ESSENTIALS FOR TEF CANADA EXAM PREPARATION

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ESSENTIALS FOR TEF CANADA EXAM PRE ARATION
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The TEF Canada is recognized as an official proof
of French proficiency by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Quebec Ministry
of Immigration and Cultural Communities (MICC)
for permanent residency applications, Quebec
Selection Certificate applications and Canadian
citizenship applications. It is a French language
competency exam for francophones and non- native
French learners which is designed to assess
their linguistic skills in Speaking, Listening,
Reading and Writing.
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TEF Canada Exam Modules

• The TEF Canada exam is comprised of the following
  4 modules
• Oral expression (Speaking) (EO) 15 minutes
  Face-to-face with an examiner
• Oral comprehension (Listening) (CO) 40 minutes
  Computer-based (Headphones are provided)
• Reading Comprehension (Reading) (CE) 60 minutes
  Computer-based
• Written Expression (Writing) (EE) 60 minutes
  Computer-based
• The evaluation scale is based on the Common
  European Framework of Reference for Languages
  (CEFR) by the Council of Europe. It is evaluated
  as per 6 proficiency levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1,
  and C2). As per the Canadian Language Competence
  (CLB), there are 12 levels. Your performance in
  each module in the TEF Canada is assessed using a
  7- level scale, from level 0 (basic proficiency)
  to level 6 (highly proficient).
• If you are a complete beginner in French or are
  somewhere in the middle of your French learning
  or exam preparation, you might have lots of
  questions about how this whole process is going
  to be held. So you might be looking for tips and
  strategies to prepare for the exam. In simple
  terms, the TEF is basically the IELTS for French
  language testing. So if you are an absolute
  newbie, first you will need to learn French
  followed by the TEF exam-specific preparation.
  If you are at an intermediate or advanced level
• in French language learning, you can now begin
  your module training for the exam format of TEF
  Canada.
• There is a lack of sufficient information and
  material for TEF Canada on the Internet, and
  hence there are a lot of misconceptions related
  to the exam and how the course works. So in this
  blog post, I am going to explain and clarify most
  of these

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misconceptions, and further, I am going to give
you some knowledge you absolutely need to have
for the exam.
What is covered in this blog post?

• Myths related to the TEF Canada Exam
• TEF Exam Preparation Strategies
• Important things to know during the test
• FAQs

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• Myths related to the TEF Canada Exam
• When I get queries for TEF Canada exam
  preparation, especially from those who have
• zero experience in French learning, they are
  generally very misinformed. So I decided to
  address some of these myths
• I have qualified for many competitive exams with
  the right kind of strategies without learning
  much, so I am capable of also qualifying the TEF
  Canada in less than 5 months of smart
  preparation without learning French.
• Language learning takes its own natural time. The
  TEF Canada exam is designed to evaluate if you
  CAN really use French in daily life. French
  pronunciations and sentence structures are
  completely different from those of English. Even
  though French looks similar to English, it is
  very differently pronounced, spoken, and written.
  So a beginner takes the initial few days to
  notice these differences in detail alongside
  getting the hang of the language in how it is so
  different from English. Without the right
  pronunciations and sentence structures, there is
  no way to qualify TEF Canada with the desired
  CLB. The exam has 4 sub-tests Speaking,
  Listening, Reading, and Writing. No grammar
  questions are asked, but the format of each
  module is such that it will test most of your
  grammar, vocabulary, and sentence formation
  skills through the tasks provided in each
  module, and will find out your actual level. So
  there is no way to dupe them into assessing you
  a B2 if you are really at A2. Moreover, there is
  no shortcut to buying the certificate through
  any unfair means.
• I can immediately appear for the exam to score a
  level B2 after completing my French grammar
  lessons.
• Learning a language and preparing for the exam
  are two different things. Language learning
  comprises pronunciations, grammar, sentence
  formation, vocabulary, etc. followed by some
  Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing
  activities to use the language in daily life.
  Although each language exam has a different
  structure, different kinds of tasks and specific
  sentence structures are to be used in each
  sub-test.

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• Therefore, it becomes important to master the
  different strategies that must be followed. Time
  management practice for each task is another
  major component to consider.
• Hence, no matter how nicely you learn the
  language, not practicing the exam format and
  sample papers will not fetch you a B2.
• I will have to appear for the level- wise DELF
  examinations to become eligible to appear for
  the TEF Canada.
• The DELF/ DALF and TEF Canada are two different
  exams. DELF/ DALF is a proficiency certification
  while the TEF Canada is meant for immigration
  purposes. So to appear for the TEF Canada exam,
  it is not compulsory to appear for any of the
  DELF/ DALF exams. However, during your
  preparation phase, if at some point you want to
  know your current level, taking a DELF exam is a
  good idea. If you qualify, not only do you get a
  lifetime proficiency certificate of that level,
  but also it helps you gain more confidence since
  you get the experience of appearing for a French
  exam.
• My DELF exam preparation strategies can be used
  for TEF Canada.
• As already explained, these are two completely
  different examinations with different formats
  and different tasks. So the exam- specific
  preparation and strategies for each exam are
  completely different too.
• I am a working professional and/ or have family
  responsibilities, so my timings do not allow me
  to spare enough self- study time. But I can
  manage to get a B2 with just classroom
  teaching.
• Even if you have family/ work responsibilities
  and have made a decision to move to Canada, you
  must anyhow create the right environment for
  enough self-study everyday because language
  learning takes its own natural time and lots of
  revision. Classroom teaching alone cant help.
  Your trainer is your guide who puts the order of
  topics in a sequence for you, helps you with
  difficulties, and gives you feedback on your

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errors. However, you are the center of this whole
learning process and so a lack of regular
self-study of at least 1- 2 hours daily
(preferably including weekends) will not fetch
you the results you dream of. 6. The complete
TEF Canada preparation must cost just as much as
the IELTS exam preparation course. If youre
registering with a trainer or enrolling at an
institute for your French learning as a complete
beginner till TEF Canada exam-specific
preparation, the entire journey is going to be
at least 10- 12 months (or bit lesser if the
trainer offers you more than 1 hour daily).
Youre not just preparing for the exam, you are
also learning the entire language before that.
This will require a lot of trainers effort as
well as time in planning your sessions,
preparing study material for you, preparing
activities and to sit with you in class and make
you work. So any experienced instructor will
charge as per what they deserve for all this
skill, time, lesson planning and classroom
presence. Some trainers charge level- wise while
others charge in a lump sum/ installments and so
you may choose as per what is more feasible for
you.
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• Exam Preparation Strategies for TEF Canada
• Without the right strategies, it isnt so easy to
  score a CLB 7 in the TEF Canada. Here are some
  useful tips
• Start with learning French pronunciations,
  sentence formation etc.
• Have some knowledge about the culture and
  geography of France and other francophone
  countries of the world.
• Do a lot of handwritten practice for better
  retention of grammar, and make organized notes
  which you also could refer to for revision a few
  days before the exam.
• Practice typing on the laptop/ computer right
  from the beginning because Listening, Reading
  and Writing are computer- based tests. This will
  also help you especially in the Writing module
  to type faster.
• Vocabulary building on various themes is
  absolutely essential not to feel blocked while
  speaking or writing.
• Practice Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing
  along with grammar lessons. Apply the learnt
  grammar to daily life situations.
• Avoid translations from any other language.
• Regularly listen to lots of podcasts, music,
  audios, news and read lots of French story
  books, newspapers, blogs etc. Make French your
  way of life, immerse yourself. This is what I
  call staying in a French state of mind most of
  the time during the day.

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• Learn from an experienced teacher for your French
  learning if you feel that you cant learn the
  language on your own. In case youve
  independently learnt all French grammar, now
  seek guidance from a trainer for your exam-
  preparation to get an environment to practically
  communicate in French in class.
• Important Things to Know During the Test
• Make sure to carry your original identity proof
  for the exam. No entry is allowed without it.
• You must arrive at the exam center on time.
• Once you enter the center, you cannot exit until
  all the modules are done.
• The Reading, Listening and the Writing tests are
  computer-based, so you must be a bit tech-savvy
  and fast at typing on a keyboard.
• In the Writing module, depending on your country
  and exam center, you will be provided a QWERTY
  or an AZERTY keyboard. The AZERTY keyboard
  usually has all accents on it. The QWERTY
  keyboard has either shortcut keys, and/ or you
  will have an on-screen keyboard containing all
  the accents.
• You can ask for rough sheets for Reading,
  Listening and Writing to jot down some points/
  info that you may need to. However, in some
  recent exams, some candidates at some centers
  have not been provided rough sheets since the
  center says that it is a fully computer-based
  test. So you must be mentally prepared in both
  cases.

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• Generally, there are pauses in between each
  module, so you may go for your washroom breaks
  in between. The duration of the pause depends on
  your exam center.
• You do not have access to your gadgets, notes or
  dictionary during the exam.
• You are not allowed to communicate with other
  candidates. You must have your own stationery.

FAQs Q. How many times can I take the TEF Canada
exam? Ans. You could take the exam as many times
as you want. However, there has to be a gap of 2
months between two consecutive exams taken by a
candidate. Q. What are the fees for the TEF
Canada exam? Ans. The registration fee for the
TEF Canada exam may vary in different countries
and different test centers. In India, it is
around INR 25,000. This fee is non-refundable and
non-transferrable in most centers. Q. What is
the validity of TEF Canada results? Ans. The
result for the TEF Canada exam is valid for up to
2 years from the exam date. Q. How to register
for the exam? Ans. The TEF Canada exam is held in
most countries of the world. It has hundreds
of affiliated exam centers across the world. The
test is held all through the year. However,
seats may often be limited at some centers,
especially ever since after the COVID pandemic.
Therefore, interested candidates should contact
their nearest/ most convenient center, seek
information about the dates and get registered
well in advance.
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• Q. How to check your results of the TEF Canada
  exam?
• Ans. The exam center sends the exam results to
  each candidate via email. You should
• ideally get your TEF exam results within 15
  working days. However, recently, most candidates
  have been able to receive their results just
  within 4- 5 days of the test date. I hope this
  was a helpful read for you.
• If you like this post, you can also consult my
  other blog posts on the TEF Canada exam
• French Exams for Express Entry Canada TEF TCF
  here .
• How to Prepare for the TEF Canada Exam? (From
  Beginner to Advanced B2 Level)
• Self- Preparation Routine for TEF Canada
• TEF Canada Speaking Test Preparation
• Do consult our TEF preparation workshops here.
• If you found this article informative, do check
  out our other articles that you could find here
  BLOG.
• For any further questions about the TEF Canada
  exam preparation, or if you are looking for the
  best French language classes online, WhatsApp
  91-9056131830 or

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-canada-exam-preparation/