Université d'Orléans

The TCF is a general French language proficiency test designed for all members of the non-Francophone public who wish to have their proficiency in French evaluated and validated in a simple, rapid and reliable way for professional or personal purposes and for their studies.

The TCF is a test designed by the CIEP (Centre international d’études pédagogiques or International Centre for Pedagogical Studies), which draws up the test subjects and corrects the papers and is the official French proficiency test of the French Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research. The University of Orleans is the Test Centres for the TCF.

All candidates receive a certificate of results that places them in one of the six levels (from A1 to C2) on the proficiency scale defined by the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference:   CEFR). It is therefore impossible to fail on the TCF and this is the reason it is a test rather than a diploma.

The TCF, in particular, allows a foreign public holding a Baccalaureate secondary-school graduate level to enrol in the university based on the proficiency level achieved. Test results are valid for 2 years.

The University of Orleans offers the TCF DAP and the all public TCF. These tests take place only once a year. The University is not organising the TCF for the French nationality or the TCF for immigrating to Quebec.

Le TCF DAP :

For those applying to study at the undergraduate level (L1-L2 level in France) or in an architectural school, the TCF DAP is an enrolment application prerequisite for future students. This test is compulsory except for students who already hold a DELF B2 or a DALF.

It is a 3 hour test divided in several parts:

• listening comprehension (30 questions)
• language structure – grammar and lexicon – (20 questions)
• reading comprehension (30 questions)
• and written production.

Next session for the TCF DAP : February 2014

The passing certificates can be obtained at the Pôle Avenir one month after taking the test.

Le TCF " all public" :

For teenagers (over 16 year old) or any adults who should justified of their French proficiency in a personal, professional, or studies purposes. No diploma or preparation are requested to register to this test.

For those applying to enrol at the post-graduate level (Licence 3, Master 1, Master 2 and doctoral levels in France) or in one of the grande école institutions: the TCF is systematically required by higher education establishments.

It is a 1:30 hours test divided in 3 compulsory parts :

• Listening comprehension (30 questions) 25 minutes
• Language structure – grammar and lexicon – (20 questions) 20 minutes
• Reading comprehension (30 questions) 45 minutes

Applicants can also do 2 optional tests :

• Spoken production, 15 minutes
• Writing production (6 parts) 1:45 hours

Next session for all public TCF  : March 2014

The passing certificates can be obtained from the Institute of French language.