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French Certifications: What’s the Difference Between TCF, TEF, DELF, & DALF? When trying to apply to French or Canadian universities, hunt for a job in France, or submit a citizenship application in a French speaking country, you will almost certainly have to take a French language proficiency test to assess your French skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It’s not enough to speak French; whether you’re looking to prove your French language skills for professional or personal reasons, you need to show that your French grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills are good enough to survive abroad. There are a few French exams that will test your French level, and give formal documentation of your French proficiency, but it can be complicated to understand the differences between TEF and TCF foreign language tests, or decide between a DELF vs DALF diploma. So which French exam should you take? French language tests are scored according to six levels within the Common European Framework: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, with A1 being a beginner, and C2 being fluent. The DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française: level A1, A2, B1, or B2) and DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française:C1 or C2) are French language exams organized by France Education International, part of the French Ministry of Education. The tests have 4 categories: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. They get longer the more advanced you are, with an A1 written exam taking an hour and 20 minutes, and a B2 taking two and a half hours. The DALF has a duration of 3.5-4 hours. TEF vs TCF TCF exams (Test de connaissance du français) and TEF exams (Test d’Evaluation de Français) are not broken up by level, but instead designed to assess your French language skills on a sliding scale, with the test questions increasing in difficulty as the exam goes on. The TEF and TCF are extremely similar, and there are no major differences between the two. Both TEF and TCF exam results are valid for applying for permanent residency or citizenship in France and Canada. The TEF Canada and TCF Canada are separate exams specifically designed for emigrating to Canada or applying for Canadian citizenship. The TEF Canada involves an additional oral exam that tests for listening comprehension and spoken French language skills. The TEF and TCF exams tend to be more expensive than the DELF and DALF. They are also only valid for 2 years. Source: https://frenchly.us/