF and TCF can use the same themes, but they don’t ask you to write in exactly the same way.
Let’s use:
LE TÉLÉTRAVAIL
| Writing | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Same theme | Le télétravail | Le télétravail |
| Task 1 | Continue a news story Minimum 80 words You need to narrate an event and develop a logical continuation. | Write a message 60–120 words You may need to describe, narrate and/or explain. |
| Task 2 | Express and justify your opinion Minimum 200 words You need to develop arguments, explain your ideas, give examples and justify your position. | Develop a text 120–150 words You may need to describe, narrate, explain and/or comment on a situation or experience. |
| Task 3 | — | ⚖️ Compare two viewpoints 120–180 words You need to compare viewpoints and express and justify your own position. |
Example: I give you the same Theme
Let’s imagine that we are studying:
LE TÉLÉTRAVAIL
I would ask you to build one strong theme bank.
Vocabulary
- le télétravail
- travailler à distance
- un employé
- un employeur
- une entreprise
- la productivité
- les horaires flexibles
- les déplacements
- les transports
- l’équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle
- l’isolement
- la communication
Advantages
- gagner du temps
- éviter les transports
- réduire les dépenses
- avoir plus de flexibilité
- améliorer l’équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle
Disadvantages
- être isolé
- avoir des difficultés à communiquer
- travailler davantage
- avoir du mal à séparer la vie professionnelle et la vie privée
Now you have a theme bank.
You can use this preparation for both TEF and TCF.
TEF Canada — Same Theme
Section A
I could give you a short news story about an employee who begins working from home.
Your task would be:
Continue the story.
Here, I want you to narrate.
You need to be comfortable using:
- Passé composé
- Imparfait
- description
- actions
- consequences
- logical sequence
Your job is not simply to repeat vocabulary about teleworking.
You must use your French to continue the story logically.
Section B
The same theme could become an opinion question such as:
Certaines personnes pensent que le télétravail améliore la qualité de vie des employés. Êtes-vous d’accord ?
Now your task is different.
You need to:
Express an opinion → Give arguments → Explain → Give examples → Conclude
So you are using the same theme, but you are demonstrating a different skill.
TCF Canada — Same Theme
Task 1
I could ask you to write a message to a colleague about working from home.
Now your objective is to:
Communicate → Give information → Explain
Task 2
You could be asked to describe your experience working remotely.
Now you need to:
Describe → Narrate → Explain → Comment
Task 3
You could receive two opinions about teleworking.
One person supports it.
Another person prefers working in an office.
Now you need to:
Understand → Compare → Summarize → Give your opinion → Justify
What I want you to understand about the 4 Skills
| Skill | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Compréhension orale | Understand spoken French | Understand spoken French |
| Compréhension écrite | Understand written French | Understand written French |
| Expression orale | Interact → obtain information → convince / argue | Interact → obtain information → communicate → express / justify |
| Expression écrite | Narrate → express and justify an opinion | Communicate → describe / narrate / explain → compare → argue |
The important point is that your French foundation remains useful for both exams.
You don’t need to build a completely separate vocabulary list for TEF and another one for TCF.
Instead, I want you to build strong theme-based French and then practise applying it to the correct exam task.
The most important Rule
Same theme ≠ same task
When I teach you a theme, I want you to prepare:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Useful expressions
- Connectors
- Arguments
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Examples
- Topic-specific language
You can use all of this preparation for both exams.
But then you must practise the specific task format of the exam you are taking.
TEF Canada
For writing, I want you to think about this progression:
NARRATE
↓
EXPRESS AN OPINION
↓
JUSTIFY / ARGUE
TCF Canada
For writing, I want you to think about this progression:
COMMUNICATE
↓
DESCRIBE / NARRATE / EXPLAIN
↓
COMPARE + EXPRESS / JUSTIFY AN OPINION
My advice to You
When we study a theme in class, don’t ask me:
“Is this a TEF theme or a TCF theme?”
Instead, I want you to ask yourself:
“How could this same theme be tested in TEF?”
and:
“How could this same theme be tested in TCF?”
That is the mindset I want you to develop.
Let’s practise with different Themes
THEME: TECHNOLOGY
TEF
A story about a technological incident
↓
Give your opinion about technology
TCF
Write a message about a technological service
↓
Describe an experience with technology
↓
Compare two opinions about technology
THEME: EDUCATION
TEF
Continue an education-related story
↓
Give your opinion about education
TCF
Write a message about a school or university situation
↓
Describe an educational experience
↓
Compare two opinions about education
THEME: ENVIRONMENT
TEF
Continue an environmental story
↓
Argue for or against an environmental measure
TCF
Communicate about an environmental activity
↓
Describe or explain an environmental experience
↓
Compare viewpoints about environmental protection
The golden rule
Same themes. Same French foundation. Different tasks.
You don’t need to learn completely different French for TEF and TCF.
I want you to:
1. Learn the language.
Build your vocabulary, grammar, expressions and connectors.
2. Understand the theme.
Know how to discuss work, education, technology, health, environment, travel, society and other common real-life topics.
3. Understand the task.
Know exactly what TEF or TCF is asking you to do.
4. Practise the task.
Don’t just practise French. Practise the specific exam task.
5. Practise under time pressure.
When you know the language and the format, you need to train yourself to produce your answer within the exam time.
Remember this:
TEF Canada
Listen → Read → Interact → Narrate → Argue
TCF Canada
Listen → Read → Interact → Describe → Narrate → Explain → Compare → Argue
And my final advice to you is:
Learn the theme. Master the language. Understand the task. Practise under time pressure.
That is how I want you to prepare for TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
