Québec French test
TEFAQ Explained: The TEF for Québec, and How It Differs from TEF Canada
The TEFAQ is the version of the TEF made for Québec immigration. It is not the same test as TEF Canada, which is the one used for Express Entry. This guide explains what the TEFAQ contains, how it compares to TEF Canada, and how to avoid booking the wrong one. As of November 2026.
The basics
What Is the TEFAQ?
TEFAQ stands for *Test d'évaluation de français pour l'accès au Québec*. It is run by the same organisation as the TEF Canada: the CCI Paris Île-de-France, through its brand Le français des affaires. Its booklet for test centres says the TEFAQ has been recognised since 2006 by the Québec immigration ministry (the MIFI) and is used for an official immigration application.
The TEFAQ is made of separate modules. Two are required and two are optional for the main applicant. You and your centre choose the modules that match what the Québec program asks of you.
| Module | Format | Time | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral comprehension (listening) | 40 questions | 40 min | Required |
| Oral expression (speaking) | 2 subjects | 15 min | Required |
| Written comprehension (reading) | 40 questions | 60 min | Optional for the main applicant |
| Written expression (writing) | 2 subjects | 60 min | Optional for the main applicant |
The number of modules and the level you need are set by the Québec ministry, program by program, not by the test organiser. Always read the current rules for your program on the Québec immigration website before you book.
Which one?
TEFAQ vs TEF Canada: The Key Difference
The two tests look similar on paper. The question is which government will read your result.
| TEFAQ | TEF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Québec immigration (MIFI) | Federal programs, including Express Entry (IRCC) |
| Modules | Listening and speaking required; reading and writing optional for the main applicant | All four skills are needed for Express Entry |
| Reading / listening format | 40 questions each (60 and 40 min) | 40 questions each (60 and 40 min) |
| Writing / speaking format | 2 subjects each (60 and 15 min) | 2 sections each (60 and about 15 min) |
| Result validity (CCI) | 2 years | 2 years |
For Express Entry, IRCC lists the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada as its accepted French tests. If your plan is a federal one, book TEF Canada, not TEFAQ. See TEF Canada vs TCF Canada if you are still choosing between those two.
If your plan is a Québec program, check the ministry's list of accepted tests and the level it asks for each skill. Third-party websites often disagree on these details, and the rules change. We did not find a current official page we could cite for the exact levels, so we leave them out here rather than guess.
Study tips
How to Prepare for the TEFAQ
Because listening and speaking are the required modules, start there. The question types are the same family as TEF Canada, so TEF Canada practice carries over well.
- 1Confirm your modules first. Ask which modules your Québec program needs. Do not pay for or study modules you will not use.
- 2Train your listening. Do timed listening sets of 40 questions in 40 minutes. See TEF Canada reading and listening tips.
- 3Practise speaking out loud. The oral expression module has 2 subjects in 15 minutes. See TEF Canada speaking for the structure and for sample answers.
- 4If you take writing, practise both texts. There are 2 subjects in 60 minutes. See TEF Canada writing examples.
- 5Check the plan length you need. Starting level changes the time you need. See how long to prepare and the TEF Canada study plan.
Avoid these
Four Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Booking TEFAQ for Express Entry. The names are close, and some centres list both. If your goal is a federal program, choose TEF Canada.
- Assuming one result serves both. A result is issued for one version of the test. Do not plan to use a TEFAQ result in an IRCC profile, or a TEF Canada result in a Québec file, without checking the rules of that program first.
- Relying on blog posts for levels. Online guides, including some written by law firms, give different answers on the French level and the accepted tests for Québec programs. Use the ministry's own pages, and note the date you read them.
- Letting a result expire. The CCI states that TEF results are valid for two years. Book so that your result is still valid on the day your file is assessed. See how long TEF and TCF results are valid.
A simple check before you pay: write down the program name, the skills it asks for, the level it asks for each skill, and the test names it accepts. Copy these from the official page. Then compare them with the name on the booking page. If one word is different, ask the centre before you pay.
If you are still deciding whether Québec or a federal route fits you, speak to a regulated immigration professional. Frenchly cannot tell you which program to choose. We can help you practise the French itself, once you know which test you need.
Practical
Booking the TEFAQ
You book through an approved centre. Not every centre offers every version. McGill's language assessment centre in Montréal, for example, offers both TEF Canada and TEFaQ, and sells the TEFaQ modules one by one. Its page lists $145 for oral comprehension and for oral expression, and $73 for written comprehension and for written expression, and says fees are not refundable. Fees differ by centre and can change, so check your centre's page.
Centres list both tests side by side, so read the name on the booking page carefully. See our test centre guides for Montréal and other cities, and how to book the TEF Canada.
Frenchly is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with the CCI Paris Île-de-France, Le français des affaires, the MIFI or IRCC, and it does not guarantee any score or immigration result.
Questions
TEFAQ Explained FAQ
Is the TEFAQ the same as TEF Canada?
No. They come from the same organiser and have a similar format, but they are made for different governments. TEFAQ is for Québec immigration. TEF Canada is the one IRCC accepts for Express Entry.
Can I use the TEFAQ for Express Entry?
IRCC lists TEF Canada and TCF Canada as its accepted French tests for Express Entry. For a federal application, book TEF Canada.
Which TEFAQ modules are required?
Oral comprehension and oral expression are required. Written comprehension and written expression are optional for the main applicant, according to the CCI booklet. Your Québec program sets what you actually need.
How long is a TEFAQ result valid?
The CCI says results for all versions of the TEF are valid for two years. Your program may apply its own date rules, so check with the ministry.
Does Frenchly have TEFAQ practice?
Frenchly is built around TEF Canada and TCF Canada. The question types overlap with the TEFAQ, but we do not offer a separate TEFAQ course.
Next step
Practise the TEF Canada format
Frenchly has TEF Canada and TCF Canada practice, full mock exams (five for each exam), and AI feedback from Sophie on writing and speaking. 14 days free. Card required; your plan is charged once on day 15 unless you cancel before.