Please note that ALL exams have been canceled until further notice. We are planning to open sessions by mid 2023. Please check the following link for a list of other centers:

Centres TCF à l'étranger
Centres TEF et TEFAC à l'étranger
The French Library is an official exam center for the TEF. The Test d'Evaluation de Français (TEF) is a French-language proficiency exam assessing a candidate's level of French and is organized by the Centre de langue française of the CCIP (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris Ile-de-France). The TEF offers a detailed and personalized analysis of your linguistic level and is useful if you need to evaluate your French skills for Canadian Immigration (TEFAQ), French Naturalization (TEF NAT), French Universities or for professional uses.

The TEF is open to anyone 16 years or older who is not a native French speaker. Scores are valid for two years.

The exam measures the quantitative and qualitative level of a candidate's linguistic and communication skills that correspond to levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is made up of three mandatory and two optional sections. The Reading, Listening and Vocabulary & Structures sections are mandatory and must be taken together, while the Writing and Speaking sections are optional and can be taken separately. There are different versions of the TEF for specific purposes.


*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and our renovation, ALL Tef exams are cancelled*

2020 Schedule

Please be aware that if our capacity is reached before the registration deadline, registrations will close early. Preparatory workshops at all levels with TEF certified Instructors are available on demand.


Types of Exams

TEF

The Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF) is designed to assess the level of French language of people who are not native French speakers. It is useful if you need to evaluate your French skills for French universities or for work.

  • It assesses comprehension and expression skills in French.
  • It measures the quantitative and qualitative level of a candidate's linguistic and communication skills.
  • It offers a detailed and personalized analysis of results.
The overall objective of the TEF is to measure the level of the candidates' knowledge, linguistic and communications skills in French.

Cost

$200 members
$220 non-members
Each optional portion: $85 members | $105 non-members

About | Registration form + payment information | Manuel du candidat

TEF Québec (TEFAQ)

The TEFaQ is a specific version of the TEF which has been elaborated based on the request of the Ministry of Immigration and Cultural communities of Québec to assess the level of competency in French, specifically the listening and oral skills, of an audience that wishes to emigrate to Québec.

The TEFaQ is composed of four sections. Please verify with your immigration officer or workplace to see which sections you will need to take:

  • Listening comprehension (60 items – 40 minutes)
  • Oral expression (15 minutes)
  • Written comprehension (1 hour)
  • Written expression (1 hour)

Cost

$200 members
$220 non-members
Each optional portion: $80 members | $100 non-members

About | Registration Form | Manuel du candidat

TEF pour la naturalisation (NAT)

As of February 1, 2020, persons wishing to acquire French nationality must attest to their level of spoken French, as ordered by France's decree n°0303 of December 31, 2020. The TEF NAT (Test d'Évaluation de Français pour l’Accès à la Nationalité Française) can be used to meet this requirement. Candidates must present themselves for TEF NAT assessment of listening comprehension and oral expression at a testing center recognized by the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris (CCIP), such as the French Library Alliance Française of Boston.

Please note that the TEF NAT is a Computer-Based testing.

The TEF NAT is composed of four compulsory sections:

  • Written Comprehension : 35 questions / 45 minutes
  • Oral Comprehension : 35 questions / 25 minutes
  • Written Expression: 1 activity / 30 minutes
  • Oral Expression: 1 activity / 10 minutes.

Cost

$320 members
$340 non-members
About | registration form + payment form | Manuel du candidat

TEF Canada Immigration

The TEF Canada is a specialized exam for all persons wishing to immigrate to Canada outside of Québec.

The TEF Canada is composed of four sections overall. Please verify with your immigration officer or workplace to see which sections you will need to take:

  • Listening comprehension (60 items – 40 minutes)
  • Oral expression (15 minutes)
  • Written comprehension (1 hour)
  • Written expression (1 hour)

Cost

$320 members
$340 non-members
About | registration form + payment form |Manuel du candidat

TEF Canada Citoyenneté

The TEF Canada is a specialized exam for all persons wishing to acquire Canadian citizenship.

The TEF Canada is two sections overall.

  • Listening comprehension (60 items – 40 minutes)
  • Oral expression (15 minutes)

Cost

$200 members
$220 non-members
About | registration form + payment form |Manuel du candidat


How to Register

1. Complete the registration form.
When filling out the registration form, please be sure to write the date of the exam AND your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format.
Please verify that all your information on the registration form is correct before sending it in. Please include your email address (required) and current address.

2. Attach a color copy of your passport or driver's license with your registration form.

3. Submit payment by credit card using the TEF - Payment information 2020 attached to the registration form or by check payable to the French Library.
Exam fee is not refundable after the registration deadline. Exam fee is only refundable in the event of exam cancellation due to low enrollment. In all other cases, this credit can be applied to the following TEF session ONLY with a valid note from a doctor or employer justifying the absence (minus an administrative fee).

4. Send in the registration form, the passport copy and the payment sheet by email and only by email to the Education Administrator at exams@frenchlibrary.org by the given deadline, no later than 5:00 PM. NO registrations will be accepted after this time. Absolutely no applications sent by mail will be accepted.

IMPORTANT:


    • Candidates cannot take the TEF more than once within a two month time period. Therefore, a candidate wishing to retake the TEF (or any version of the TEF) must wait at least two months between exam dates.


  • For candidates taking the TEF for immigration purposes, the photo ID that you submit must be the same as the photo ID that you will use for your immigration documents.

NOTE:
A valid photo ID is required to enter the exam room. The French Library reserves the right to cancel a session if the number of participants is not sufficient. For students with special circumstances, we also offer the e.tef.

Candidates will receive a convocation one week before the exam date detailing the times of each exam section they will be taking. Candidates should bring this convocation, a black pen and a valid photo ID on the day of the exam.

Exam results may take 4 TO 8 WEEKS to be communicated to candidates by the CCIP in Paris. Please plan accordingly for any application needs (study abroad, work, visa, etc.).

Questions?


For more information on the TEF exam, please visit the CCI Paris Ile-de-France's website.

For more information about taking the TEF at the French Library, please contact:

Clare Goslant
Education Administrator

617.912.0415

Fabrizio Mazzetta
Adult Programs Manager

617.912.0400 ext. 432