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TEF requirements and clarifications

Daria

Member
Apr 6, 2009
14
0
Hi,

According with CIC website, the applicants that take a TEF exam must undergo all the tests - the mandatory ones and the optional ones.
I am a little bit confused by the structure of TEF versus the structure of IELTS and I would like to ask for clarification.

1. What is the difference between "comprehension ecrite" and "expression ecrite"?
Is any of them similar to the writing part of IELTS? If yes, could you, please, give more details about similarities and differences between them and IELTS relative to each of them?

2. The two optional tests ("expression orale" and "expression ecrite") can be taken only if all the mandatory tests are taken. One of the mandatory tests is "lexique et structure". CIC doesn't mention anything about this test, or I was unable to find their mentions.
Could somebody who took TEF explain what this mandatory test consists of, and how its score is considered by CIC?

3. Does TEF have any part where reading loudly is required?

4. Could somebody who took TEF share his/her experience: time needed for preparation, starting level, achieved level, achieved points, materials (books, media) used for preparation and from where they can be procured?

Thank you in advance,
Daria
 

marylatt

Star Member
Nov 22, 2010
155
30
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H Daria,

This is an old topic but since I'm taking the test on April 4th, I thought I'd reply.

1. Comprehension ecrite: reading comprehension - reading texts and answering questions; Expression ecrite: Writing.

2. The mandatory part consists of Reading Comprehension (Comprehension ecrite), Oral Comprehension (Listening), and Lexique and Structure.

3. I don't believe so. However, one of the optional tests is Expression Orale, where you have to explain a test and try to convince someone to do something based on a test. So you definitely have to speak for that part of the test.

4. I haven't taken it yet. I had taken French before, so I was at the Intermediate level when I started to study for the TEF a few months ago. I used this book as a reference http://w ww.amazon.ca/TEF-d%C3%A9valuation-Fran%C3%A7ais-activit%C3%A9s-audio/dp/2090333480
I'm hoping I'm at least a High Intermediate now, I've also been taking french classes at a school. I did a practice test and achieved a B2 level, but in terms of the real test, we shall see!