For CEGEPs whose language of instruction is French, a language test is required for most international applicants, whether they have studied in the language of instruction of the CEGEP or not.

TEF Admission to CEGEP mandatory tests

• Oral comprehension: 40 minutes – 40 questions
• Written comprehension: 60 minutes – 40 questions
• Lexicon and structure: 30 minutes – 40 questions

Immigrating to Canada and obtaining Canadian citizenship with the TEF Canada

As part of the immigration and citizenship application procedures, the federal government of Canada has recognized the TEF Canada since 2002 to certify an applicant’s knowledge of French.

TEF Canada tests

As part of a Canada immigration application, you must take the following tests:

• Oral comprehension: 40 minutes – 40 questions
• Written comprehension: 60 minutes – 40 questions
• Oral expression: 15 minutes – 2 subjects
• Written expression: 60 minutes – 2 subjects

As part of a Canadian citizenship application, you must take the following tests:

• Oral comprehension: 40 minutes – 40 questions
• Oral expression: 15 minutes – 2 subjects

Important! All the tests must be taken the same day for your certification to be recognized by the Canadian authorities.

As part of immigration procedures, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) du Québec requires certification of your knowledge of French.

To that end, it recognizes the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) tests.

TEF Québec (TEFAQ) tests

The TEF Québec (TEFAQ) consists of four modular tests:

• Oral comprehension: 40 minutes – 40 questions (mandatory test)
• Oral expression: 15 minutes – 2 subjects (mandatory test)
• Written comprehension: 60 minutes – 40 questions (optional test)
• Written expression: 60 minutes – 2 subjects (optional test)

In the TEF Québec (TEFAQ), you earn points according to the following scale:

With the aim of obtaining a maximum number of points when you submit your results in your immigration application file, you must take the oral comprehension and expression tests and if your writing level is advanced, you can also submit all the written test results.

Tests take place at the Montreal Campus. The pavilion and the premises will be communicated to you by email. Registrations are open until five (5) working days before the test date. Places are limited.

You will receive, two to four weeks after the test, an email giving you access to an electronic certificate of your results (you will not be issued a paper certificate).

Please note that the schedule may vary.

• Friday December 20 at 9:00 AM - FULL
• Friday December 20 at 12:00 PM - FULL
• Saturday January 11 at 8:45 AM - FULL
• Saturday January 11 at 11:30 AM - FULL
• Saturday January 25 at 8:45 AM
• Saturday February 8 at 8:30 AM
• Saturday February 22 at 8:30 AM
• Saturday March 29 at 8:30 AM

Please note that registration will close on December 22nd 2024 and reopen on Januray 3rd 2025.

Online registration

Fees (exempt from taxes)

• Oral comprehension: $140
• Written comprehension: $70
• Oral expression: $140
• Written expression: $70 
• Lexicon and structure: $70

There are a number of options to prepare for the TEF:

• Consult the tutorials to familiarize yourself with the TEF tests.
• Become familiar with the test format through the test examples available under that heading.
• You can also prepare for the TEF with PrepMyFuture. This e-learning platform analyses your performances and proposes exercises adapted to your level. Use it to quickly pinpoint your weaknesses and measure your progress. Contact PrepMyFuture directly.

Before the test

When registering, you make a commitment to comply with the terms for registering and taking the test.

A registration is firm and definitive. The registration fees you pay are not refundable.

In the event of cancellation prior to the day of the test or absence on the day of the test for a major reason (illness, an employment obligation, the death of a relative, etc.), you must submit documentary proof (a medical certificate, a note from your employer, etc.) to the Université de Montréal test centre. The test centre associate then studies the reasons for the absence and, if they are valid, a new registration with the centre is proposed, without additional fees being charged.

In the event of an unjustified absence or withdrawal, you will not be refunded. You accept those conditions by signing the registration form at the time of your registration in our test centre.

An accommodation adapted to a disability may be obtained. A person with a specific accommodation need must, before any registration, contact us to submit their request at centretests@fep.umontreal.ca. The person must obtain a medical certificate from a practitioner who explains the nature of the disability and indicates recommendations for accommodation for the session (for the tests involved).