← Back to blog

TCF IRN & French Citizenship B2: What Changed in 2026 | OralPrep Guide

Since 1 January 2026, obtaining French citizenship through naturalisation requires proving level B2 on the CEFR scale — no longer B1. This change, set out in law n° 2024-42 of 26 January 2024, affects tens of thousands of applicants every year, especially on the speaking test, where there is no compensation between skills. So what exactly do you need to prove, how does the TCF IRN measure this level, and how should you prepare for the speaking test? We break it down here, figure by figure.

What changed in 2026

Before 2026, the language level required for naturalisation by decision of the public authority was B1. Law n° 2024-42 of 26 January 2024 raises this threshold to B2, effective since 1 January 2026. The same legislative shift also raises the level required for the 10-year carte de résident, which moves from A2 to B1 as of 2026. The multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) stays at level A2.

Three language thresholds now coexist along a settlement pathway in France:

• Multi-year residence permit: A2
• 10-year residence card (carte de résident): B1 (since 2026)
• Naturalisation: B2 (since 2026)

Another change that took effect on 1 January 2026: a civic exam became mandatory for naturalisation, on top of the language requirement. It does not replace the language condition, it is added to it — both must be satisfied at once in the application file. These changes are documented on official French institutional sites, including service-public.fr, which lists the documents required depending on your situation.

The language level is proven with an official attestation: either the TCF IRN (Test de Connaissance du Français pour l’Intégration, la Résidence et la Nationalité), or a DELF or DALF at level B2 or above. In both cases, the attestation must be less than 2 years old at the time the file is submitted. For official, up-to-date information on the TCF IRN, refer to France Éducation international’s TCF IRN page.

This level increase concerns first and foremost people who have been settled in France for several years and were planning a naturalisation application with a B1 level already in hand, or who assumed the written skills mattered more than speaking. Under the new rule, it is precisely these applicants who need to rethink their preparation, especially on the oral component.

The B2-in-all-4-skills rule: no compensation

This is the point most applicants misunderstand — and the one that blocks the most files. Level B2 must be reached in each of the 4 skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. There is no compensation between them.

In practice: an applicant who reaches B2 in reading, B2 in listening, and B2 in writing, but only B1 in speaking, does not meet the condition — even if their overall average sits comfortably above the threshold. An excellent written level, even C1 or C2, never makes up for a speaking skill that falls short.

This rule explains why the TCF IRN speaking test deserves dedicated preparation, separate from revising the comprehension multiple-choice sections. Speaking is often the weakest skill for people who have lived in France for years: they understand the language well day to day, but speak less than they read or write, and the gap shows up precisely on exam day.

The TCF IRN format

The TCF IRN is the TCF variant designed specifically for integration, residence, and nationality procedures in France — unlike the TCF Tout Public (studies, work, general positioning) or the TCF Canada (immigration to Canada). Since May 2025, its format has been updated by France Éducation international:

Test	Format	Duration
Listening comprehension (CO)	25 multiple-choice questions	20 minutes
Reading comprehension (CE)	25 multiple-choice questions	35 minutes
Writing (EE)	3 tasks	30 minutes
Speaking (EO)	3 tasks	~10 minutes

In total, expect around 1h35 for all 4 tests. On the TCF IRN, unlike the TCF Tout Public, where speaking is an optional complementary test, all 4 tests — including speaking — are mandatory. That is consistent with the naturalisation requirement, which imposes a minimum level in each of the 4 skills with no exception.

The IRN speaking test in detail

This is the part that worries the most applicants — with good reason, since the IRN speaking format did not change in the May 2025 update: it remains organised in 3 tasks, for a total of around 10 minutes, face to face with an examiner, in a recorded interview.

Task 1 — Guided interview (~3 minutes): no preparation. The examiner asks you questions about yourself, your circle, your background. The stated goal is to show your ability to interact with someone you don’t know.

Task 2 — Interaction exercise (3:30, WITHOUT preparation): this is where the IRN differs clearly from the TCF Tout Public and TCF Canada, both of which give 2 minutes of preparation before this task. On the IRN, you have to improvise immediately. The goal is to obtain information in an everyday-life situation — you, the candidate, are the one asking the questions, a role reversal compared with task 1.

Task 3 — Expressing a point of view (3:30): no preparation either. You need to speak spontaneously, continuously, and convincingly, answering a question chosen by the examiner.

The lack of preparation time on task 2 is the number-one trap for candidates who train with resources designed for the TCF Tout Public or TCF Canada: they walk in expecting 2 minutes to think and end up having to improvise on the spot. Training specifically under these conditions — no preparation, stopwatch running — is therefore essential for the IRN.

These three tasks map onto exactly the same skills tested across the other TCF variants. To work on technique task by task with model answers, see our model answer for task 2 (interaction) and our model answer for task 3 (point of view), plus our full guide to TCF speaking test structure and criteria.

What a B2 speaking performance sounds like

There is no notion of passing or failing the TCF in the school sense: it is a snapshot of your level at a given moment. Each task in the speaking test is graded through independent double-blind correction: first by the examiner who conducts and records the interview, then by a corrector trained by France Éducation international who receives only the recording. Neither knows the level awarded by the other. Each corrector places every task on a 6-level scale, from “A1 not reached” to C2; if there is a significant gap between the two correctors, a third correction is systematically triggered.

According to the official grading scale in the Manuel du candidat TCF (France Éducation international, April 2024), here is how the score out of 20 maps to CEFR level:

CEFR level	Speaking/Writing score (/20)
A1 not reached	—
A1	1/20
A2	2–5/20
B1	6–9/20
B2	10–13/20
C1	14–17/20
C2	18–20/20

So, to be recognised at B2 in speaking, you need to score between 10 and 13/20. What actually distinguishes a B2 performance? Based on the abilities described in the official manual, a B2 candidate must be able to give an opinion and explain it, express nuanced agreement or disagreement, and above all present clear and structured argumentation in an appropriate style for the situation. The three overarching criteria assessed are:

• Linguistic: range and control of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, ease, pronunciation, overall fluency of speech.
• Pragmatic: interaction, discourse structuring, coherence and cohesion, thematic development.
• Sociolinguistic: appropriateness to the communication situation (register, formality, how requests are phrased).

In practice, the difference between B1 and B2 rarely comes down to vocabulary alone: it comes down to the ability to structure an argument on the spot, with no preparation, using logical connectors, holding a coherent line of reasoning for 3:30 — exactly what task 3 of the IRN demands.

For example, imagine task 3 asks: “Si vous pouviez changer une chose dans votre quartier, laquelle et pourquoi ?” (“If you could change one thing in your neighbourhood, what and why?”). A B1-level answer often stays descriptive and disconnected: “Il y a beaucoup de bruit. C’est difficile de dormir. Je n’aime pas ça.” A B2-level answer builds an actual argument: “À mon avis, il faudrait limiter le bruit la nuit, parce que beaucoup d’habitants travaillent tôt le matin. Par ailleurs, cela améliorerait la qualité de vie de tout le quartier, même si je comprends que les commerces ont aussi besoin de rester actifs le soir.” The second answer states a position, gives a reason, adds a second argument, and even anticipates a counterpoint — precisely the “clear and structured argumentation” the grid rewards.

TCF IRN or DELF B2?

Both attestations are officially accepted for naturalisation, but their nature is very different, and the choice has practical consequences.

The TCF is a level-placement test: a snapshot of your level at a given moment, on a continuous scale, with no notion of passing or failing. Correction is fast (around 15 working days), but the attestation is only valid for 2 years. The DELF/DALF is a diploma: you choose the level you’re aiming for (here, B2), you either pass it or not against a set threshold, and once obtained, it is valid for life.

Another practical difference: the DELF B2 is an all-or-nothing exam at a single level — you must reach the pass threshold set for that specific level, which can be more stressful if your actual level hovers around B2. The TCF, by contrast, awards you whatever level is actually measured, with no notion of failure — a reassuring option if you’re not confident you’re firmly at B2.

For more detail, our full TCF vs DELF comparison covers the differences in format, grading, and validity, and our DELF B2 speaking structure and criteria guide describes the exposé-and-debate test in detail if you’re considering that route.

One last practical point regardless of which option you choose: if your TCF result seems below your actual level, a re-grading of the speaking and writing tests is possible, within a one-month window, for a fee. Keep in mind that a re-grading can just as easily confirm your score as lower it — so it’s worth requesting only if you have serious doubts about the result, not out of simple caution.

A preparation plan for the speaking test

Given the lack of compensation between skills, neglecting speaking in favour of the comprehension multiple-choice sections is the classic trap: a candidate can perfectly well reach B2, or higher, in reading and listening while staying at B1 in speaking, simply for lack of regular spontaneous-speaking practice. Here is a progressive plan, to adapt to how much time you have before your test date.

8 to 6 weeks before the exam: assess your current level on the 3 tasks, stopwatch in hand. Identify whether your weak point is vocabulary, discourse structuring, or ease with spontaneous speaking. Speak out loud every day, even for 10 minutes — not just silent reading.

5 to 3 weeks before the exam: focus on task 2 (interaction with no preparation) and task 3 (point of view). Practice improvising immediately, stopwatch set to 3:30, without jotting down ideas beforehand: that is the real IRN condition. Build a list of logical connectors (first, then, however, therefore, on the other hand) and use them systematically.

2 weeks before the exam: record yourself under real conditions on varied topics (daily life, society, current affairs) and listen back critically. Spot excessive hesitation, repetition, and unfinished sentences.

Final week: favour short, consistent sessions (15 to 20 minutes a day) over last-minute marathon cramming. On the day, remember the IRN format is short — around 10 minutes total — so every minute counts to demonstrate your level.

Frequently asked questions

What score out of 20 corresponds to level B2 on the TCF?

According to the official grading scale in the Manuel du candidat TCF (France Éducation international, April 2024), level B2 corresponds to a score of 10 to 13 out of 20 in speaking and in writing (400 to 499 points on the comprehension multiple-choice sections).

I scored B1 in one skill but C1 in the others — is that accepted for naturalisation?

No. Since law n° 2024-42 of 26 January 2024, in force since 1 January 2026, level B2 is required in all 4 skills with no compensation between them: a single skill below B2 blocks the application, even if the others reach C1 or C2.

How long is the TCF IRN attestation valid for naturalisation purposes?

The TCF attestation is valid for 2 years. It must be less than 2 years old at the time the naturalisation application is filed.

Is the required level the same for the 10-year residence card and for naturalisation?

No. Since 2026, the 10-year carte de résident requires level B1 (up from A2 before), while naturalisation requires level B2. The multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) remains at level A2.

Can I retake the TCF IRN if I don't reach B2?

Yes, the TCF can be retaken as many times as needed, as long as you respect a 30-day gap between two sessions.

What is the difference between the TCF IRN and the TCF Tout Public?

The TCF IRN is shorter (around 1h35 in total) and its roughly 10-minute speaking test is mandatory, whereas it is optional (a complementary test) on the TCF Tout Public. On the IRN speaking test, task 2 is done with no preparation time, unlike the 2 minutes given on the TCF Tout Public or TCF Canada.

Related Articles

Common DELE B2 Speaking Mistakes That Cost You Points | Avoid These→DELE B2 Oral Exam Topics: The 10 That Show Up and the 6 You'll Never See→DELE B2 Speaking Task 1: Example with Model Answer | OralPrep Guide→DELE B2 Speaking Task 2: Photo Example & Model Answer | OralPrep Guide→