The TCF for French nationality (TCF IRN) is specifically designed to meet the new provisions introduced by the Ministère français de l’Intérieur, de l’Outre-mer, des Collectivités territoriales et de l’Immigration related to the assessment of French language proficiency for applicants to French citizenship.
Offered since January 2012, the TCF IRN was specifically designed to comply with the new measures introduced by the French Interior Ministry (decree 2011-1265 of 11 October 2011) set at oral level B1 (listening and speaking examinations), the minimum level of French proficiency required for candidates to French citizenship.
As an exception, the French authorities will also accept results to TCF for the general public complete with an oral expression examination, and to the TCF Québec (with speaking and listening examinations), resulting in level B1 minimum.
DELF B1, B2 or DALF C1, C2 diploma holders are also exempt from the test
WHAT DOES THE TEST INCLUDE
The TCF is available in camputer-based version.
No prior qualification is required to sit the exam. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age.
Candidates may take the test several times, allowing a minimum of 30 days between two exam sessions.
The TCF ANF evaluate the French skills on a scale with six levels (from A1 to C2) established by the the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
1 Listening: 15 min
– Exam room test: 20 multiple choice questions (4 possible answers, only 1 correct answer)
2 Reading : 20 min
– Exam room test: 20 multiple choice questions (4 possible answers, only 1 correct answer)
3 Written : 30 min
– Exam room test: 3 exercises
4 Speaking: 10 min
– Individual test one-on-one with an examiner: 3 exercises
An official certificate of results will be delivered to each candidate 2 weeks after the test. For each module, the certificate will show the score obtained.
The results are valid for two years.
For further information, please visit France Éducation international website.