Quick answer
Both the TCF Canada (by France Éducation international) and the TEF Canada (by the CCI Paris Île-de-France) are accepted by IRCC, assess the same four skills, and convert to the same NCLC scale. The choice has no impact on your eligibility — only your final NCLC matters.
That said, "equivalent for immigration" does not mean "identical to sit". The two exams differ in question count, timing, task design and cost. Those differences are what should drive your decision.
TCF vs TEF Canada at a glance
| Criterion | TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Designed by | France Éducation international | CCI Paris Île-de-France |
| Accepted by IRCC | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Skills | Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing | Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing |
| Result | Converted to NCLC | Converted to NCLC |
| Validity | 2 years | 2 years |
| Typical cost in Canada | About 392 CAD, single fee | About 440 CAD, billed per skill |
Format differences that actually matter
This is where the two tests genuinely diverge. The comprehension sections are close; the production sections are not.
| Section | TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 39 questions, 35 minutes, audio played once | 40 questions, 40 minutes, audio played once |
| Reading | 39 questions, 60 minutes | 40 questions, 60 minutes |
| Writing | 3 tasks, 60 minutes | 2 tasks, 60 minutes (about 80 words, then about 200 words) |
| Speaking | 3 tasks, 12 minutes total | 2 role-plays, 15 minutes total |
The practical consequences:
- The TEF gives you more time per production task. Two writing tasks in 60 minutes is a slower pace than three. If you write slowly under pressure, that matters.
- The TCF speaking section is shorter but denser. Three tasks in 12 minutes means switching register quickly: a guided interview, an interaction where you ask the questions, then a solo argued opinion.
- The TEF speaking is more confrontational by design. Section B asks you to defend a position against the examiner. Some candidates thrive on that; others freeze.
- Both play audio only once. Neither test lets you replay a recording, so listening endurance is tested the same way.
Source: the TCF Canada structure is confirmed by accredited centres: Concordia University states that all four sections are taken on the same day, with 39 multiple-choice questions in both listening and reading.
Is the TCF harder than the TEF?
There is no official answer, and anyone who tells you one test is objectively easier is guessing. Both are calibrated against the same NCLC scale by IRCC, which is precisely what makes them interchangeable for your file.
What differs is which format suits you. A useful way to decide:
| If you… | Lean towards | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freeze when challenged face to face | TCF Canada | The speaking section is shorter and more scripted, with less direct confrontation |
| Write slowly and need thinking time | TEF Canada | Two writing tasks in 60 minutes instead of three |
| Prefer structured multiple choice | TCF Canada | Well-signposted question progression |
| Want the lower fee in Canada | TCF Canada | One fee of about 392 CAD instead of roughly 440 CAD |
| Have a session available sooner | Whichever it is | Availability beats format preference almost every time |
What score do you need? Both scales side by side
Because the scales are completely different, comparing raw scores is meaningless. Only the NCLC level is comparable. Here are the official thresholds for NCLC 7, the common minimum for Express Entry:
| Skill | TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 453 – 498 (out of 699) | 207 – 232 (out of 300) |
| Listening | 458 – 502 (out of 699) | 249 – 279 (out of 360) |
| Writing | 10 – 11 (out of 20) | 310 – 348 (out of 450) |
| Speaking | 10 – 11 (out of 20) | 310 – 348 (out of 450) |
Source: both conversion tables are published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. These thresholds change from time to time — check the current tables before submitting your file.
Which one costs less?
In Canada, the TCF Canada is generally the cheaper option. It is billed as a single fee of about 392 CAD covering all four skills. The TEF Canada is billed skill by skill — roughly 145 CAD for each oral section and 75 CAD for each written one — which comes to about 440 CAD for the four sections IRCC requires.
Outside Canada the comparison can flip. In West Africa in particular, the TEF Canada is frequently the cheaper of the two. Compare prices in your own country rather than relying on international averages.
Either way, the fee is set by the individual test centre, never by IRCC or by the test designers. Two centres in the same city can charge different amounts.
Source: the Concordia University fee for the TCF Canada is published as 392 CAD for all four sections, payable in Canadian dollars with a card issued in Canada.
What if you need to retake?
Neither test offers a reduced fee for a second attempt. Retaking means a full new registration, a new waiting period for a session, and a new wait for results — typically around three weeks before the official attestation reaches you.
This is the strongest argument for preparing properly the first time: saving 40 CAD by choosing one test over the other is irrelevant next to the 392 to 440 CAD a failed attempt costs you.
Source: a minimum interval of 20 days must separate two TCF Canada sittings for the same candidate, according to Alliance Française Canada, an accredited test centre. This rule was previously 30 days.
How to choose concretely
- Check what your local centre actually offers. Many centres run only one of the two tests. This alone settles the question for a large share of candidates.
- Compare the next available dates, not just the format. Availability is the constraint you control least.
- Compare the local price in your own currency, at the specific centres near you.
- Try a sample of each if both are available and you genuinely have time. Twenty minutes of practice tells you more than any comparison article.
- Then stop deliberating and book. The test you prepare seriously for is the one you will pass.
Preparing for the TCF Canada
If you choose the TCF Canada, the content is identical worldwide: same sections, same scoring, same NCLC conversion. Where you sit the exam changes nothing about how you prepare.
On TCFCAD, 40 reading series and 40 listening series reproduce the official format with real timing and explained corrections. The writing and speaking simulators use AI feedback based on the official assessment criteria. The first 3 series of each section are free, with no sign-up required. Start with the free mock test to find out where you actually stand.
