TEF Canada key terms

Instruction that tells the candidate exactly what to do for a task, such as how many words to write or which document to consult. Missing or misreading it usually costs points even when the French is correct.

Official standard used by markers to score a production, covering things like relevance of content, coherence, vocabulary range and grammatical accuracy. Knowing the criteria helps a candidate prioritise what to improve.

Grid or rubric listing the criteria and point values used to grade a written or spoken task. It shows how marks are distributed across content, organisation and language.

Table showing how many points each part or question of the exam is worth. It helps candidates decide how much time to spend on each section.

Minimum or maximum word count required for a written task. Going clearly under or over the limit can reduce the score, so candidates should count roughly before finishing.

Rough draft written before the final version of a text. It lets the candidate plan ideas, check spelling and reorganise sentences without spoiling the answer sheet.

Final pass through a written text to catch spelling, agreement and punctuation errors. Reserving a few minutes for it usually improves accuracy scores noticeably.

Grammatical agreement between words, for example making an adjective match its noun in gender and number, or a past participle match its subject. Errors here are frequent and easily spotted on review.

Set of forms a verb takes to show tense, mood and person. Written and spoken tasks expect correct use of present, past and future forms in ordinary sentences.

Verb tenses used to talk about earlier events, mainly passé composé for finished actions and imparfait for background or habits. Choosing between them is a common point of difficulty.

Word or phrase such as donc, cependant or par ailleurs that links ideas and shows their relationship. Using them well makes a text or speech easier to follow.

Expression like d'abord, ensuite or enfin that orders events in time. It is especially useful in narratives and in describing a sequence of steps.

Quality of a text whose ideas follow logically and stay on topic, with clear links between sentences and paragraphs. It is one of the main criteria for written and oral production.

Short outline of the main ideas and their order, prepared before writing or speaking. It prevents repetition, omission and rambling.

Level of formality chosen for a situation, ranging from familiar speech to formal writing. A letter to an employer, for instance, requires polite standard French, not slang.

Conventional opening or closing phrase in a letter or email, such as Cordialement or Je vous prie d'agréer mes salutations distinguées. The right formula depends on how formal the recipient is.

Addressing someone with vous instead of tu, usual with strangers, superiors and in professional writing. Mixing vous and tu in the same message is a noticeable mistake.

Electronic message sent by email. Exam tasks often ask for a short professional or personal email with a subject line, greeting, body and closing.

Short line at the top of an email stating its purpose. A clear subject helps the reader and is expected in formal messages.

Formal letter written to apply for a job, training place or similar opportunity. It presents the candidate's reasons, relevant experience and availability in a structured, polite way.

Text that summarises an event, meeting or document for someone who was not present. It reports the essential facts in order without adding personal opinion.

Shortened version of several documents or ideas, combined into one organised text. It requires selecting key points and reformulating them in your own words.

Expressing an idea again in different words, often to show understanding or to avoid copying a source. It is a core skill for summaries and for paraphrasing in conversation.

Restating someone's message with different vocabulary and structure while keeping the meaning. In listening and reading tasks it often links the question wording to the audio or text.

Important word in a question or document that carries the main information. Spotting keywords quickly helps locate the relevant passage or listen for the right detail.

Act of scanning a text or recording for specific information such as a date, name or figure. It is faster than reading or listening to everything in detail.

Central point that a text, paragraph or recording is making. Identifying it is usually the first step before answering comprehension questions.

Supporting detail or example that develops the main idea of a passage. Questions sometimes test whether you can tell it apart from the central message.

Conclusion drawn from clues in a text or recording rather than from a sentence stated outright. Some questions ask what the speaker probably thinks or will do next.

Purpose behind a message, such as informing, persuading, complaining or inviting. Recognising it helps interpret tone and choose the right answer.

Attitude conveyed by a speaker or writer, for example friendly, irritated, neutral or ironic. It is often signalled by word choice and intonation rather than stated directly.

Rise and fall of the voice in speech, which can turn a statement into a question or signal surprise, doubt or annoyance. It carries meaning that words alone may not show.

Speed at which someone speaks. Fast delivery in a recording makes detail questions harder, so candidates should practise listening to natural-speed French.

Short public message such as a station announcement, advertisement or phone message. These are common in listening tasks and usually contain one or two key details.

Recorded or transcribed voicemail in which a caller leaves information and often a request. Listeners must catch who called, why, and what action is expected.

Recorded conversation, often an interview between a journalist and a guest or between an employer and a candidate. Following who says what is essential to answer correctly.

Planning how many minutes to give each section and question during the exam. It prevents running out of time on a long reading text or a written task.

Real-life material such as an article, leaflet, notice or form used as exam input. It contains the layout and vocabulary a candidate meets in daily French life.