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TEF Canada speaking test: how Sections A and B work, and the score you need for NCLC 7

The TEF Canada speaking test (expression orale) lasts 15 minutes, face to face with one examiner, in two parts: Section A (5 minutes), where you phone about an ad and ask about ten questions, and Section B (10 minutes), where you present an ad to a friend and try to convince them. NCLC 7 in speaking needs at least 456 out of 699 on your results (456–493), but your Express Entry profile takes the "Équivalence ancien score" column instead, where NCLC 7 starts at 310 (310–348).

The two sections at a glance

Section A Section B
Length 5 min 10 min
Prompt An everyday ad (housing, a job, a course, a service) An everyday ad (a club, a trip, a course, an event)
Your job Phone the advertiser and get the missing information Present the ad to a friend and win them over
The examiner plays Your interlocutor, the person in charge of the ad Your friend
Situation (2017 manual) "situation formelle" (formal) "situation amicale" (between friends)
Register (our advice) vous tu
What's assessed Getting information, asking for clarification, keeping a formal conversation going Presenting, developing arguments, keeping an informal conversation going

Sources: CCI Paris Île-de-France, the test's maker (presentation page and 2024 speaking samples), and the 2017 TEF Canada candidate manual for the formal/friendly labels. The official pages don't spell out "tu" or "vous"; the register follows from those two situations. More on the choice (in French): tu ou vous.

What the room is like

  • One examiner, face to face. Listening, reading and writing are taken on a computer, but speaking is a live conversation. The examiner plays whatever role the prompt sets.
  • Recorded. CCI says the speaking test is « systématiquement enregistrée pour permettre une double évaluation » (always recorded so it can be marked twice).
  • No notes. Scratch paper, notes and documents aren't allowed in the speaking tests.
  • Reading time. The 2017 candidate manual gives you one minute to read the prompt before each section. As of November 1, 2026, CCI's current pages and 2024 samples don't mention it, so check with your test centre.
  • Results and retakes. As of November 1, 2026, CCI's TEF Canada pages don't publish a results delay or a waiting period between two sittings. Ask your test centre when you book.

Section A: the phone call (5 minutes)

The official instruction reads: « Vous avez lu une annonce… Vous téléphonez pour avoir plus d’informations. Posez une dizaine de questions. » (You read an ad. You phone for more information. Ask about ten questions.)

Here's an ad from Niveau7's bank in the same format (tefA-026), written in French as on the test:

Hôtel du Havre recrute : préposé(e) à l’accueil bilingue L’Hôtel du Havre, établissement de 85 chambres au centre-ville de Moncton, cherche une personne souriante et organisée pour son service à la réception. Vous accueillez les clients, gérez les réservations et répondez aux demandes en français et en anglais. Poste permanent. Formation offerte. […]

The ad leaves out the hours, the pay, the trial period, the benefits and the start date. Those gaps are your ten questions. Questions from the item's own list (tefA-026): « Quels seraient mes horaires de travail ? », « Quel est le salaire offert ? », « Y a-t-il une période d’essai ? », « Quels avantages sociaux offrez-vous ? ».

A plan for Section A (our advice)

  1. Open. Greet and say why you're calling: « Bonjour madame, je vous appelle au sujet de votre annonce pour le poste de préposé à l’accueil. »
  2. Ask about ten questions, one gap at a time. Full sentences, and vary the form so the examiner hears your grammar: « Est-ce que… ? », « Pourriez-vous me dire si… ? » (could you tell me whether…), inversion (« Faut-il… ? »), « Et en ce qui concerne… ? » (and as for…).
  3. React, then dig. Acknowledge each answer (« D’accord », « Très bien ») and ask for a detail when an answer is vague or raises a new question: « Si je comprends bien, … ? » (if I understand correctly…). Asking for clarification is part of what CCI assesses in Section A.
  4. Close. Thank them and say what you'll do next: « Je vous envoie mon CV aujourd’hui. Merci beaucoup, bonne journée. »

Before the call, sort the gaps into three or four topics (for this ad: the schedule, the pay and benefits, the training, the hiring dates). Moving topic by topic keeps the call coherent and makes it easy to see when you're short of questions.

What it sounds like: the opening of a call

Example written by Niveau7, not a real candidate. The examiner's answers use only facts from the item (tefA-026); the notes in italics explain what each line does.

You: « Bonjour madame, je vous appelle au sujet de votre annonce pour le poste de préposé à l’accueil. Auriez-vous quelques minutes ? » (Why you're calling, in one sentence, with vous.)

Examiner: « Oui, bien sûr. »

You: « Merci. D’abord, pourriez-vous me dire s’il s’agit d’un poste à temps plein ? » (First gap, as an indirect question.)

Examiner: « Oui, c’est un poste à temps plein de 37,5 heures par semaine. »

You: « Très bien. Et quels seraient mes horaires ? » (A short reaction, then the next gap.)

Examiner: « Les horaires sont en rotation : jour, soir, et une fin de semaine sur deux. »

You: « Une fin de semaine sur deux, d’accord. Faut-il aussi travailler la nuit ? » (Repeating a detail shows you're listening; inversion varies the form.)

Examiner: « Non, il n’y a pas de quart de nuit pour ce poste. »

You: « Parfait. En ce qui concerne le salaire, combien offrez-vous ? » (Moving to a new topic with a linking phrase.)

Examiner: « Le salaire de départ est de 19,50 $ l’heure, avec une augmentation après la période d’essai. »

You: « Ah, il y a une période d’essai ? Combien de temps dure-t-elle ? » (A follow-up on something she just said: this is asking for clarification.)

The call goes on the same way through benefits, training and dates, then closes with thanks and a next step. More ads and the full method (in French): TEF Section A.

Section B: convincing a friend (10 minutes)

You present the ad in your own words and try to win your friend over: the official instruction is « Essayez de le (la) convaincre » (try to convince him or her). In Niveau7, the friend pushes back, so you practise answering objection after objection.

From tefB-003 (« Fin de semaine de camping au parc national de la Jacques-Cartier »), two objections our examiner can raise, word for word:

  • « Dormir sous la tente ? Tu plaisantes ? J’aime mon lit et ma douche chaude. »
  • « 245 $ pour dormir par terre… Pour ce prix-là, je me paie une nuit dans un bel hôtel. »

A plan for Section B (our advice)

  1. Present the ad (about a minute). What it is, where, when, how much, and who it's for, in your own words. Don't read the ad aloud.
  2. Give two or three reasons that fit this friend. Tie them to what you know about them: « Tu me disais que tu voulais changer d’air… »
  3. Answer each objection in three moves. Agree with part of it (« C’est vrai que… », « Je te comprends, mais… »), answer with a fact from the ad, then turn it into a benefit (« Justement, … »). The example below does exactly this.
  4. Keep the conversation going. Hand the turn back with a question (« Qu’est-ce qui te fait peur, exactement ? ») instead of making a speech.
  5. Close with a concrete next step. « On réserve pour juillet ? »

The friend in this item is a city person who has never camped, is scared of insects and wild animals, and cares about comfort. Here's where to find an answer for each worry, using only what the item gives:

The friend's worry Answer with
Comfort (the tent, no bed) Tents, mattresses and stoves are provided, and two guides look after the group
Bears and wild animals The guides know the park, and safety rules are explained at the start
Never been in a canoe The canoe trip is on a calm part of the river, with a life jacket and instructions
The price $245 includes transport from Québec, the gear, the activities and the guides
Mosquitoes Insect repellent and long clothes are enough to enjoy the campfire

Example: one exchange, from NCLC 6 to NCLC 7

Example written by Niveau7, not a real candidate. The objection: « 245 $ pour dormir par terre… Pour ce prix-là, je me paie une nuit dans un bel hôtel. »

Closer to NCLC 6 Aiming at NCLC 7
« Oui mais c’est pas juste dormir. Il y a le canot et tout. » « C’est vrai que 245 $, ce n’est pas rien. Mais le prix comprend le transport depuis Québec, le matériel, les activités et les deux guides. À l’hôtel, tu aurais un lit, mais pas le canot ni la soirée autour du feu. »

What moved it: the candidate concedes the point first (« C’est vrai que… »), answers with facts from the ad, compares fairly with the friend's alternative (« À l’hôtel, tu aurais… », a conditional), and uses a complete negation (« ce n’est pas » rather than « c’est pas »). The tu register holds, because it's a friend. More objections and full answers (in French): TEF Section B.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Switching between tu and vous halfway through. Choose at the first sentence and keep it.
  • Reading out a list of questions without reacting to the answers.
  • Asking about something the ad already says (here: whether the job is permanent or whether there's training). Ask about the details instead: what the training involves, how long it lasts.
  • Only one question form, repeated ten times. Mix « Est-ce que », inversion and indirect questions.
  • In Section B, reading the ad word for word instead of presenting it.
  • In Section B, repeating the same argument instead of answering the objection in front of you.
  • Running out of things to say long before the time is up: keep two spare questions for Section A and two spare arguments for Section B.

The score: /699 on your results, /450 in Express Entry

Since December 11, 2023, each TEF Canada skill is scored out of 699, and your results show your CEFR level and NCLC. For speaking:

NCLC Speaking /699 (CCI) "Équivalence ancien score" /450 (IRCC, for Express Entry)
4 328–386 181–225
5 387–421 226–270
6 422–455 271–309
7 456–493 310–348
8 494–517 349–370
9 518–555 371–392
10 556–591 393–450
11 592–641 393–450 (IRCC's top band is NCLC 10+)
12 642–699 393–450 (IRCC's top band is NCLC 10+)

IRCC says to enter only the scores from the "Équivalence ancien score" column, because /699 scores "aren't compatible with our system at this time". A worked lookup: 461/699 in speaking is in the 456–493 band, so it's NCLC 7, which sits at 310–348 in the old column. All four skills and more lookups: TEF Canada score chart.

Why NCLC 7 matters

Express Entry's French-language category asks for NCLC 7 in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), and you must also be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills also earns additional CRS points: 25 if your English is CLB 4 or lower (or you have no English test), 50 if it's CLB 5 or higher in all four skills. Your results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

Program minimums are a separate thing: the Federal Skilled Worker program asks for NCLC 7 in your first official language, the Canadian Experience Class asks for NCLC 7 for TEER 0–1 jobs and NCLC 5 for TEER 2–3, and the Federal Skilled Trades program asks for NCLC 5 in speaking and listening and NCLC 4 in reading and writing. As of October 27, 2026, IRCC had held 12 French-language proficiency draws in 2026, with cutoffs from 382 to 435. More: Express Entry and French.

How to practise in the last two weeks (our advice)

  • Every day, one Section A on a new ad. Set a 5-minute timer, record yourself, then count your questions and the question forms you used.
  • Every day, one Section B with objections. Ten minutes with someone (or an AI examiner) who disagrees on purpose. Write down the objections you couldn't answer and prepare a fact-based reply.
  • Twice a week, the full 15 minutes. Section A then Section B, back to back, as on the day.
  • Listen back for three things. Tu or vous held from start to finish, complete negations (« ne… pas »), and at least four different connectors (« d’abord », « en plus », « justement », « par contre »).

A week-by-week plan for the whole TEF: TEF Canada preparation.

TEF or TCF?

IRCC accepts both for Express Entry. The TCF Canada speaking test is 12 minutes in three shorter tasks (an interview about you, a role-play, an opinion). Side by side: TEF vs TCF. The full guide to both sections in French: TEF Canada expression orale (in French). A full mock to try today: TEF and TCF speaking practice test.

Taking the TEF for citizenship rather than Express Entry? A 2-module TEF Canada (listening and speaking) exists for that. CCI's page says NCLC 4 minimum, but IRCC's list of accepted tests asks for B1 or higher in listening and speaking, and IRCC decides the application, so aim for B1. See French test for Canadian citizenship.

Practise both sections with Niveau7

Practise TEF Canada speaking with Niveau7 Do Sections A and B out loud, on the real clock, with an AI examiner who plays the part and never helps. Right after: an estimated NCLC (an estimate, not an official result), a level for each of the six criteria in Niveau7's report, and the three fixes worth most toward NCLC 7, on your own sentences. 7 days free, then a weekly or monthly plan, cancel anytime. Start your free week

Frequently asked questions

How long is the TEF Canada speaking test?

15 minutes: 5 minutes for Section A and 10 minutes for Section B. It's face to face with one examiner and it's recorded.

What TEF speaking score do I need for NCLC 7?

At least 456 out of 699 on your current results (456–493 is NCLC 7; 494 and up is NCLC 8 or higher). In your Express Entry profile, you enter the "Équivalence ancien score" instead, where NCLC 7 in speaking starts at 310 (310–348).

How long are TEF Canada results valid for Express Entry?

Your results must be less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and again when you apply for permanent residence.

Do I use tu or vous in the TEF speaking test?

The official pages don't say "tu" or "vous" outright. Section A is a formal situation (you're calling someone about an ad), so our advice is vous throughout. Section B is between friends, so tu is natural. Whichever applies, keep it from the first sentence to the last.

How many questions should I ask in Section A?

The official instruction says about ten (« une dizaine »). Aim for ten clear, complete questions that fill the gaps in the ad, plus a polite opening and closing, and keep two spare questions in case the call moves fast.

Can I answer in English if I'm stuck?

Stay in French: the test assesses your French. If a word escapes you, describe it in French (« le truc pour… », « une sorte de… »), or in Section A ask the examiner to clarify. Asking for clarification is part of what CCI assesses in Section A.

Are the ads on this page real test questions?

No. They're original Niveau7 prompts written in the TEF format. CCI Paris Île-de-France publishes official speaking samples (link below).

Sources

Last checked: November 1, 2026.

Niveau7 is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with France Éducation International (TCF Canada), CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF Canada) or IRCC.