The TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français, or French competency test) is the French test awarded by the French Ministry of Education :
* TCF assesses candidates’ level in French for general purposes. It is intended for people who are not native French speakers who, for professional, personal or academic reasons, want to have their competency in French assessed and certified simply, reliably and quickly.
* The TCF is a standardised and graded test designed by the CIEP, a language tester and member of ALTE, using an extremely rigorous method that makes it a genuine measuring instrument.
* All candidates receive a certificate of results that positions them at one of the six levels (from A1 to C2) of the competency scale defined by the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This means that it is not possible to fail the TCF.
* Since December 2002, the TCF has been certified according to the ISO 9001 : 2000 quality standard.
* There is an electronic version of the TCF that allows candidates to take the test on a computer.
TCF standard version (paper or electronic version).
This TCF is intended for anybody who wants to have their competency in French assessed for personal or professional reasons.
More details on TCF on CIEP web site.
TCF for future students and students
Students entering the premier cycle, or first stage of university studies (year 1 or 2), and schools of architecture : the TCF is compulsory for future students as part of the DAP (Demande d’Admission Préalable, or preliminary admission application) for entry into the first stage of university studies (year 1 or 2) and schools of architecture.
More details on TCF DAP on CIEP web site.
Étudiants en 2ème, 3ème cycle, grandes écoles : le TCF est systématiquement demandé par les établissements d’enseignement supérieur pour les étudiants qui souhaitent déposer un dossier d’inscription en deuxième ou troisième cycle (Licence 3, Master 1, Master 2 et doctorat) dans un établissement d’enseignement supérieur ou dans une Grande école.
More details on TCF on CIEP web site.
TCF for international bodies
This version of the TCF was designed to meet the needs of international bodies or intergovernmental organisations (UN, OECD, European Commission, etc.) and schools of diplomacy and/or international relations.
More details on TCF RI on CIEP web site.
TCF for Quebec
Since 16 October 2006, the Ministry of Immigration (MICC) of Quebec has required people submitting an immigration application for Quebec to give proof of their level of competency in French by taking the "TCF pour le Québec", or TCF for Quebec.
This test can only be taken by candidates submitting an immigration application at a Quebec immigration office or at Délégations Générales du Québec, Quebec government offices.
More details on TCF Québec on CIEP web site.
Check the price list for the TCF
pdf file.
