TCF 2026 — the French test the French state itself trusts
Conducted by France Éducation International under the Ministry of Education. 5 separately bookable skills, 100-699 per skill, CEFR-mapped, valid 2 years. The official reference for DAP, IRN, Quebec and every French government language requirement.
- Aligned with France Éducation Intl · fei.fr
- Accepted across French government processes
- 5 separately bookable skills
Hero photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash
The French Ministry's own reference test
Conducted by France Éducation International (FEI) under the French Ministry of Education, TCF is the certificate the French state itself uses as proof of language ability — for universities, préfectures, and consulates.
- Conducting body: France Éducation International (FEI), public operator under the French Ministry of Education.
- Eligibility: Open to all non-native French speakers — no minimum age or qualification.
- Mode: Paper-based or computer-delivered at an accredited centre (Alliance Française, Institut Français, partner schools).
- Mandatory skills: Listening (29 MCQ · 25 min) · Language structure (18 MCQ · 15 min) · Reading (29 MCQ · 45 min).
- Optional skills: Writing (3 tasks · 60 min) · Speaking (3 tasks · 12 min). Book only what the receiving body asks for.
- Scoring: 100-699 per skill, mapped to CEFR A1-C2. No overall score — institutions read per-skill.
- Validity: 2 years from exam date. Attestation issued within 15-30 days.
- TCF general (this page)All-purpose / visa / academic
- TCF-DAPUniversity Year 1 admission
- TCF-IRNFrench citizenship · 10-yr card
- TCF QuébecQuebec PSTQ · PEQ selection
- TCF CanadaFederal Express Entry
- TCF result validity2 years · no extension
Always confirm the exact TCF code (DAP / IRN / Québec / Canada / general) with the body requesting your score before booking.
Ministry-level credibility · variant-precise · modular by design
Ministry-level conductor
FEI is a public operator under the French Ministry of Education — TEF is issued by CCI Paris (a commercial chamber). When a French government process accepts both, TCF carries the deeper state stamp.
Variants for each use-case
DAP for university, IRN for citizenship, Québec for Quebec selection, Canada for Express Entry. Each variant is purpose-built — no generic certificate trying to fit every door.
MCQ-heavy mandatory core
76 MCQs across 3 mandatory skills — low writing burden, fast results, and the option to skip Writing / Speaking if your target body doesn't ask for them.
Per-skill score transparency
100-699 per skill with explicit CEFR bands. You see exactly which skill is dragging you below B2 — and our mocks rebuild that one.
What you get on LanguageTest.in
Full 5-skill mocks
Every mock mirrors the real TCF: 29-item Listening · 18-item Language structure · 29-item Reading · 3-task Writing · 3-task Speaking — same timings, same answer interfaces.
Per-skill CEFR forecast
See your projected 100-699 score and CEFR band per skill after every mock — the same way the official attestation will read.
Variant-aware practice
Toggle between general TCF / DAP / IRN modes — Writing prompts and difficulty calibrate to the variant you're booked for.
Mock packs · pay-as-you-go
Stack packs across multiple sittings. No subscription. Single skill or full 5-skill bundles.
Pricing is being updated — please check back shortly.
The most asked TCF questions
TCF vs TEF vs DELF — which one should I take?+
TCF has so many variants — DAP, IRN, Québec, Canada, general. Which one is mine?+
Can I book just one or two skills instead of all five?+
How do I interpret the 100-699 score per skill?+
Is there a mandatory gap between TCF attempts?+
How long is the TCF result valid?+
Which TCF variant fits which visa or programme?+
Find out your TCF CEFR band before booking the real one
A full-length, variant-aware TCF mock. Per-skill CEFR forecast within the hour.