French Exams Explained: DELF, DALF, TCF and TEF — Which One and When

Sooner or later every serious learner meets the alphabet soup: DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF. They overlap, they’re all official — and they serve different masters. Here’s the map.

The two families

• Diplomas (DELF/DALF) — you pass a level, you keep it for life.
• Tests (TCF/TEF) — they photograph your level today; results expire after 2 years.

DELF — the workhorse diploma (A1–B2)

One exam per CEFR level, four papers each: listening, reading, writing, speaking (25 points each, 50/100 to pass, minimum 5/25 per paper). DELF B2 is the famous one — the standard ticket into French universities. Preparing it? We wrote a realistic DELF B2 study plan.

DALF — the advanced diploma (C1–C2)

Same family, higher altitude: essays, syntheses, long presentations. C1 exempts you from language tests at most French universities — including selective programs. Lifetime validity makes it the best long-term investment if you’re settling into a francophone career.

TCF & TEF — the snapshots

• TCF (France Éducation international) — multiple-choice core + optional speaking/writing. Required flavours exist for Québec immigration (TCF Canada) and French nationality (TCF IRN).
• TEF (CCI Paris) — the other snapshot, equally accepted; TEF Canada is the classic Canadian immigration route.
• Choose by the authority you’re applying to — immigration offices name the exact test they want. Check their list before booking anything.

Which one should YOU take?

• University in France → DELF B2 (or DALF C1 for selective programs).
• Canadian immigration → TEF Canada or TCF Canada — exactly as your program specifies.
• French nationality → since the 2024 immigration law (in force January 2026), naturalisation requires B2; the carte de résident requires B1. TCF IRN is the test built for these applications — check the level currently listed for your procedure.
• Job market / CV → DELF B2 reads best to employers; it never expires.
• Just measuring progress → skip the fees: our free level test and the A1–B2 roadmap do the job.

Practical numbers

• Cost: roughly €100–200 per DELF/DALF sitting, €80–180 for TCF/TEF, varying by country and options.
• Sessions run several times a year at Alliance Française centres and accredited schools worldwide.
• Results: a few weeks for tests, up to 2–3 months for diploma certificates.

How to prepare (whatever you chose)

All four reward the same training: real listening (video lessons daily), timed writing practice, and speaking with correction — the paper everyone fails alone is the oral. That’s exactly what lessons with Xavier are for: exam-format speaking practice with a native examiner’s ear.

Quick practice