At IFALPES, we organise each month the TCF exam (Test de Connaissance du Français). It’s an official test recognised by public authorities and schools. On Thursday we welcomed the candidates of the TCF exam for French nationality. Indeed, in the file to be submitted to the Prefecture for the naturalisation, it is compulsory to provide a certificate or diploma proving the level of French of the person applying. For naturalisation, the minimum level required is B1.
What does the test consist of ?
The test consists of four compulsory tests :
- A collective oral comprehension test (29 questions in the form of multiple-choice questions). This test lasts 25 minutes.
- A collective written comprehension test (29 questions in the form of multiple-choice questions). This test lasts 45 minutes.
- An individual written expression test (3 texts to be produced). This test lasts 30 minutes.
- An individual oral expression test (3 tasks). This test lasts 10 minutes.
Why is it necessary to plan the whole day ?
We ask all our candidates to ba available the whole day of the exam (not to work or have an important meeting). Indeed, the day is divided into 2 parts :
Group tests: All candidates take these tests at the same time. They cover oral and written comprehension as well as written expression.
Oral expression: The test is individual and each candidate has a different schedule. The 2 parts are not necessarily one after the other. This is why we ask our candidates to plan their day for this exam.
When is the test schedule sent ?
Candidates receive their convocation with the timetable by email approximately one week before the exam. PLEASE NOTE: as it is a bulk email, the email can sometimes end up in junk mail.
When will the results be available ?
IFALPES is only the TCF examination centre, the corrections are carried out by France Education International in Paris. The average waiting time is about 3 to 4 weeks after taking the exam. We ask our candidates to bring a stamped envelope on the day of the exam to send the results afterwards.
How long is the certificate valid ?
If the candidate has obtained the minimum B1 level in all the tests, he or she can add the certificate to his or her naturalisation file. This level certificate is valid for 2 years.
