I passed TEF. It's possible.

[Etoillenfant7]

I'm an English speaker, born, raised and living in an English speaking country and I passed TEF. I sat on October 26, I received my result in November and it was 3 C1s and 1 high B2. It gave me an additional 51 points.

I'm posting this here to encourage anyone who might be considering learning French to boost their CRS. I just want to let you know that it's possible. Challenging, but possible. I passed on my third attempt at a French proficiency test (sat for TEF first, then TCF, then TEF). It took me a little over a year to achieve.

When I started, I couldn't really find many (if any) relatable experiences or stories to encourage me. So I just want to leave this here to encourage anyone who, like me, may Google search for an English speaking person who was able to pass TEF. It's possible. Be encouraged.

 

[mehran11]

Hello Dear,
Can you please share the material and the strategies that you used. I am currently studying french I am at B1 level right now. I gave One attempt i got one B1 and Three A2.
Merci beaucoup

 

[Etoillenfant7]

Hello Dear,
Can you please share the material and the strategies that you used. I am currently studying french I am at B1 level right now. I gave One attempt i got one B1 and Three A2.
Merci beaucoup

Hello Mehran,
I'd love to help in any way I can. There's a Facebook group (Comment Se Préparer au TEF, TCF Canada) that shares exam resources (past questions), but you might probably find out that it's almost impossible to pass TEF or TCF without actually being proficient in
French.
I'm actually self taught, so a lot of the methods I used were informal. I learned to read fluently using French news apps (bye bye BBC & CNN, welcome RFI, France 24, France INFO etc) and Google Translate app. I figured I'd only be able to attempt the test once I could read randomly in French as I do in English. Once I reached a certain level of comfort, I changed the language settings of my phone and other devices to French, continuing to use Google Translate to expand my vocabulary.

Soon, I realised I could read quite well, but seriously struggled with understanding what I heard i.e spoken French. I checked the Internet and found from other people's experiences, that that doesn't come automatically. You'll need to employ audio resources with French transcripts to enhance your audio Compréhension. I'm an android user, so I can recommend some very helpful apps there (French Conversation by TTA Apps Studio, News In Slow French). These two are very helpful, the latter helps you get accustomed to the rhythm and vocabulary of the news read out in FrenchFrench, while the former helps with day to day style of conversation. With time, I realised I was very comfortable with the content from the two, but still struggled with things I heard on radio or TV. Then I stumbled on two resources that massively helped me improveimprove my listening and I still use them to this moment. They're: Sept Jours sur la Planète on YouTube, and RFI's Le Journal en Français Facile. They take real life discussions and news, not studio tailored, and provide transcripts so your brain really gets attuned to spoken French. Original French productions on Netflix with French transcripts (not those translated from other languages, as the transcripts often don't match what you hear) also very helpful eg Chef's Table France, Le K Benzema etc etc

Sorry, I've said so so much. I'll be done in a moment.

For my writing, I started keeping a journal in French, where I tried to express my thoughts and all. It's hard at first, but that's the goal, to get better. Use Google Translate and Linguée, they will help you expand your vocabulary and French expressions. I also used the internet, YouTube resources (Français avec Pierre, Parlez-vous French ? etc) and apps like Test de Grammaire Française to help me improve my grammar. Because I never actually had formal training, my writing was my weakest area, but I eventually engaged a private tutor to help me at my third attempt.

Lastly, because I'm in an anglophone country, I needed someone early on that I could communicate with regularly. Preferably, an actual native speaker. A friend linked me with a Cameroonian lady living in Senegal, and via WhatsApp, we were able to communicate with regularregular frequency. That was also a big game changer. She helped correct many of my errors, reviewed my writings and had conversations with me in French. It wasn't always easy, but it got better.

Excuse me if this is a bit of an overload, just trying to share what I did and the resources I used in context.

I hope these help.

Bonne chance!!

 

[camila447]

Thank you for this past and congratulations on passing the test. I'm currently studying french to try the TCF for the first time in February, finger crossed! I wrote down all your recommendations, writing and speaking are definitely the most difficult for me as I don't practice much and do not know a French speaker to practice with, but I'm working hard

 

[awley]

Hello Mehran,
I'd love to help in any way I can. There's a Facebook group (Comment Se Préparer au TEF, TCF Canada) that shares exam resources (past questions), but you might probably find out that it's almost impossible to pass TEF or TCF without actually being proficient in
French.
I'm actually self taught, so a lot of the methods I used were informal. I learned to read fluently using French news apps (bye bye BBC & CNN, welcome RFI, France 24, France INFO etc) and Google Translate app. I figured I'd only be able to attempt the test once I could read randomly in French as I do in English. Once I reached a certain level of comfort, I changed the language settings of my phone and other devices to French, continuing to use Google Translate to expand my vocabulary.

Soon, I realised I could read quite well, but seriously struggled with understanding what I heard i.e spoken French. I checked the Internet and found from other people's experiences, that that doesn't come automatically. You'll need to employ audio resources with French transcripts to enhance your audio Compréhension. I'm an android user, so I can recommend some very helpful apps there (French Conversation by TTA Apps Studio, News In Slow French). These two are very helpful, the latter helps you get accustomed to the rhythm and vocabulary of the news read out in FrenchFrench, while the former helps with day to day style of conversation. With time, I realised I was very comfortable with the content from the two, but still struggled with things I heard on radio or TV. Then I stumbled on two resources that massively helped me improveimprove my listening and I still use them to this moment. They're: Sept Jours sur la Planète on YouTube, and RFI's Le Journal en Français Facile. They take real life discussions and news, not studio tailored, and provide transcripts so your brain really gets attuned to spoken French. Original French productions on Netflix with French transcripts (not those translated from other languages, as the transcripts often don't match what you hear) also very helpful eg Chef's Table France, Le K Benzema etc etc

Sorry, I've said so so much. I'll be done in a moment.

For my writing, I started keeping a journal in French, where I tried to express my thoughts and all. It's hard at first, but that's the goal, to get better. Use Google Translate and Linguée, they will help you expand your vocabulary and French expressions. I also used the internet, YouTube resources (Français avec Pierre, Parlez-vous French ? etc) and apps like Test de Grammaire Française to help me improve my grammar. Because I never actually had formal training, my writing was my weakest area, but I eventually engaged a private tutor to help me at my third attempt.

Lastly, because I'm in an anglophone country, I needed someone early on that I could communicate with regularly. Preferably, an actual native speaker. A friend linked me with a Cameroonian lady living in Senegal, and via WhatsApp, we were able to communicate with regularregular frequency. That was also a big game changer. She helped correct many of my errors, reviewed my writings and had conversations with me in French. It wasn't always easy, but it got better.

Excuse me if this is a bit of an overload, just trying to share what I did and the resources I used in context.

I hope these help.

Bonne chance!!

Wow, this is quite encouraging

 

[arobotic]

Thanks for sharing your story! that's encouraging.

How much time do you study daily?

Did you use Memrise / Doulingo and do you think they helped you much?

 

[Jus.xe]

Hi.. Happened to know any TEF exam centres in Manila Phil?

 

[Sapan1086]

I'm an English speaker, born, raised and living in an English speaking country and I passed TEF. I sat on October 26, I received my result in November and it was 3 C1s and 1 high B2. It gave me an additional 51 points.

I'm posting this here to encourage anyone who might be considering learning French to boost their CRS. I just want to let you know that it's possible. Challenging, but possible. I passed on my third attempt at a French proficiency test (sat for TEF first, then TCF, then TEF). It took me a little over a year to achieve.

When I started, I couldn't really find many (if any) relatable experiences or stories to encourage me. So I just want to leave this here to encourage anyone who, like me, may Google search for an English speaking person who was able to pass TEF. It's possible. Be encouraged.

Congrats on your good scores.. can you please guide d difference between tef exam and tcf exam??
I m at A1 level right now. Need to boost up my score. I am at 457

 

[faizan01]

Congrats on your good scores.. can you please guide d difference between tef exam and tcf exam??
I m at A1 level right now. Need to boost up my score. I am at 457

Hi Sapan1086 I’m also in the same boat

 

[Sapan1086]

Hi Sapan1086 I’m also in the same boat

Hey.. do u hve ny idea regarding tef n tcf exam?

 

[areslane]

Speaking and listening are two separate part that will not affect one another. Even when you retake the exam, you can retake them separately. It is normal to get different marks in your sections.

 

[Nouhaben]

Hi, I have got my TEF results and I got B2 as a level. How do I know whether it is acceptable or not by CIC?

 

[Sapan1086]

Hi, I have got my TEF results and I got B2 as a level. How do I know whether it is acceptable or not by CIC?

Congrats on your score.. It is accepted by cic.. check crs calculator on their site..
how did u prepare for TEF.. cn u pls guide..

 

[areslane]

Speaking and listening are two separate part that will not affect one another. Even when you retake the exam, you can retake them separately. It is normal to get different marks in your sections.

Tutuapp 9apps Showbox

 

[Ramor02]

Hi, I have got my TEF results and I got B2 as a level. How do I know whether it is acceptable or not by CIC?

B2 could be CLB 6 or 7 , as far as I know, you have to score over 450/699 to get to CLB7