TEF Canada speaking: the 2 tasks, how they are marked, practice topics

TEF Canada speaking, the expression orale section, is 15 minutes of role play with an examiner, and this page covers it from the official pages: the 2 tasks, what each asks, how the examiners mark them, the scores IRCC reads for NCLC 5, 7 and 9, and practice situations in the style of the real ones. For the whole exam, read the TEF Canada guide. To convert all 4 of your scores, use the TEF Canada score chart. The other productive skill has its own page: TEF Canada writing. For ways to practise speaking outside the exam, see French speaking practice and French pronunciation practice.

What is the TEF Canada speaking section?

TEF Canada speaking is a 15-minute section in 2 parts, taken face to face with an examiner [3]. The exam body states its aim as measuring “your ability to communicate orally with an interlocutor” [2]. The section is systematically recorded so that it can be marked twice [3].

The 2 parts have fixed lengths and fixed goals [2][8]:

Speaking is compulsory for both versions of TEF Canada, immigration and citizenship [8]. The exam body says all sections must be taken on the same day for Canadian authorities to recognise the certificate [8]. For citizenship, IRCC accepts a TEF Canada taken on or after 1 July 2012 at “B1 or higher” in listening and speaking [9].

Reading, listening and writing are done on a computer, but speaking is not: it is a live conversation with the examiner in the room [3].

What happens in section A?

In section A you read a short ad from daily life and call to find out more. The exam body’s sample paper lists the kinds of ad used: a job offer, a service, a leisure activity, housing and similar [6]. Its standard instruction, translated, reads: you have read an ad and you are interested; you phone for more information; ask about ten questions; the examiner plays the person you are talking to [6].

The call is a role play. You are not on a real phone; the examiner sits across from you and answers as the advertiser [3][6].

The marking grid names 3 things section A rewards: getting information, asking for answers to be made more precise or clarified, and keeping up a formal conversation [6]. So the follow-up matters as much as the first question. “What are the hours?” is one question. “You say the hours vary. Are they mostly days or evenings?” shows you listened.

What happens in section B?

In section B you read another everyday ad, tell a friend about it, and try to talk them into it. The sample paper sets 2 goals: present the document to the examiner, then argue to convince them to take part in what it describes [6]. Its standard instruction, translated: you have read an ad; you tell a friend who has a given situation (looking for work, has free time); present the document; try to convince them [6].

The grid for section B rewards presenting a situation, developing and making your ideas precise, and keeping up an informal conversation [6]. The exam body’s own preparation article warns that the examiner playing the friend will not simply agree with you, so expect objections and keep arguing [7].

A formal call to a stranger usually takes vous. A chat with a friend usually takes tu. Matching the register to the grid’s labels is part of adapting what you say to the situation, which the sample paper lists as a marking question [6].

How is TEF Canada speaking marked?

Two examiners mark it, using standardised grids. The results page says the section is assessed by “the test leader and a second examiner”, the second working from the recording [4]. The sample paper says “at least 2” markers [6]. The 2 pages word it differently; both say no single examiner decides.

The criteria, as the exam body lists them [4][6]:

• The task itself. Is what you say suited to the situation? Is it vague or detailed, clear or confused? Are your reactions to the examiner natural and spontaneous? [6]
• The language. Vocabulary, sentence structure including tenses and moods, and pronunciation [6]. The results page adds communication skills, grammar, organisation and fluency [4].

The marks are converted into a calibrated score from 0 to 699, and the certificate also shows a CEFR level (A1 to C2) and a CLB level (1 to 12) for each section [4]. Recordings reach the markers anonymously, with only a candidate number [4].

What TEF Canada speaking score do you need for NCLC 5, 7 and 9?

IRCC reads TEF Canada speaking scores from the “Équivalence ancien score” column of the certificate, not the “Score / 699” column [1]. These are 3 rows of IRCC’s table [1]:

Speaking and writing share the same ranges on IRCC’s table [1]. IRCC’s table gives a level for each ability, so a strong speaking score does not change your level in another skill [1]. Every level from 4 to 10 is in the TEF Canada score chart.

What are the TEF speaking topics?

TEF speaking topics are everyday ads, not essay questions. The exam body’s sample paper describes the document for both sections as an advertisement or notice from daily life: job offers, services, leisure and housing in section A; job offers, services, leisure and public notices in section B [6]. Its preparation article describes the topics the same way: an advertisement, a newspaper ad or a job offer [7].

The official examples follow that pattern [6]:

• Section A: a home-care job for an elderly woman, a guided hiking holiday, extras wanted for a musical, and second-hand furniture for sale.
• Section B: a coach tour of Québec for a friend who needs a holiday idea, a home-tutoring job for a friend looking for work, volunteering with a support group for a friend with free time, and language classes for a friend who wants to learn one.

Lists of “real” or “recent” TEF topics circulate online. They are not the exam body’s samples; its official example topics are the ones above [5][6].

Practice situations for section A

1. Apartment. You read an ad for a 4½ near a metro station in Montréal. You call the owner. Ask about the move-in date, heating, laundry, parking, pets and the lease.
2. Swimming lessons. Your community centre in Ottawa advertises adult swimming lessons. You call the front desk. Ask about levels, group size, schedule, equipment and registration.
3. Part-time job. A grocery store in Moncton is hiring bilingual cashiers. You call the manager. Ask about hours, training, weekends, start date and how to apply.
4. Snow removal. A neighbourhood company offers driveway snow removal for the winter. You call to ask what is included, when they come after a storm, and how to sign up.

Practice situations for section B

5. Amateur soccer. A club in a Gatineau park is looking for adult players. Your friend arrived in Canada last month and knows nobody. Convince them to join with you.
6. Apple picking. A farm near Québec City opens its orchard on weekends in autumn. Your friend spends every weekend at home on screens. Convince them to come along.
7. Winter festival. Your city’s winter festival has skating, music and food stalls. Your friend hates the cold. Convince them to go one evening.
8. Community garden. A community garden is offering plots for the spring. Your friend lives in an apartment with no balcony. Convince them to share a plot with you.

A short section A exchange in French

Candidat : Bonjour, j’appelle au sujet de votre annonce pour le déneigement. Est-ce que vous desservez le quartier Rosemont ?

Examinateur : Oui, tout le quartier.

Candidat : Très bien. Et vous passez à quelle heure, après une tempête ?

Examinateur : En général avant sept heures du matin.

Candidat : Avant sept heures, d’accord. Est-ce que ça comprend aussi les marches devant la maison, ou seulement l’entrée ?

Examinateur : Seulement l’entrée.

Candidat : Je vois. Est-ce qu’on peut ajouter les marches en option ?

Each answer leads to the next question, and the candidate repeats the examiner’s point before building on it. That is the “ask for answers to be made more precise” the section A grid names [6].

Where are the official TEF Canada speaking samples?

The exam body’s TEF Canada preparation page links a speaking sample paper as a PDF download, a speaking training tutorial, a recorded preparation workshop for speaking, and an article on preparing for the section [5]. The sample paper sets out both sections, the marking criteria and 8 example topics [6]. For the samples for all 4 sections in one place, read TEF Canada sample papers.

Common mistakes

• Answering instead of asking in section A. The task is to obtain information with about ten questions [6].
• Reading the ad aloud in section B. Present it, then argue to convince [6].
• Using one register for both parts. The grid marks a formal conversation in A and an informal one in B [6].
• Expecting the friend to agree. The exam body’s article says the examiner will push back [7].
• Treating online topic lists as official. The official examples are the ones in the exam body’s sample paper [5][6].
• Entering the “Score / 699” number in Express Entry. IRCC wants the “Équivalence ancien score” column [1].
• Relying on a guide for exam facts, including this one. The exam body and IRCC update their pages. Compare their dates with the date at the top of this page.

Sources