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TCF IRN training

The TCF IRN (Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité) is the version of the Test de Connaissance du Français dedicated to administrative procedures in France: resident card, multi-year residence permit, naturalisation, OFII citizen pathway. It is administered by France Éducation international.

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01

What is the TCF IRN?

The TCF IRN, a variant of the TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français), is an official certificate administered by France Éducation international. It is aimed at non-French speakers over 16 who wish to certify their French as part of the citizen pathway, for: a resident card application, a multi-year residence permit, acquiring French nationality, or validating the A1 level of the OFII pathway.

This certification is widely recognised: the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the directorate for integration and access to nationality, the Ministry of Culture, universities, language training centres and the professional world.

There are other variants (general TCF, TCF Canada, TCF Québec). Like them, the TCF IRN certificate is valid for 2 years.

03

The TCF IRN tests

The TCF IRN, with a total duration of 1 h 35, comprises four compulsory tests assessing your general French skills.

Listening comprehension
20 min · 25 questions (multiple choice)

You listen to audio extracts from everyday situations (dialogues, radio programmes, etc.), then answer multiple-choice questions with 4 options, only one correct.

Reading comprehension
35 min · 25 questions (multiple choice)

You read various texts (articles, messages, menus, literary extracts, etc.) and answer questions about their content.

Written expression
30 min · 3 tasks

Three production tasks of increasing difficulty:

  • Task 1— brief description replying to a message (30-60 words)
  • Task 2— account of daily activities, report of an experience (40-90 words)
  • Task 3— expressing an opinion about a place, an object or a person (40-90 words)
Oral expression
10 min · 3 segments

An individual interview with an examiner:

  • Segment 1— guided interview (3 min)
  • Segment 2— interactive task (3.5 min)
  • Segment 3— expressing a point of view (3.5 min)
04

Understanding the scoring

Each test is graded individually: listening (CO) and reading (CE) comprehension from 100 to 699 points, written (EE) and oral (EO) expression out of 20.

You receive a certificate showing your scores and the corresponding CEFR level. The TCF IRN ranges from A1 (beginner) to B2 (intermediate):

TCF IRN scores and CEFR levels
CO and CE score
EE and EO score
CEFR level
100 to 1991A1
200 to 2992 to 5A2
300 to 3996 to 9B1
400 to 49910 to 13B2

The certificate indicates whether or not the overall levels A1, A2, B1 and B2 have been reached. The note 'A1 not reached' appears if the comprehension score is 99 points or below. Results are available within 15 working days.

Please note: an overall B2 level is required for naturalisation, B1 for the resident card and A2 for the multi-year residence permit (from 1 January 2026).

05

How to prepare for the TCF IRN?

Like any language certification, the TCF IRN requires several months of planning ahead: getting familiar with the format and strengthening your skills. Set up a revision calendar with practice exercises and mock tests under real conditions.

PrepMyFuture offers a complete preparation for the TCF IRN: 40 lesson sheets, 3 mock tests, 1 TCF mini-test and more than 1,000 practice questions.

Also discover our preparations for the TCF Canada, the TCF Québec and the general TCF.

06

How to register for the exam?

Registration for the TCF tests, including the TCF IRN, is done directly with an approved exam centre. The full list of centres where you can take the TCF in France and internationally is available on the France Éducation international website. The centre will give you the dates, the format (computer or paper) and the registration fees.

Present a valid ID document (to keep for the day of the exam). You can retake the TCF as many times as necessary, respecting a 30-day interval between two sessions.

07

Where can you take the test?

The TCF IRN can be taken in one of the 700 approved centres around the world. In France: Alliances françaises, Instituts français, GRETA and many universities.

To identify the most accessible centre, see the official list on the France Éducation international website.

08

Why take the TCF IRN?

The TCF IRN is a benchmark certification recognised by French institutions, essential for validating your level in major procedures: long-term resident card, naturalisation, French citizenship or the OFII pathway.

Beyond the administrative side, it strengthens your professional file and lets you objectively assess your progress in French.

09

Tips to succeed in the TCF IRN

The TCF IRN assesses your skills according to the CEFR: knowing the format well maximises your chances. Regularity is essential, only daily practice of French guarantees progress.

01

Regularly listen to podcasts and watch films in French.

02

Read the French-language press every day.

03

Practise writing according to the required formats and have as many conversations as possible with native speakers.

04

On the day, read the instructions carefully and manage your time; for multiple-choice questions, choose the most plausible answer (no penalty for a wrong answer).

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