What Actually Helped Me Reach CLB 9+ in TEF Canada (From Experience)

After having aced TEF Canada myself and helped others improve their scores, I want to share what really made a difference for me and my students.

1. Prepare at the right level – Aim for a strong B2 base to comfortably hit CLB 7+.
Don’t attempt the exam below B2. One of the biggest reasons people rewrite TEF multiple times is because their French isn’t strong enough. You really need to master French first before attempting the test.

2. Balance all four modules – Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking.
Focus on your weakest areas instead of overconcentrating on your strengths. For example, if you’re strong in Writing and Reading, dedicate more time to Speaking and Listening. A poor score in one module can drag down your total points if you’re aiming for maximum CRS.

3. Speaking Tips – Practice around at least 30 topics across categories.
Section A: use tu, Section B: use vous. Make sure you can hold a formal dialogue in Section A and convince or persuade a friend in Section B. Speaking daily, even to yourself, really helps.

4. Writing Tips – Practice essays in all 7 major categories.
Don’t just stick to letters. Master Faits Divers and the tenses you’ll need. Variety is key for flexibility during the exam.

5. Listening & Reading – Use Latest TEF format materials for these two. “Radio Announcements,” “Interviews/Discussions,” “Documents administratifs,” and “Articles de presse.” are the most challenging, ensure you are excelling in all of them before booking your test. Aim for around 35/40 correct answers in both. Resources that helped me and my students: Le Parisien and Le Monde (online versions), plus RFI, RTL, and TV5 Monde.

6. Get the right help – Choose tutors or programs familiar with TEF Canada exam strategy, not just grammar. Knowing the structure and scoring makes a big difference.

Following these strategies helped my students increase their CRS scores by 60+ points.