Candidate Age Limits for Exams

Some exams are only open to candidates of a certain age. TEF and TCF, for example, require candidates to be at least 16. Candidate Age lets you set that rule once on the exam type, and the online registration form then checks each candidate's date of birth against it. A candidate who is too young (or too old) sees a clear error and cannot complete the registration, so you no longer have to chase them afterwards to correct a wrong date of birth.

Where to find it

1. Go to AF > Exams.
2. Click Configuration in the page header.
3. On the Exam Types tab, the Candidate Age column shows the current rule for each type. 16+ means a minimum of 16, 12-17 means a bracket, and — means no rule.

Step 1: Set the age on the exam type

1. On the Exam Types tab, click the type you want to change (for example TEF).
2. In the Candidate Age row, enter a minimum age, a maximum age, or both. Ages are whole years.
3. Leave a box blank for no limit on that side. Leaving both blank removes the rule.
4. Click Save.

The built-in TEF and TCF types come with a minimum age of 16 already set. The DELF and DALF types have no rule until you add one, since the accepted age ranges vary between chapters.

Tip: The rule belongs to the type, so every exam of that type follows it. You do not need to set anything on the individual exams.

Step 2: Make sure the exam collects Date of Birth

The age rule can only be checked when the registration form asks for a date of birth. This is controlled per exam:

1. Open the exam from AF > Exams.
2. Go to the Registration Options tab.
3. Under Contact Fields, make sure Date of Birth is ticked.
4. Click Save Exam.

When the exam's type has an age rule, a note under the Date of Birth checkbox reminds you of the rule, for example "Candidates must be at least 16 years old on the exam date."

If Date of Birth is not ticked, the form does not ask for it and the age rule is not applied to that exam.

What candidates see

On the registration form, the Date of Birth field shows the rule beneath it, and the calendar only lets candidates pick eligible dates. If someone types an ineligible date anyway (a common one is today's date), the form does not submit. A red message appears next to the field:

Candidates must be at least 16 years old on the exam date. Please check the date of birth.

Nothing is saved until the date of birth is corrected, so no contact, invoice or registration is created for an ineligible candidate.

How the age is measured

• Age is worked out on the exam start date, not the day the candidate registers. A candidate who turns 16 on the day of the exam is eligible for a 16+ exam.
• If an exam has no start date yet, today's date is used instead.
• Both ends of a bracket are inclusive. With a bracket of 12 to 17, a candidate who is still 17 on the exam date is eligible; one who turns 18 on or before the exam date is not.

Frequently asked questions

Does this affect registrations added by staff? 
No. The age rule only applies to the online registration form. Staff can still add any candidate from the exam's Candidates tab, which is the place to handle genuine exceptions.

A candidate is registering a family member. Whose age is checked? 
The age of the person being registered, using the date of birth entered for them on the form.

What happens to candidates who registered before the rule was set? 
Nothing changes for existing registrations. The rule is only checked when a new registration is submitted online.

Can I use a different minimum for one TEF exam?
Not per exam. If you need a different rule, create a second exam type (for example TEF Junior) with its own Candidate Age, and set that type on the exam.