We make TEF Trainer, so weigh this with that in mind. We name no other paid platform here. The checklist below works on any of them, ours included.
The short answer
- Start with CCI Paris's free samples: they are from the people who run the exam.
- Then get volume from a question bank in the exam's format, with transcripts and explanations. That is what we built TEF Trainer for, and you can try it free with no account.
- Get a tutor if you need someone to mark your speaking and writing.
What a good practice test has
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| All four papers | Each skill is scored on its own, so your weakest decides. |
| The exam's format | TEF and TCF tasks differ. Practise for the test you book. |
| Transcripts for listening | You learn why you missed it, not only that you did. |
| Explanations for every answer | A score alone teaches little. |
| Model answers for speaking and writing | You need to see what good looks like. |
| A free sample, no card | Judge it before you pay. |
| Clear cancelling | You have an exam date, not a long-term habit. |
| A way to stop memorizing | Shuffling stops you answering from memory on a retake. |
The options by type
| Type | Good for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| CCI Paris samples, tutorials, workshop videos | The official format. Free. | A small amount of material. |
| Hachette's TEF training book, listed by CCI | Structured practice on paper. | You pay for it, and the exam is on a computer. |
| Online question banks, including TEF Trainer | Volume, instant marking, practice on a screen. | Quality varies. Cannot mark your own speaking or writing. |
| Courses at test centres | Teaching, feedback, structure. | Cost, fixed times. |
| Private tutors | Feedback on speaking and writing. | Cost. Quality varies. |
| RFI, TV5Monde, Radio-Canada OHdio | Free listening every day. | Not in the exam's format. |
Where TEF Trainer fits
Against that checklist:
- All four papers: 1,923 listening and reading questions and 435 speaking and writing topics.
- Predictions: 558 TEF-style questions, based on recent exams and updated regularly.
- Transcripts, explanations and English on the questions, and a model answer for every topic.
- Shuffle mode, autoplay and audio speed control.
- Free to try: 142 questions and 32 topics, with no account and no card. Those free quizzes have everything switched on.
- Cancelling: the monthly plan cancels in the payment portal, and the 3-month pass never renews.
What it does not do: nobody marks your own speaking or writing, and a practice percentage is not a TEF score. For the first, add a tutor.
Warning signs
- A guaranteed score. Nobody can promise one.
- No free sample. You should be able to judge the content first.
- Answers with no explanation. You cannot learn from them.
- A renewal that is hard to cancel. Check before you pay.
How to use them
Start timed, read every miss, retake with shuffle on. The full plan is in how to prepare for TEF Canada. For what speaking and writing answers look like, see the writing and speaking examples.
Common questions
Are there official TEF Canada practice tests?
CCI Paris, which runs the exam, publishes free sample papers for all four tests, with audio, plus tutorials and workshop videos. They are short, so most candidates need more material.
Is there a free TEF Canada practice test?
Yes. CCI Paris has free samples, and TEF Trainer has 142 free listening and reading questions and 32 free speaking and writing topics, with no account.
How do I practise TEF speaking and writing alone?
Learn from model answers, write or speak against a timer, and record yourself. For feedback on your own work, you need a teacher or tutor: a question bank cannot mark it.
Do I need a TEF preparation course?
Not always. If your level is close to your target, practice tests may be enough. If you are far from it, or need feedback on speaking and writing, a course or tutor is worth considering.
Where can I practise for TEF Canada?
TEF Trainer, which publishes this guide, has all four papers online: 1,923 listening and reading questions, including TEF-style predictions, and 435 speaking and writing topics with model answers, plus English translations and answer explanations. 142 questions and 32 topics are free, with no account and no card.
Practise with TEF Trainer
TEF Trainer is TEF Canada practice for all four papers, in your browser.
- Predictions: TEF-style listening and reading predictions, based on recent exams and updated regularly (558 questions).
- The full question bank: 1,923 listening and reading questions in all.
- Every speaking and writing topic (435) with a model answer, in French with English alongside.
- English translations and answer explanations, plus shuffle mode, autoplay and audio speed control.
142 questions and 32 topics are free, with everything switched on. No account, no card.
Start practising free See pricing
Updated November 2026. Exam rules and fees change: check them with your test centre and on canada.ca.