TEF to CEFR Converter

The TEF (Test d Evaluation de Francais) reports all four sections (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) on a unified 0 to 699 scale. The published Chambre de Commerce et d Industrie de Paris (CCIP) bands are: 549 to 699 = C1+ (covers C1 and approaches C2 territory). 503 to 548 = C1. 462 to 502 = B2+. 434 to 461 = B2. 398 to 433 = B1+. 369 to 397 = B1. 331 to 368 = A2+. 249 to 330 = A2. 181 to 248 = A1. Each section maps independently. Your effective overall CEFR is the lowest of the four section levels.

TEF Canada is the version accepted by IRCC for Canadian Permanent Residency (Express Entry); it tests four sections, all 0 to 699. TEFAQ is for Quebec immigration (PRTQ / PSTQ); it tests Listening and Speaking only. TEF Naturalisation is for French citizenship; it tests Listening and Speaking only at A1 to B1 levels. TEF Etudes (formerly TEF DAP) is for non-EU undergraduate admission to French universities; it tests Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The CEFR conversion of section scores is the same across all versions.

TEF results are valid for 2 years from the test date for most institutional and immigration uses, including French universities, IRCC Express Entry (Canada), and Quebec immigration. After 2 years you must retake the test. This is a key difference from DELF / DALF, which is valid for life. If you want a long-term French language certificate, take DELF or DALF; if you need a fast, repeatable test for specific deadlines, take TEF.

Only the specific TEF Naturalisation version is accepted for French naturalisation; standard TEF Canada or TEFAQ is NOT accepted. Since 2020 the threshold has been A2 in Listening AND Speaking; from January 2026 it rises to B1 in Listening AND Speaking. Alternatively, a DELF A2 or B1 diploma satisfies the requirement (and DELF is valid for life, while TEF Naturalisation is valid for 2 years). Verify the current threshold with your prefecture before booking.

For most institutional and immigration purposes, your effective CEFR level is the lowest of the four section CEFR levels. If you score B2 in Reading, B1+ in Listening, B1+ in Writing, and B1 in Speaking, your effective level is B1. The exception is when an authority awards points per skill (Quebec PRTQ, Canada CRS) where each section earns its own band points; in that case all four section levels matter independently and contribute to your total points.

The CCIP designed the TEF with sub-bands (A1, A2, A2+, B1, B1+, B2, B2+, C1, C1+) to give finer granularity than CEFR alone. The plus level represents the upper portion of the CEFR band (e.g., B2+ is the top of B2, approaching C1). For most institutional uses the sub-band rounds down to the parent CEFR level (B2+ = B2; C1+ = C1). For Quebec immigration and IRCC Canada, the per-section TEF score is what matters, not the sub-band label.

For non-EU undergraduate admission, French universities require either TEF Etudes (with all four mandatory sections) or DELF B2 / DALF C1, alongside TCF DAP. TEF Etudes results above 434 in Reading and Writing typically qualify for B2-equivalent admission. Always verify with the specific university and program. For postgraduate admission via Etudes en France, TEF Canada or TEF Etudes results are typically accepted at B2 / C1 thresholds.

For Canadian Express Entry: both TEF Canada and TCF Canada are accepted by IRCC; choose based on test centre availability and personal preference. Many candidates report TEF Canada is slightly faster to book in major Canadian cities while TCF Canada is more available in francophone Africa. For French citizenship: both TEF Naturalisation and TCF IRN are accepted (or DELF). For Quebec immigration: both TEFAQ and TCF Quebec are accepted. The two tests have similar difficulty and similar format; TEF uses a unified 0 to 699 scale across all four skills, while TCF uses a dual scale (0 to 699 for L / R, 0 to 20 for W / S).