TEF · Test d’évaluation de français (TEF IRN) — Prüfungsratgeber

So buchst duPrüfungszentrumNo waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early.

Prüfungsteile4· 90 minCompréhension écrite · Compréhension orale · Expression écrite · Expression orale

Ergebnis nach etwa≈ 2+Wochen2 years from the date of issue.

TEF (A1–B2, CCI Paris Île-de-France · Le français des affaires) besteht aus 4 Teilen: Compréhension écrite, Compréhension orale, Expression écrite, Expression orale. Kosten: Set by the centre; not refunded if you are absent without justification or give up. Ergebnis: Results in about 2 weeks. Geprüft 2026-09-29.

Termine, Orte und Wartezeiten

No national TEF dates: register directly with a TEF centre; the centre contacts you to finish registration and payment. Quelle

1Buchin einem zugelassenen Prüfungszentrum in Frankreich
2PrüfungNo national TEF dates: register directly with a TEF centre
3ErgebnisResults in about 2 weeks
4Zertifikat2 years from the date of issue.

Wo

About 500 official TEF centres in over 110 countries, including France. Quelle

Wartezeit & Ergebnisse

No waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early. Quelle

Results in about 2 weeks. Quelle

Kosten & Wiederholung

Set by the centre; not refunded if you are absent without justification or give up. Quelle

You may not take the same TEF test (any version) twice within 20 days. Quelle

Auf einen Blick

WhoFrom 16 years: residence cards, resident card, French nationality[1]

TeileReading 20 q (30 min), listening 20 q (20 min), writing 2 sections (30 min), speaking 2 sections (10 min)[1]

DauerAbout 1 Std. 30, all on the same day[2]

NiveausA1 to B2; score 0–499 per test[3]

Validity2 years from the date of issue[1]

ResultsAbout 2 weeks[1]

PriceSet by the test centre; not refundable if you are absent without reason[4]

Prüfungsteile90 min insgesamt

Compréhension écrite30 min

Compréhension orale20 min

Expression écrite30 min

Expression orale10 min

Compréhension écriteLesen · 20 questions

30 Min.

Format: On computer, multiple choice
Fragen / Aufgaben: 20 questions
Aufgabentypen: Everyday and administrative documents.
Bewertung: Correct = 1 point, wrong or empty = 0; converted to a score 0–499
Erlaubte Hilfsmittel: No dictionary or Notizen[2]

Compréhension oraleHören · 20 questions

20 Min.

Format: On computer, multiple choice
Fragen / Aufgaben: 20 questions
Aufgabentypen: Everyday audio: voicemail messages, announcements, interviews.
Bewertung: Correct = 1 point, wrong or empty = 0; converted to a score 0–499
Erlaubte Hilfsmittel: No dictionary, no scrap paper[2]

Expression écriteSchreiben · 2 sections: A (10 min, about 40 words), B (20 min, about 100 words)

30 Min.

Format: On computer
Fragen / Aufgaben: 2 sections: A (10 min, about 40 words), B (20 min, about 100 words)
Aufgabentypen: Two short texts; section B was extended from 60 to 100 words in 2025.
Bewertung: Rated on a grid: communication, vocabulary, grammar, organisation
Erlaubte Hilfsmittel: No dictionary[1]

Expression oraleSprechen · 2 sections of 5 min (A and B)

10 Min.

Format: Face to face with an examiner
Fragen / Aufgaben: 2 sections of 5 min (A and B)
Aufgabentypen: Two speaking tasks with the examiner.
Bewertung: Rated on a grid: communication, vocabulary, grammar, fluency
Erlaubte Hilfsmittel: —[1]

Bewertung, Ergebnisse und Wiederholung

Levels per test

Each test gets a score 0–499: below 100 = under A1, 100–199 = A1, 200–299 = A2, 300+ = B1, 400+ = B2.[3]

How the overall level is set

A2: 200+ on 3 tests and 167+ on the lowest. B1: 300+ on 3 tests and 267+ on the lowest. B2: 400+ on 3 tests and 367+ on the lowest.[3]

Same day required

All four tests must be taken on the same day for the certificate to be recognised.[1]

Results and validity

Results come in about 2 weeks. The certificate is valid 2 years from the date of issue.[1]

Appeals

You can appeal within 30 days after the result certificate is issued, for documented problems or malfunctions.[3]

Was wirklich geprüft wird

Abgeleitet aus den offiziellen Aufgaben- und Niveaubeschreibungen – nicht aus geleakten Fragen.

Reading: 20 questions, 30 minutes

Includes administrative documents since the 2025 update.
No penalty for a wrong answer: never leave a question empty.
For B1 you need 300+ here (or at least 267 if it is your lowest test).

Quelle [2]

Listening: 20 questions, 20 minutes

Everyday audio such as voicemail, announcements and interviews.
No scrap paper during listening: train to remember key facts.
Wrong or empty = 0 points, so always choose an answer.

Quelle [5]

Writing: 40 + 100 Wörter

Section A: 10 minutes, about 40 words.
Section B: 20 minutes, about 100 words.
Graded on communication, vocabulary, grammar and organisation.

Quelle [1]

Speaking: 2 × 5 minutes

Two sections (A and B) of 5 minutes each, with an examiner.
Graded on communication, vocabulary, grammar and fluency.
Keep talking: short answers give the examiner little to rate.

Quelle [1]

Regeln, die du kennen musst

Wege & Niveaus3

A2 for a first multi-year card

Since 2026-01-01 a first carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence card) requires French at A2 if you are under 65. Renewals are not concerned.[6]

B1 for a first resident card

Since 2026-01-01 a first carte de résident (10-year resident card) requires French at B1 if you are under 65.[6]

B2 for French nationality

Since 2026-01-01 naturalisation, nationality by marriage and reintegration require French at B2, spoken and written.[7]

Anmeldung1

Register at a TEF centre

Register directly at one of about 500 official centres in over 110 countries. The centre contacts you to finish registration and tells you how to pay.[1]

Kosten & Zahlung1

No refund if absent

The price is set by the centre. If you are absent without justification or give up, you are not refunded.[4]

Wiederholungen1

20 days between attempts

You may not take the same TEF test twice, any version, within 20 days.[4]

Angepasste Prüfungen1

Adapted conditions

Candidates with a disability can ask for adjustments, with a medical certificate explaining the needs, before the test.[4]

Gut zu wissen1

Validity for France

Residence cards: TCF/TEF valid 2 years. Nationality: the TEF result must be less than 2 years old.[7]

Am Prüfungstag

1
Photo ID
Bring an ID with photo. You accept being photographed and your signature being recorded.[4]
2
ID and invitation checked
The supervisor checks your ID and your invitation. Nothing personal on the table.[5]
3
No late entry
Latecomers are not allowed into the room once the test has begun.[5]
4
Forbidden items
Phones and electronic devices off; no dictionary; no scrap paper or notes during reading, listening and speaking. You may not leave during the computer tests.[5]

Aktuelle und geplante Änderungen

2026-01-01
In KraftNew levels for residence and nationality
Since 2026-01-01: A2 for a first multi-year card, B1 for a first resident card, B2 for nationality.[6]
2025-04-01
In KraftNew TEF IRN format
Since 2025-04-01: levels A1–B2 only; total time from 1 Std. 20 to 1 h 30; reading includes administrative documents; writing section B from 60 to 100 words; speaking sections A and B reordered.[2]

Häufige Fragen

Aus welchen Teilen besteht TEF?

Compréhension écrite (30 Min.) · Compréhension orale (20 Min.) · Expression écrite (30 Min.) · Expression orale (10 Min.).

Was kostet TEF?