TEF · Test d’évaluation de français (TEF IRN) — guía del examen

Cómo reservarCentro de examenNo waiting time is published; it depends on the centre. Places can be limited — book early.

Partes del examen4· 90 minCompréhension écrite · Compréhension orale · Expression écrite · Expression orale

Resultado en unos≈ 2+semanas2 years from the date of issue.

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

Fechas, lugares y tiempos de espera

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

1Libroen un centro de examen autorizado en Francia
2ExamenNo national TEF dates: register directly with a TEF centre
3ResultadoResults in about 2 weeks
4Certificado2 years from the date of issue.

Dónde

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

Espera y resultados

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

Results in about 2 weeks. fuente

Coste y repeticiones

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

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

De un vistazo

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

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

DuraciónAbout 1 h 30, all on the same day[2]

NivelesA1 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]

Partes del examen90 min en total

Compréhension écrite30 min

Compréhension orale20 min

Expression écrite30 min

Expression orale10 min

Compréhension écriteLectura · 20 questions

30 min

Formato: On computer, multiple choice
Preguntas / tareas: 20 questions
Tipos de tarea: Everyday and administrative documents.
Puntuación: Correct = 1 point, wrong or empty = 0; converted to a score 0–499
Materiales permitidos: No dictionary or notas[2]

Compréhension oraleAudición · 20 questions

20 min

Formato: On computer, multiple choice
Preguntas / tareas: 20 questions
Tipos de tarea: Everyday audio: voicemail messages, announcements, interviews.
Puntuación: Correct = 1 point, wrong or empty = 0; converted to a score 0–499
Materiales permitidos: No dictionary, no scrap paper[2]

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

30 min

Formato: On computer
Preguntas / tareas: 2 sections: A (10 min, about 40 words), B (20 min, about 100 words)
Tipos de tarea: Two short texts; section B was extended from 60 to 100 words in 2025.
Puntuación: Rated on a grid: communication, vocabulary, grammar, organisation
Materiales permitidos: No dictionary[1]

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

10 min

Formato: Face to face with an examiner
Preguntas / tareas: 2 sections of 5 min (A and B)
Tipos de tarea: Two speaking tasks with the examiner.
Puntuación: Rated on a grid: communication, vocabulary, grammar, fluency
Materiales permitidos: —[1]

Puntuación, resultados y repeticiones

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]

Qué se evalúa realmente

Basado en las descripciones oficiales de tareas y niveles, no en preguntas filtradas.

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).

Fuente [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.

Fuente [5]

Writing: 40 + 100 palabras

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

Fuente [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.

Fuente [1]

Normas que debes conocer

Vías y niveles3

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]

Inscripción1

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]

Costes y pago1

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]

Repeticiones1

20 days between attempts

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

Exámenes adaptados1

Adapted conditions

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

Conviene saber1

Validity for France

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

El día del examen

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]

Cambios recientes y previstos

2026-01-01
En vigorNew 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
En vigorNew TEF IRN format
Since 2025-04-01: levels A1–B2 only; total time from 1 h 20 to 1 h 30; reading includes administrative documents; writing section B from 60 to 100 words; speaking sections A and B reordered.[2]

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Qué partes tiene TEF?

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

¿Cuánto cuesta TEF?