Federal SLE Preparation

Your next position speaks French.

Level B opens doors. Level C opens careers. Prepare for the reading, writing, and oral evaluations used for bilingual federal positions.

Choose your route

Know your SLE

What is SLE.

The Second Language Evaluation (SLE) tests for the public servant are managed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to assess a person’s ability in their second official language. The SLE consists of three parts: reading, comprehension, written expression, and oral proficiency, in that order

SLE tests are graded with three proficiency levels: Level A, Level B, and Level C. In this system, Level C is the most advanced level. The level obtained in writing, reading, and oral evaluations are used to create a candidate’s profile, such as BBB or CBC.

Target profiles

Start with the result your role requires.

BBB

The standard requirement

Level B in reading, writing, and oral. The minimum language proficiency required for bilingual positions.

Start Route B
CBC

Management roles

CBC is the requirement for any supervisory role in the bilingual regions and for senior leadership (irrespective of where they work or who they supervise)

Start Route C
CCC

Senior leadership

CCC language profile indicates speakers' ability to manage more intricate linguistic tasks.

Start Route C

Choose your road

One Classic track for each starting point.

These are Road to French learning routes designed around common starting points. They are not official Public Service Commission classifications, and completing a route does not guarantee an official SLE result.

Route A

Prepares Level A

Level A

Starting from scratch · Zero French → Level A

Your first milestone in the federal public service. Level A proves you can handle the basics of workplace French.

After Route A, you will be able to

  • Understand simple work-related texts
  • Write isolated words, phrases, and simple statements
  • Make yourself understood in short contributions
  • Handle routine workplace interactions in French

This is your entry point. Once you have Level A, Route B is your next step.

Approximately 18 months · $400/step

Start Route A

Route B

Prepares Level B

BBB

You have Level A · Now targeting Level B

BBB is the standard requirement for most bilingual officer-level positions. Level B means you can function, not just survive, in French at work.

After Route B, you will be able to

  • Grasp the main idea of most work-related texts
  • Write with correct grammar on work-related topics
  • Participate in bilingual meetings and express opinions
  • Describe processes and handle workplace conversations

BBB is required for most bilingual federal positions under the PSEA.

Approximately 4 months · $400/step

Start Route B

Route C

Prepares Level C

CBC / CCC

You have Level B · Now targeting Level C

CBC opens management. CCC opens leadership. Level C is where French becomes a career accelerator.

After Route C, you will be able to

  • Understand complex texts, inferences, and fine points of meaning
  • Write formal explanations in varied work contexts
  • Handle hypotheticals, recommendations, and abstract reasoning
  • Maintain a confident, engaged tone under evaluator pressure

The gap between B and C is not vocabulary. It is strategy: knowing what the evaluator needs to hear and delivering it calmly.

Approximately 4 months · $400/step

Start Route C

Unique · Oral only

Already have B and targeting Level C oral?

The Oral Proficiency Track focuses on the skill most candidates find hardest: reasoning abstractly under pressure, handling hypotheticals, and holding the register an evaluator expects. This is preparation for the official assessment, not the assessment itself.

  • Oral-only diagnostic
  • Weekly live mock evaluations
  • Abstract and hypothetical drills
  • Real evaluator criteria
  • Individual: 1h30 · $75/h
  • Small group max 4: $400/step

Level C oral in 4–8 weeks.

Book oral assessment

Review the official Oral Language Assessment information from the Public Service Commission.

Official resources: Canada.ca SLE hub , reading comprehension, written expression, and Canada School of Public Service.

Second Language Evaluation tests are administered by the Public Service Commission of Canada. Road to French provides preparation only; we do not administer, score, or certify official SLE results. Consult the official test page for current scheduling and retest requirements.