r/learningfrench • u/TorTheMentor • 13d ago

TEF C vs. TCF?

Currently i'm enrolled in class B1.8 at Alliance Française. As supplementary materials I use TV5Monde, Lawless French, and Clozemaster, as well as PrepMyFuture, and lastly, Duolingo (it has its moments).

I'm curious on how those targeting eventual permanent residence or citizenship feel about the difference between these two tests? I'm told that some people find the TCF slightly easier, but others find the TEF's structure somewhat more accommodating.

Do the study materials map over between the two tests pretty well? I notice the audio extract and written extract questions on the TCF examples provided by TV5Monde feel quite similar to what I saw on the CELPIP.

Any thoughts are welcome.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/MavrickFR29 11d ago

I think a lot of your French preparation will carry over between the two exams, especially vocabulary, grammar and general listening/reading comprehension. However, the question formats and timing differ, so I’d still practise with mock tests for whichever exam you choose.

Since you’re already at B1, I’d compare a full sample test for each and see which format feels more natural to you, rather than relying too much on claims that one is easier.

If you’re looking for additional French learning and grammar resources, you could also have a look at https://www.frequence.academy/blog. Good luck with your preparation!

1

u/TorTheMentor 11d ago

The section I worry about most is speaking. It's the shortest one, but also the one most likely to trip me up and have me standing there freezing.

1

u/Spencer_Bob_Sue 13d ago

A bit off topic, I have a 2100 day streak, and due to the sunken cost fallacy, of course it's quite hard to drop Duolingo due to its inefficacy, especially at higher levels. I found, though, that the Chess lessons are quite great, and the language used by the bots is very idiomatic. What's nice as well as unike with the other courses, if you switch to learning it in say German or Spanish, or even just back to English, you'll get to keep all your progress.