If you’re preparing for the TEF Canada exam to apply for Permanent Residency, you’ve probably felt the pressure — limited time, challenging vocabulary, and those high CLB score goals. We’ve been there too.

As tutors who have helped dozens of students achieve CLB 7, 9, and even higher, we’ve noticed some common mistakes that slow down progress or lead to disappointing results. The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix — once you know what to look out for.

Here are the Top 5 Mistakes TEF Canada Students Make — and How YOU Can Avoid Them:

1. Focusing Too Much on Grammar, Not Enough on Speaking

📌 The Mistake:
Spending hours on grammar and written exercises but freezing during the oral expression test.

✅ The Fix:
Practice speaking daily — even if it’s just talking to yourself in the mirror, recording your voice, or joining a short conversation class. Fluency improves through use, not just theory.

💡 Sister Tip:
We use timed speaking drills based on real TEF prompts in our classes. Want to try one? DM us for a free worksheet to get started.

2. Using Overly Complex Vocabulary in Writing

📌 The Mistake:
Thinking that using “big” words will impress the examiner. Often, this leads to awkward or incorrect phrases.

✅ The Fix:
Clarity beats complexity. Use vocabulary you’re confident with. A clear and accurate B2-level paragraph is much stronger than a messy attempt at C1.

💡 Sister Tip:
Take short texts and rewrite them using simpler, more precise vocabulary. Aim for accuracy over flair.

3. Not Understanding How the TEF Is Scored

📌 The Mistake:
Walking into the exam without knowing what evaluators are really looking for — wasting time and overthinking responses.

✅ The Fix:
Learn the TEF scoring grid. Understand terms like Cohérence, Richesse linguistique, and how time and structure affect your grade.

💡 Sister Tip:
We offer mock tests with real TEF-style scoring — so you learn exactly what to improve and why.

4. Neglecting Listening Comprehension

📌 The Mistake:
Assuming listening is “easy” — until the audio is fast, full of idioms, or spoken with unfamiliar accents.

✅ The Fix:
Train your ear with French podcasts, YouTube channels, or TEF-style recordings. Start with subtitles, then gradually remove them.

💡 Sister Tip:
Try our “Dictée Minute” method — 60-second audio clips where you write down exactly what you hear. It’s incredibly effective for building listening precision.

5. Studying Without a Clear Game Plan

📌 The Mistake:
Jumping between random YouTube videos, PDFs, and mobile apps — leading to burnout, confusion, and little progress.

✅ The Fix:
Follow a structured roadmap. Know what to focus on each week based on your current level, timeline, and PR goals.

💡 Sister Tip:
Our curriculum includes checkpoints and mock evaluations from A1 to B2 — because structure means faster, more confident progress.