In short: the TCF IRN lasts 1 h 35 and has 4 sections, taken on the same day. There are 25 listening questions, 25 reading questions, 3 texts to write and 10 minutes of speaking. Results arrive within 15 working days after France Éducation international receives the test material, and the certificate is valid for 2 years.
This page brings together the key figures of the TCF IRN, the French test for the multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle), the resident card (carte de résident) and French citizenship. Each figure has its official source. We update the page when a source changes.
Parcours Civique is an independent practice website, not linked to France Éducation international. The figures below come from the official sources listed at the bottom of the page.
The 20 key figures of the TCF IRN
| No. | Figure | What it means | Source (accessed 30/09/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 sections | Listening, reading, writing, speaking. All compulsory | FEI TCF IRN page; orders of 22/12/2025 |
| 2 | 1 h 35 | Total length of the test | FEI TCF IRN page; candidate handbook p. 12 |
| 3 | 1 day | The 4 sections take place on the same day, in a single session, for residence cards and for citizenship | Orders of 22/12/2025 |
| 4 | 25 questions in 20 min | Listening, 4 possible answers, only one correct | FEI TCF IRN page |
| 5 | 1 listening | Each document is played only once. The question is asked after listening | FEI TCF IRN page; handbook p. 17 |
| 6 | 25 questions in 35 min | Reading, 4 possible answers | FEI TCF IRN page |
| 7 | 3 tasks in 30 min | Writing: describe, tell about activities, give your opinion | FEI TCF IRN page; handbook p. 20 |
| 8 | 30 to 60 words | Length of writing task 1 | FEI TCF IRN page; handbook p. 20 |
| 9 | 40 to 90 words | Length of writing tasks 2 and 3 | FEI TCF IRN page; handbook p. 20 |
| 10 | 10 min, 0 min of preparation | Speaking: 3 min, then 3 min 30, then 3 min 30, face to face with an examiner | FEI TCF IRN page; handbook p. 19 |
| 11 | A1 to B2 | Levels measured by the test | FEI TCF IRN page |
| 12 | 100 to 499 points | Listening and reading score (see the unclear point below) | Handbook p. 23 |
| 13 | Mark out of 20 | Result for writing and speaking, converted up to C2 | Handbook p. 25 and 26 |
| 14 | 0 points taken away | A wrong or empty answer is worth 0. Only correct answers count | FEI assessment page; handbook p. 21 |
| 15 | 2 markings | Writing and speaking are marked twice. Each marker does not know the other’s mark | FEI assessment page; handbook p. 21 and 22 |
| 16 | 15 working days | Waiting time for results, from when FEI receives the test material | FEI TCF IRN page |
| 17 | 2 years | Validity of the certificate (attestation), from the date the results are issued | FEI TCF IRN page; orders of 22/12/2025 |
| 18 | 20 days | Minimum wait between two attempts at the test | FEI TCF IRN page; FEI rights and duties page |
| 19 | 1 September 2026 | Start of the suspension of re-marking (recorrection) of writing and speaking (expected to restart in autumn 2027) | FEI TCF IRN page |
| 20 | More than 700 centres | TCF test centres around the world | Handbook p. 32 and 33; FEI map of centres |
Levels required for each application
| Application | Level | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-year residence permit (1st application) | A2 | 1 January 2026 | Decree no. 2025-647; F34501 |
| Resident card (1st application) | B1 | 1 January 2026 | Decree no. 2025-647; F34501 |
| Naturalisation and citizenship through marriage | B2 (speaking and writing) | 1 January 2026 | Decree no. 2025-648; F11926 |
Everything is explained in What level of French for your residence card or naturalisation.
Other useful figures
- 16 years: minimum age to take the TCF IRN. No diploma is required to register.
- 2 accepted tests: the TCF (France Éducation international) and the TEF (CCI Paris Île-de-France), according to the order of 22 December 2025 on certifications.
- Up to 5 years: maximum ban from taking the test in case of cheating.
- 2 months: minimum time to send a medical certificate if you ask for extra time (tiers-temps, only on paper).
- 31 May 2027: end of the current registration of the TCF IRN in the France compétences directory (record RS6643), useful for the CPF (French personal training account).
Figures that are not fixed
Some figures depend on the centre, not on France Éducation international:
- The price. Each centre sets its own price. Examples checked on 28/09/2026: €150 at Université Bordeaux Montaigne, €174 at CAVILAM in Vichy. See TCF IRN prices, dates and centres.
- The dates of the sessions.
- The format: on paper or on a computer, depending on the centre.
Unclear figures
We prefer to tell you what is not clear rather than make things up:
- The maximum score. The candidate handbook says 499 points on one page and 399 on another. The FEI assessment page says 399. Since B2 goes from 400 to 499 points and the TCF IRN goes up to B2, we use 499, according to the candidate handbook.
- The « top » of a level. For the overall level, the handbook accepts a 4th skill at the « top » of the level below, without giving a number. See TCF IRN: how to know if you have level A2, B1 or B2.
- The deadline to justify an absence. « 5 weeks after the start of the session » according to the handbook and the rights and duties page, « within the following month » according to the page on how the test runs. Our advice: send the supporting document as soon as possible, and within the month.
Wrong figures you still see
- « 20 questions in 15 minutes » for listening: this is the old format, from before 2025. The France compétences record RS6643 still describes it.
- « 30 days » between two attempts: this is wrong. The official waiting time is 20 days.
- « 1 h 15 » for the test: this is also the old format.
For details of each section, read The 4 sections of the TCF IRN, explained simply.
Practise with the right figures
Our TCF IRN preparation follows this format: 25 questions in 20 minutes and 25 in 35 minutes for the mock exam, 30 to 60 and 40 to 90 words in writing, speaking of 3 min, 3 min 30 and 3 min 30 with no preparation. Start with our free TCF level test, then see the plans and prices (from €24.90, one-time payment). No preparation can guarantee a level.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the TCF IRN last?
1 h 35 in total: 20 min of listening, 35 min of reading, 30 min of writing and 10 min of speaking, on the same day.
How many questions are there in the TCF IRN?
50 multiple-choice questions (25 in listening, 25 in reading), plus 3 texts to write and 3 speaking tasks.
How many points do you need for B1?
According to the candidate handbook, B1 corresponds to 300 to 399 points in listening and reading, and to 6 to 9 out of 20 in writing and speaking.
How long is the certificate valid?
2 years, from the date the results are issued.
How long must I wait before taking the test again?
20 days between two attempts.
Sources
- Format, timing, number of words, one listening only, levels A1 to B2, results within 15 working days, validity, 20 days, re-marking suspended: France Éducation international, TCF IRN page (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-irn?langue=fr
- Only correct answers counted, double marking: France Éducation international, assessment of the sections (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/evaluation-epreuves-tcf?langue=fr
- 20 days, proof of absence: France Éducation international, candidate rights and duties (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/droits-devoirs-candidat-tcf?langue=fr
- Penalties (up to 5 years): France Éducation international, penalties for cheating (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/sanctions-pour-fraude?langue=fr
- Map of centres: France Éducation international (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/centres-d-examen/carte?type-centre=tcf
- Score scales, minimum age, more than 700 centres, extra time: TCF candidate handbook (Manuel du candidat TCF), France Éducation international, September 2026 version (PDF document)
- 4 sections, same day, single session, 2-year validity: orders of 22 December 2025, residence permits (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053164506 and citizenship (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000053164463
- A2 and B1: decree no. 2025-647 of 15 July 2025 (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051900489 and service-public.gouv.fr, F34501: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34501
- B2: decree no. 2025-648 of 15 July 2025 (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000051900519 and service-public.gouv.fr, F11926: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F11926
- Record RS6643, valid until 31/05/2027: France compétences (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.francecompetences.fr/recherche/rs/6643/