The TFI Score Calculator
Calculate your TFI total from the two section scores, see your CEFR level, and check exactly which French-speaking corporate-tier roles your score qualifies you for.
Your TFI Score
Enter your two section scores from your TFI score report (each 5 to 495).
Three steps from score report to corporate tier
TFI scores Listening and Reading on parallel 5 to 495 scales; the total is the simple sum, just like TOEIC for English.
Enter your two section scores
Listening Comprehension (5 to 495) and Reading Comprehension (5 to 495) from your official TFI score report.
Read your total, CEFR, and tier
You get the total (10 to 990), the CEFR level (A2 through C1), and the corporate-tier label.
Check which French-speaking roles you qualify for
The eligibility line tells you which kinds of French-language corporate roles your score unlocks, from entry-level to senior international positions.
What is TFI and how is it scored?
Two things every test-taker should understand before reading their score report.
TFI: Test de Français International
The Test de Français International (TFI) is administered by ETS (the same organisation behind TOEFL and TOEIC) and is designed for corporate French language certification. It is widely used in francophone Africa, Asian markets where French is a corporate language, and by international companies that need to certify employees French proficiency for the workplace.
- Listening Comprehension, ~45 minutes, ~90 multiple-choice questions
- Reading Comprehension, ~75 minutes, ~90 multiple-choice questions
Total testing time: ~2 hours, 180 questions. Paper-based or computer-based depending on the test centre. Results delivered within 4 weeks. TFI is deliberately parallel to TOEIC L&R (the English version): same scale, same format, same target audience.
Scaled scoring (10 to 990 total)
Each section is scored from 5 to 495 on a scaled scale, not as a raw count of correct answers. ETS uses statistical equating across test forms so the same scaled score on different test dates means the same level of proficiency, regardless of which form you took. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing is rational.
The total is simply the sum of the two section scores: Listening + Reading = total. The maximum total is 990 (495 + 495); the minimum is 10 (5 + 5). TFI maps to four CEFR levels (A2, B1, B2, C1), not to C2: for C2 proof of French, take DALF C2 instead.
How each section is scored
Both sections are 90 multiple-choice questions, computer-scored. Raw count is converted to a 5 to 495 scaled score per section.
Listening (CO)
~45 min · ~90 questionsSeveral parts: image-based questions, statement-response, short conversations, short monologues. Audio plays once. Workplace and everyday French (announcements, voicemails, meetings, news bulletins). Accents include Hexagonal France, Belgian, Swiss, Quebec, and African French. Strong scorers (B2+) consistently catch implied meaning and speaker intent, not just literal facts.
Reading (CE)
~75 min · ~90 questionsThree parts: incomplete sentences (fill-in-the-blank), text completion (choosing the best phrase or sentence), and reading comprehension across single and multiple passages (emails, ads, articles, notices, schedules). Reading speed matters: 75 minutes for ~90 questions means under 50 seconds per item. High scorers (855+) treat the Reading section as a time-management exercise as much as a French test.
What your TFI score unlocks
TFI does not have universal pass marks; each employer sets its own minimum based on the role. Common corporate tiers (parallel to TOEIC English):
Senior international + management
Required by major French-speaking employers for senior international, management, and negotiation roles. Sufficient for most cross-border French-speaking professional positions in finance, consulting, and law.
International corporate positions
Standard for internationally-oriented roles requiring French alongside English. Sufficient to lead meetings, write reports, and present in French in a professional setting. The most common requirement for francophone Africa corporate roles.
Mid-level + customer-facing roles
Common requirement for engineering, finance, sales, and customer-facing graduate roles in francophone markets. Sufficient for most customer-facing local roles requiring functional French.
Entry-level + basic exchanges
Sufficient for entry-level roles requiring basic French exchanges (hospitality, retail, basic admin). Below most international corporate hiring thresholds.
Below most professional thresholds
Below the typical hiring threshold for most professional roles requiring French. Worth retaking after focused prep before applying for French-required positions.
TFI vs DELF / DALF vs TCF vs TEF
TFI is workplace-only; the others have broader use. If you need French for university, immigration, or citizenship, TFI is not the right test.
| Test | Sections | CEFR coverage | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TFI | L + R only | A2 to C1 | Workplace certification only (not accepted by universities or IRCC) |
| DELF / DALF | 4 sections (L, R, W, S) | One level per exam (A1 to C2) | French university, French citizenship, lifetime certificate |
| TCF | 4 sections (5 for Tout Public) | All CEFR levels in one test | IRCC immigration, Quebec immigration, French universities |
| TEF | 4 sections (varies by version) | All CEFR levels in one test | IRCC immigration, Quebec immigration, French citizenship (Naturalisation), French universities (Études) |
Sources: ETS (TFI), France Education International (DELF / DALF, TCF), Le français des affaires (TEF). TFI is widely accepted by private employers, especially in francophone Africa and Asian markets where French is a corporate language, but is not part of the official French government testing ladder used for academic or immigration purposes.
One concrete tip per section
Skill-specific advice for moving 600-range candidates to 800+.
Listening, drill workplace audio
TFI Listening uses workplace situations: meetings, voicemails, train-station announcements, customer-service calls. Drill these specifically; novel-style French audio (audiobooks, films) builds general listening but maps less directly to TFI tasks. RFI Savoirs has a good "Profession reporter" series mostly built around workplace contexts.
Reading, time-box at 50 seconds per item
TFI Reading is ~90 questions in 75 minutes, so under 50 seconds per item including reading time. Use a stopwatch in practice; if you spend more than 60 seconds on one question, mark it and move on. Single-passage questions are usually faster than multi-passage; do them first if time is tight.
Vocabulary, learn workplace and business cognates
TFI vocabulary is workplace-specific (devis, facture, échéance, ordre du jour, agenda, conseil d'administration). Learn 500 high-frequency business terms with example sentences. Avoid generic DELF / DALF academic word lists; they overlap less with TFI than people assume.
Test strategy, never leave a question blank
No penalty for wrong answers means an educated guess always beats a blank. Allocate the last 30 seconds of each section to bubble in any unanswered items, even random guesses. Statistically this adds 5 to 25 points to your raw score.
TFI scoring questions, answered
How is the TFI total score calculated?
Your total TFI (Test de Français International) score is the sum of your two section scores. Listening Comprehension is scored from 5 to 495 and Reading Comprehension is scored from 5 to 495, for a total range of 10 to 990 points. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores using statistical equating across test forms, so the same scaled score on different test dates means the same level of proficiency.
What is a good TFI score?
A good TFI score depends on the role. Entry-level French-speaking corporate jobs typically expect 605+ (CEFR B1). Mid-level international roles target 785+ (CEFR B2). Major French-speaking employers and senior international positions often require 855+ (CEFR C1). Below 605 is generally considered insufficient for professional French use.
How does TFI convert to CEFR?
ETS (the test administrator) maps TFI to four CEFR levels: 855 to 990 corresponds to C1 (Advanced), 785 to 850 to B2 (Upper Intermediate), 605 to 780 to B1 (Intermediate), 405 to 600 to A2 (Elementary). TFI does not certify CEFR C2 by design; for C2 proof, take DALF C2 or DELF / DALF in general.
How long is a TFI score valid?
TFI scores are valid for 2 years from the test date for most employers. Some companies require a TFI taken less than 2 years before the application date for international or French-language-critical positions. Test certificates are mailed within 4 weeks of the test.
What is the difference between TFI and TCF or TEF?
TFI is designed for the workplace and is the dominant French certification for corporate hiring in many countries (similar role to TOEIC for English). TCF and TEF are more general-purpose: they are used for academic admission and immigration in addition to workplace use. TFI tests only Listening and Reading; TCF and TEF test all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). TFI is not accepted by IRCC for Canadian immigration; for that, take TCF Canada or TEF Canada.
TFI vs TOEIC, what is the relationship?
TFI is the French equivalent of TOEIC: both are administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service), use the same 10 to 990 scoring scale, and target workplace language certification. The format and difficulty progression are deliberately parallel. Many multinational employers accept TFI for French-language requirements and TOEIC for English-language requirements, often with the same minimum scores (e.g., 800+ for international corporate roles).
How long is the TFI test?
The TFI test is approximately 2 hours total: 45 minutes for Listening Comprehension (~90 questions) and 75 minutes for Reading Comprehension (~90 questions). 180 multiple-choice questions in total. The test is paper-based or computer-based depending on test centre. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing is rational.
Is TFI accepted by universities or for immigration?
No. TFI is a workplace and corporate certification, not an academic or immigration test. For French university admission, take DELF B2 / DALF C1 or TCF DAP. For Canadian immigration (Express Entry, Quebec PEQ), take TCF Canada or TEF Canada. For French citizenship by naturalisation, take TEF Naturalisation or DELF B1+. TFI is most useful for proving French proficiency to private employers, especially in francophone Africa and Asian markets where French is a corporate language.
Keep going
TFI to CEFR Converter →
Map your TFI total directly to the CEFR scale (A2 through C1) used by European employers and universities.
TFI to DELF / DALF Converter →
Translate your TFI workplace certification into the equivalent DELF or DALF lifetime diploma, useful for academic or citizenship applications.
DELF / DALF Score Calculator →
For French university admission, French citizenship, or lifetime proof: calculate your DELF / DALF result with the strict 50/100 + 5/25 per-section pass rule.
Ready to push your TFI score higher?
Practice with realistic TFI-style tasks, AI-rated feedback on workplace French Listening and Reading, and a study plan tuned to your current band, built by LingUp.
Start PracticingTFI® and Test de Français International® are registered trademarks of Educational Testing Service (ETS). This calculator is not affiliated with or endorsed by ETS.
