Purpose: Personal goals or self-evaluation

Officially recognized since 2004 by the French Minister for National Education, Higher Education and Research in the context of a first registration for university undergraduate studies, the TEF for Studying in France assesses your ability to speak and write French.

The TEF for Studying in France is mandatory for any foreign student who is a candidate for a first registration in the first year of an undergraduate degree in a French university (Article D. 612-12 of the Education Code).

Candidates must pass both the written and oral sections of the TEF and obtain 315 points in the written expression section to be admitted to the first year of an undergraduate degree. The registrant must be at least 16 years of age to take this test.

Test components:

The TEF for Studying in France consists of four sections that must be taken together during one exam session:

• Oral comprehension: 40 minutes – 40 questions, MCQ, on computer.
• Written comprehension: 60 minutes – 40 questions, MCQ, on computer.
• Written expression: 60 minutes – 2 topics, on computer.
• Vocabulary and structure: 30 minutes – 40 questions, on computer.
• Oral expression: 15 minutes – 2 topics, face to face with an examiner.

Total test duration: 3 hr. 25 minutes.

Recommended preparation:

Platform PrepMyFuture: https://prepmyfuture.com/tef-english

Sample exams, books, audio files: https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/en/tests-diplomas/prepare-for-the-tef/

Tutorials: https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/en/tests-diplomas/resources/tef/

Registration details:

Contact the IFSPEC for test preparation material, registration periods and exam session dates.

If you think your situation calls for specific arrangements, please contact the exam center manager before registering: Fabienne Pizot-Haymore.

Cancellation or absence from the test session

In case of an unjustified/undocumented absence, fees are non-refundable.

All candidates must enter their ID number on the exam registration page. All candidates will be required to display this ID on the day of the test.

All registrations close eight days before the exam session. Please contact fgh2@case.edu upon registration to verify your information is complete and your registration was taken into account. You must have received an official convocation email from the IFSPEC–in addition to a debit/credit card receipt.

Cancellations, Absences, Refunds 

In the case you must cancel your registration more than 8 days before the scheduled TEF or DFP test session, a cancellation fee will be charged in the amount of $30.00.

Any request for cancellation of your registration under 8 days before the scheduled TEF or DPF test session, and/or your absence on the day of the TEF or DFP test session, must be duly documented with your exam center. In such a case, exam/test fees are non-refundable, but the exam/test may be rescheduled at a later time. Please note that any exam/test may be rescheduled only ONE time.

All relevant medical and/or professional documentation must be submitted to the IFSPEC Exam Center who will forward it to the CCI Paris Ile-de-France. Only unforeseen conflicts (illness, professional reasons, death and bereavement or other valid circumstances) may be considered.

Exam/test fees are non-refundable for any undocumented absence from the scheduled TEF or DFP test session.