Can you retake individual sections of TEF/TCF Canada?
Editorial note — September 30, 2026: this article was published in 2020 and is retained as an archive. The format, retake and score-review deadlines, fees and document procedures may have changed. Check with the exam provider and your test centre before registering. TCF Canada: official guidance · TEF Canada: official guidance
In order not to languish, I will immediately say that there is no chance to retake the TEF/TCF Canada exams in separate parts.
And it seems logical, but it’s worth covering the topic, because similar questions always arise for everyone.
I remember how, in search of at least some information about retakes, I went to the website of a French institute and, out of ignorance, mixed up TCF for moving to Canada and TCF for Quebec. And, having seen the prices for individual parts of the second exam, I was happy, confident that if I didn’t make it, I would have the opportunity to correct the result by working more carefully on only one part. ⠀
Of course it was an illusion.
Needless to say, listening and reading immediately sagged? The hopes of “if something happens, I’ll fix it” greatly demotivated me. So much so that I immediately stopped finding time for targeted preparation.
This happened with the first attempt in May 2019, and for the second in September, having learned from bitter experience, I was already going into battle. I understood that I had to do the maximum here and now. ⠀
Now I advise everyone to tune in to the “game” to the bitter end right away. This approach yields tastier fruits than doubting one’s own abilities. Do you agree?
Read other useful articles:
Starting and ending a letter in TCF Canada, Tâche 1: opening and closing phrases
I want to learn French on my own: where to start?