Three French Certifications, Three Purposes
DELF, TCF and TEF are often spoken about as if they were interchangeable proof of the same thing. They are not. DELF is a diploma; TCF and TEF are tests that produce a score. The choice usually comes down to what the certificate is for — a university application, a visa, a job, or simply a permanent record of your level.
Check before you book
Validity periods, score bands and accepted certificates change. Always confirm with the institution or immigration authority you are applying to, and with the official test website, before you pay for a session.
DELF: The Diploma
DELF is offered at four independent levels — A1, A2, B1, B2 — with DALF covering C1 and C2. You sit one level, are assessed on all four skills, and either pass (at least 50/100 with at least 5/25 in each skill) or do not. The diploma is valid for life.
Because it never expires, DELF is the strongest long-term proof of level. If you want a certificate you can put on a CV and forget about, DELF is the obvious choice. See the DELF A2 and B1 guide for the lower levels.
TCF: The Aptitude Test
The TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) is a general French test that places you on the CEFR scale from a score. It has several variants depending on purpose — the general TCF, TCF Canada, TCF Québec and TCF DAP for university entry in France.
TCF Canada is specifically designed for Canadian immigration and is accepted alongside TEF Canada. Its result is expressed as a level per skill, which maps to Canadian Language Benchmarks.
TEF: The Knowledge Test
The TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) is issued by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce. Like the TCF it produces a score rather than a pass or fail, and it has variants: TEF Canada for immigration, TEF Études for study, and TEF Québec.
For Canadian immigration the TEF Canada result is read against official CLB equivalency charts. Our TEF Canada score chart guide walks through how to read those bands.
Side by Side
Which One Should You Take?
Choose DELF if…
You want a permanent record of your level, your target institution or employer accepts it, and you are willing to prepare for a specific level. It is the best value over time because it never expires.
Choose TCF if…
You need a quick, score-based placement for university admission in France (TCF DAP) or for Canadian immigration (TCF Canada), and you are comfortable with a test designed to rank you rather than assess a fixed syllabus.
Choose TEF if…
You are pursuing Canadian immigration and want the TEF Canada route, or an institution specifically asks for TEF. It is the main alternative to TCF Canada and is widely accepted for Express Entry.
The simple decision rule
Permanent proof of level → DELF. Immigration to Canada → TEF Canada or TCF Canada (whichever your draw or consultant recommends). University in France → TCF DAP, unless DELF is accepted.
FAQ
Is DELF harder than TCF or TEF?
They test differently. DELF assesses a fixed level with a pass mark, so you must be solid across all four skills at that level. TCF and TEF are score-based and rank you along a scale, so a very strong candidate can score highly without "passing" a specific level. Difficulty depends on your target, not the certificate alone.
Can I use DELF for Canadian immigration?
DELF is accepted for some Canadian streams, but many immigration pathways specify TEF Canada or TCF Canada because those results map directly to Canadian Language Benchmarks. Check the exact requirement of your programme before choosing.
How long are TCF and TEF results valid?
Generally two years, though the authority you are applying to may impose its own window. Because results expire, candidates often take a test close to their application deadline rather than years in advance.