DELF vs TEF vs TCF: which French exam should you actually take?

There are over a dozen French proficiency exams. Most learners pick the wrong one, then realise after they've paid the fee. Here's the short version, then a decision tree, then the deeper details.

The short version

Decision tree

Answer in order. Stop at the first match.

1. Are you immigrating to Canada (PR or Express Entry)?

Yes → TEF Canada or TCF Canada. IRCC accepts only these two. Both produce NCLC bands convertible to immigration points. Test centre availability is the deciding factor; in most countries, TEF has more centres.

2. Are you applying for French citizenship by naturalisation?

Yes → DELF B1 or TCF IRN. Both satisfy the B1 language requirement. DELF is a lifelong diploma (no renewal). TCF IRN expires after 2 years but is faster to organize. If you might also need to prove French later for another purpose, take DELF for the permanent diploma.

3. Are you applying to French university?

• Undergraduate, non-EU passport → TCF DAP (the Demande d'admission préalable test, specifically required for first-year university enrollment).
• Undergraduate, EU passport → DELF B2 (the standard minimum).
• Master's, PhD → DALF C1 at most institutions, especially grandes écoles. Check your specific program.

4. Are you a US high school student wanting college credit?

Yes → AP French Language and Culture. Annual May exam. A score of 4 or 5 typically earns 4 to 9 college credits and skips the first 2 to 4 semesters of college French.

5. Are you a UK student?

At 16 → GCSE French. At 18 → A-Level French. Your school is choosing the board (AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas, OCR). The qualifications themselves are permanent.

6. Do you need to prove French for a job application, professional credential, or personal milestone?

DELF, at the appropriate level. It's the only lifelong, globally recognised, government-issued diploma. Once you pass DELF B1 or B2, you have it forever; no expiry, no renewal.

DELF in detail

The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) is issued by France Éducation international, the agency of the French Ministry of Education. Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2. Each is a separate, independent exam. C1 and C2 are a sister suite called the DALF.

Format (same shape at every level):

1. Oral comprehension (25 marks)
2. Written comprehension (25 marks)
3. Written production (25 marks)
4. Oral production (25 marks)

Total 100. Pass = 50/100 AND ≥ 5/25 in every single skill. Score 4.5 in one skill and you fail the entire exam, regardless of your total.

Use cases:

• French citizenship by naturalisation (B1 minimum)
• French undergraduate admission (B2)
• Professional and academic credentials (lifelong)
• Personal milestone with permanent proof

Cost: EUR 60-100 (A1/A2), EUR 100-180 (B1/B2), EUR 180-220 (DALF C1/C2). Varies by country.

TEF Canada in detail

TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français, Canada variant) is administered by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It contains the four mandatory skills required by IRCC.

Format:

1. Compréhension orale (60 MCQ items, 40 min, scored /360)
2. Compréhension écrite (50 MCQ items, 60 min, scored /300)
3. Expression orale (15 min recorded with examiner, scored /450)
4. Expression écrite (60 min, two written tasks, scored /450)

Total exam time around 3 hours. No pass/fail. Your band scores convert to NCLC (Canadian Language Benchmark equivalent) for immigration points.

Use cases:

• Express Entry (NCLC 7+ earns 49+ extra CRS points for English-first applicants)
• Quebec Skilled Worker selection
• Provincial Nominee Programs (where French is a factor)
• Canadian citizenship application (B2 equivalent suffices)

Cost: approximately CAD 350.

TCF in detail

TCF (Test de connaissance du français) is issued by France Éducation international (same body as DELF). Unlike DELF, the TCF is score-based, not pass/fail. Score ranges:

TCF comes in five variants, each packaged for a different use case:

Cost: EUR 100-200 typical; TCF Canada around CAD 300.

TEF vs TCF for Canada

You're choosing between near-equivalents. Both produce NCLC bands, both are accepted by IRCC, both expire after 2 years.

Practical heuristic: check both test centres near you, pick whichever has a sooner availability slot. The exams are equivalent enough that test logistics matter more than format preference.

Common mistakes when picking an exam

1. Taking DELF B2 for Canadian immigration. IRCC won't accept it for Express Entry. Take TEF or TCF Canada instead. DELF is fine for the citizenship language proof but not for PR points.
2. Taking TCF Tout Public when you needed TCF DAP. Tout Public is general-purpose; DAP is the only TCF variant accepted for first-year non-EU French undergraduate admission.
3. Taking DELF A2 because B1 sounds intimidating. If you fail B1 you can retake. If you pass A2, you have an A2 diploma you don't need, and you still need to come back for B1. Always test at the level you actually need.
4. Taking the exam too early. A failed DELF B2 costs you EUR 150 plus 6 months of waiting for the next session. Take a full timed past paper first; if you score 50+/100 cold, you're ready. If you score below, give yourself more weeks.
5. Forgetting the 2-year expiry on TEF/TCF. If your immigration file drags on, you'll need to retake. Time your test to land within 6 months of your expected application submission.

Next step

Pick your exam from the exams hub, then dive into the dedicated prep guide. Each has the exact verb scope, format detail, traps to avoid, and a free typed-answer drill calibrated to that exam.