TEFAQ

Test d’Évaluation de Français pour l’accès au Québec


What is TEF Québec (TEFAQ)?


The French evaluation test for access to Quebec (TEFAQ) is a general French test that aims to measure the level of knowledge and skills in French reading and listening as well as speaking and writing.

It is the version of the TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français) recognized by the Immigration Department of Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) of Quebec and is essential to perform an official immigration application.

Besides the compulsory oral tests, candidates may choose to be assessed on their mastery of written French with two tests of comprehension and written expression. Points earned during the optional written tests are therefore a bonus. They can increase the points already obtained by the candidates in oral.

Oral tests (compulsory):

  • Listening Comprehension 40 min – 60 questions
  • Oral Expression 15 min – 2 topics

Written tests (optional):

  • Written Expression 60 min – 2 topics
  • Reading Comprehension 60 min – 50 questions

The TEFAQ assigns points for the immigration process in Quebec on ​​the following scale:

Principal Applicant
Maximum 16 points
A1, A2, B1 B2 C1 C2
Listening Comprehension 40 min 0 point 5 points 6 points 7 points
Oral Expression 15 min 0 point 5 points 6 points 7 points
Reading Comprehension 1hour 0 point 1 point
Written Expression 1hour 0 point 1 point
Spouse of Principal Applicant
Maximum 6 points
A1, A2, B1 B2 C1 C2
Listening Comprehension 40 min 0 point 2 points 3 points 3 points
Oral Expression 15 min 0 point 2 points 3 points 3 points

How is the TEFAQ graded?


As for the TEF, the TEFAQ scores are ranked on 6 levels, ranging from 0+ level (basic skills) to level 6 (master skills), per the scale of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris Ile-de-France (CCI Paris Ile-de-France), and from A1 level to C2 level, as defined by the Council of Europe (CECRL – Common European Framework of References for Languages). Read about the CECRL here.

TEF and TEFAQ score results are reliable measurements of language proficiency. An official certificate which is valid for one year is awarded.

Correspondance niveaux CCIP/CECRL

CCIP 0+ 1 2 3 4 5 6
CECRL A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Points

Compulsory Listening Comprehension: Total 360

Compulsory Oral Expression: Total 450
Understanding topics and finding appropriate information: 120
Facts explanation and argumentation: 150
Structure and vocabulary: 180

Optional Reading Comprehension: Total 450

Optional Written Expression: Total 450
Thematic and semantic coherence: 150
Ability to argue and summarize: 120
Structure and vocabulary: 180