Listening is the section where the two tests differ most. TCF Canada asks 39 questions in 35 minutes, each recording heard once and the question asked after it. TEF Canada asks 40 questions in 40 minutes, in four parts with fixed reading and answering windows around every recording.
| TCF Canada | TEF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 39 | 40 |
| Time | 35 min | 40 min, paced by the audio |
| Answer options | 4 (A-D), one correct | 4, except vox pops (3) |
| Plays | Once | Once, except radio interviews (twice) |
| Question asked | After the recording | Read it before the recording starts |
| Going back | Each recording plays once | No: you answer as you go |
| Score | 100-699, weighted by difficulty | 0-699, 1 point per correct answer before conversion |
The 39 questions get harder as you go, from A1 at the start to C2 at the end. Each recording is played once, and the question is asked after you have heard the document. FEI does not publish how much time each question gets: the 35 minutes cover the whole section.
Three kinds of item appear in FEI's official examples:
| Item type | What you see | What you hear | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture and four statements | One drawing | Four short sentences A-D, not printed; pick the one that matches the picture | The opening questions |
| Question and four answers | Nothing printed | A question, then four spoken answers; pick the one that answers it | Early questions |
| Document, question, four printed options | Four printed options | A recording (a dialogue, a phone call, a talk), then a spoken question | Most of the test, up to C1-C2 |
FEI publishes the document types it uses: everyday dialogues, interviews and phone calls; simple messages and announcements; radio or TV programmes about current affairs or personal and professional topics; talks on concrete or abstract subjects; and speech at normal speed of every kind. How the 39 questions are split between the three item types is not published.
On paper you tick a square box on line 1 of the answer sheet and may correct one answer in the round box on line 2. On computer you click.
You answer as you go and cannot go back. Before each recording you get a few seconds to read the question; the audio then starts by itself, and a fixed answer time follows.
| Questions | Part | Read before | Answer after | Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Conversations with pictures: match each conversation to one of four drawings | 5 s | 10 s | Once |
| 5-20 | Public announcements | 10 s | 10 s | Once |
| 5-20 | Voicemail messages | 10 s | 10 s | Once |
| 5-20 | Vox pops: is each speaker totally for, for under conditions, or totally against? | 5 s | 15 s | Once |
| 21-30 | Radio chronicles | 10 s | 15 s | Once |
| 21-30 | Radio interviews, two questions each | 20 s | 30 s | Twice |
| 21-30 | Radio report, two questions in the official sample | 10 s | 15 s | Once |
| 31-40 | Miscellaneous audio documents (news briefs, opinion pieces) | 10 s | 15 s | Once |
CCI groups the parts as: understanding dialogues (1-4), short messages (5-20), interviews (21-30) and miscellaneous everyday documents (31-40). Its preparation article counts 4 picture questions, 4 announcements, 6 vox pops, 2 chronicles, 6 interview questions, 1 report and 10 miscellaneous documents; the number of voicemail questions is not given.
The vox-pop options and the double play of the interviews come from CCI's official listening tutorial dated 26 August 2025. The older sample booklet and the general rules page still say four options and a single play everywhere.
Real practice items with transcripts and explanations are on the listening samples page; how the score is built is on the listening scoring page.
Practise TCF / TEF online
Every section of TCF Canada and TEF Canada is in the TestSucceed app. The tasks are timed like the real exam and marked instantly, and your writing and speaking are assessed by AI trained by our French exam experts. Start with TCF / TEF practice or sit a full TCF / TEF mock test.
Written by Kirill O'Nayd
French test expert and educator at TestSucceed. He prepares candidates for TCF Canada and TEF Canada and follows how each section is timed and marked. See all TestSucceed preparation materials.