Get to know the TCF

What is the TCF

The TCF Canada is a test accredited by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Since the end of January 2022, the TCF Canada has also been recognised by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI) for an immigration application to the province of Quebec.

The TCF Canada is intended for anyone aged 16 or over, whatever their nationality or mother tongue, who needs to certify their level of French as part of an economic immigration application to Canada or an application for Canadian citizenship, and who must therefore file a case with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

There is no exemption from the TCF Canada

The TCF tests

The TCF Canada is made up of 4 compulsory tests assessing general French language skills, for a total duration of 2 hours 47 minutes.

  1. Listening comprehension Group test of 39 multiple-choice questions (4 answer choices, only one correct answer) over 35 minutes.

  2. Reading comprehension Group test of 39 multiple-choice questions (4 answer choices, only one correct answer) over 60 minutes.

  3. Written expression Group test of 3 exercises over 60 minutes.

  4. Oral expression Individual face-to-face test with an examiner covering 3 exercises over 12 minutes (including 2 minutes of preparation).

How should you prepare for each test?

The questions in this test assess your ability to understand spoken French, for example:

  • Familiar words and everyday expressions in common communication situations (dialogues, interviews, meetings, telephone conversations, etc.);
  • The main point of simple, clear messages and announcements;
  • Information about people, facts or events in radio or television programmes covering current affairs or personal and professional topics;
  • Presentations dealing with concrete or abstract subjects;
  • Any kind of speech delivered at a normal pace.

This test consists of multiple-choice questions. Each question offers 4 answer choices (A, B, C, D) but only one answer is correct.

The test follows a principle of progressive difficulty.

WARNING: each recording is played only once. The question is asked after the audio document has been played.

How to succeed in TCF Canada listening comprehension: tips and techniques

Succeeding in TCF Canada listening comprehension can be a challenge, but there are strategies you can adopt to prepare effectively. Here is some advice:

Get familiar with the exam format: Understanding the format and structure of the listening comprehension section is essential to succeed. Knowing what to expect will help you feel more at ease on exam day.

Practise regularly: Actively listening to French is the key to improving your listening comprehension skills. You can listen to French radio, watch films or television programmes in French, follow podcasts or lectures, and so on. Make it part of your daily routine.

Use learning resources: There are many online tools and learning resources that can help you prepare for the listening comprehension part of the TCF Canada. For instance, the site https://objectifcanada-tcf.com offers listening comprehension exercises so you can train under real exam conditions.

Learn to take notes: During the exam you are allowed to take notes. This can help you keep track of key information and answer questions later on. Practise note-taking while listening to French to improve this skill.

Train yourself to understand different accents: French spoken in Canada has a unique accent, which may differ from the one you learned. Try to get familiar with the Canadian accent by listening to audio resources specific to that variety.

Take practice tests: Taking practice tests will help you get used to the type of questions asked and build your confidence. You can usually find sample tests on the official TCF website.

Stay calm and focused: During the exam, try to stay calm and focused. If you do not understand part of the audio, do not worry. Concentrate on what you can understand and do your best to answer the questions.

Some techniques that can help you succeed in TCF Canada listening comprehension:

Train yourself to identify main ideas and details: when listening to a recording in French, practise identifying the main idea of what is being said, along with the key details supporting it. This skill is crucial during the exam.

Anticipate the question types: Listening comprehension exams generally ask certain types of question, such as specific details, the main idea, inference, or the speaker's attitude. Practising these question types before the exam will leave you better prepared.

Get familiar with vocabulary and grammar: Solid French vocabulary and grammar will make it easier to understand what is being said in the recording. Remember to get familiar with idiomatic expressions and jargon, which are often used in real conversation.

Improve your ability to understand audio without images or visual context: The TCF Canada listening comprehension section provides no visual aids. To prepare for this, practise listening to French audio without using images or visual context to help you.

Be ready to listen to dialogues and monologues: The TCF Canada listening comprehension section includes both dialogues (between two people) and monologues (one person speaking). Make sure you practise listening to both types of speech.

Do not dwell on unknown words: During the exam, if you hear a word you do not know, do not dwell on it. Instead, try to grasp the general meaning of what is being said from the surrounding words and the context.

Practise active listening: This is a skill that improves over time. It involves focusing fully on what is being said, thinking about the information, responding mentally to the key points, and asking yourself questions about what you do not understand.

These techniques will help you prepare effectively for the TCF Canada listening comprehension section. Good luck with your studies and your exam preparation!

The questions in this test assess your ability to understand written French, for example:

  1. Familiar names, words and very simple sentences used in communication situations (friendly or administrative messages and letters);
  2. Information contained in everyday documents (classified ads, leaflets, menus and timetables, etc.);
  3. Information about people, facts or events (personal letters);
  4. Everyday texts relating to daily life or work;
  5. Articles and reports in which the authors take a stand on concrete or abstract subjects;
  6. Long, complex factual or literary texts and specialist articles;
  7. Abstract or complex texts taken from books and specialist articles.

This test consists of multiple-choice questions. Each question offers 4 answer choices (A, B, C, D) but only one answer is correct.

The tests follow a principle of progressive difficulty.

Strategies to succeed in reading comprehension (TCF Canada)

Tip no. 1 – Start by reading the question

It is often very useful to read the question before reading the written document it relates to. That way you know straight away which information you are looking for, which makes finding the answer easier.

Tip no. 2 – Read the proposed answers carefully

After reading the question and then the supporting text, read the proposed answers carefully. Several answers may look possible. Pay attention to the exact wording of each choice, to spot for instance an incorrect pronoun (masculine instead of feminine) or a tense that does not match the text's timeline (an answer using the future for an action that has already happened).

Tip no. 3 – Spot the logic of the text

With longer, more complex texts, do not let yourself be discouraged. Pay attention to transitions and logical connectors to understand how the text is articulated. This will let you spot the author's intent and the text's internal coherence. With that effort you will be able to rule out answers that do not fit.

Tip no. 4 – Use the context and give it a try

The more complex the text, the more likely it is that some vocabulary or turns of phrase will be unfamiliar. Even if you do not understand every word, rely on the general idea to infer as much information as possible. That may help you eliminate some of the proposed answers and increase your chances of answering correctly.

Finally, while you gain points for answering a question correctly, « you do not lose any » when you give the wrong answer or make a mistake. It is therefore always worth attempting every question — it cannot hurt your score.

How to succeed in TCF Canada reading comprehension: tips and techniques

Succeeding in the TCF Canada reading comprehension section requires regular practice and a good knowledge of written French. Here are some tips and techniques that may help you:

Get familiar with the exam format: As with listening comprehension, it is essential to know the structure of the reading comprehension test. That includes the number of questions, the type of texts you will have to read, and the time allowed.

Practise reading in French: Read French texts regularly to get used to sentence structure, vocabulary and spelling. Try to vary your sources to cover a wide range of subjects and styles, such as newspapers, novels, magazines and online articles.

Improve your vocabulary: Knowing a large number of words and expressions will help you not only understand the texts but also answer the questions faster. Try to learn new words every day and use them in sentences to memorise them better.

Learn to spot key information: When reading a text, train yourself to spot the important information that will help you answer the questions. That can include main ideas, specific details, and the author's attitude or opinion.

Practise reading comprehension exercises: Many reading comprehension exercises are available online or in exam preparation books. These exercises will help you get used to the type of questions asked in the exam.

Manage your time effectively: During the exam you must read the texts and answer the questions within a limited time. Practise time management while revising to make sure you can complete every part of the exam within the time allowed.

Review French grammar: A good knowledge of French grammar will help you understand the texts more easily. Review grammar rules, verb tenses and sentence structures before the exam.

Stay calm and focused: During the exam, try to stay calm and focused. If you do not understand part of the text, do not worry. Concentrate on what you can understand and do your best to answer the questions.

Remember, the key to succeeding in the TCF Canada reading comprehension section is regular preparation and practice. Good luck!

TCF Canada Written Expression methodology

This 60-minute test comprises 3 tasks.

It assesses your ability to:

  • Provide the information requested.
  • Express your opinion and support it with concrete arguments.
  • Communicate a message clearly.
  • Use vocabulary and structures suited to the task set.
  • Justify a choice, a position, a decision, and so on.
  • Describe, narrate, explain.
  • Link ideas coherently throughout your text.
  • Compare two points of view.
  • Summarise and rephrase information.
A - TCF Canada Written Expression: Task 1

It consists in writing an informal letter to describe, explain and/or address one or more recipients whose status is given in the instructions. Minimum 60 words / maximum 120 words

Letter structure: Task 1

1. Greetings:

Open the letter with a polite formula and a personal greeting. ex : Cher Benoit, comment vas-tu ?

2. Overall purpose:

State clearly why you are writing. ex : je t'écris afin de te parler de mes dernières vacances.

3. Details:

Provide additional information about the circumstances surrounding the subject of the letter. Qui ? Quoi ? Quand ? Où ? Avec qui ?

4. Expectations and wishes:

Express concrete expectations ex : Tu lui donneras environ 500 g de croquettes une fois par jour ... as well as abstract wishes ex : j'aimerais être présente ce jour si spécial.

5. Closing formula:

End your letter with an appropriate greeting or closing formula. ex : Toutes mes salutations, Minette

Task 1 example with a model answer

Prompt:

Vous avez un animal de compagnie et prévoyez de vous absenter de votre domicile pour quelques jours. Faites un message à votre ami qui prendra soin de votre animal de compagnie durant votre absence.

Model answer:

Cher Antoine,

J'espère que tu te portes bien, comme je vais te confier Max la semaine prochaine, je tenais à te communiquer quelques informations. Max est un chien très obéissant et très propre, il suffit que tu le fasses sortir chaque soir. Tu lui donneras ses croquettes une fois par jour et n'oublie pas de lui laisser de l'eau durant la journée. Je te remercie énormément d'avoir accepté de le garder.

Amicalement, Patrick

B - TCF Canada Written Expression: Task 2

It consists in writing an article, a letter or a note, on a blog or in a newspaper, etc., addressed to several recipients (online readers, etc.) to report on an experience or tell a (generally imagined) story. Minimum 120 words / maximum 150 words

Letter structure: Task 2

1. Catchy title:

Set a catchy title related to the subject of the task; it draws the reader into the story to come; Exemple : En avant pour un environnement plus sûr.

2. Introduction:

In the first paragraph, introduce the activity you want to describe concisely and attractively. Present the subject here, giving relevant information about it; Exemple : La protection de l'environnement est un impératif mondial, car l'être humain doit sa survie, son épanouissement et bien d'autres à la stabilité de son écosystème.

3. Your personal experience:

Recount your own experience of the subject (your anecdotes, your positive experiences and the challenges); Exemple : Samedi dernier, j'ai participé à une journée de nettoyage de la forêt boréale dans le nord de la ville d'Ontario. Il y a eu 200 participants venant de toute la ville et de différentes catégories d'âge : adultes, enfants. Nous avons nettoyé presque huit hectares et ramassé environ 6 tonnes de déchets...

4. Conclusion: recommendations or opinion:

Make recommendations or give your opinion (or feelings) to your readers according to the task instructions, followed by a closing greeting. Exemple : Il est très important de nos jours de protéger l'environnement afin de préserver la vie sur terre. D'une part, nous consommons tout ce que nous polluons. Et d'autre part, nous accélérons l'extinction de plusieurs espèces. Nous devons tous agir pour le bien de l'humanité et des animaux. Cordialement, Stéphane.

Task 2 example with a model answer

Prompt:

Vous avez participé à un cours gratuit d'un club sportif de votre ville. Racontez sur votre blog la visite et les activités en donnant votre opinion.

Model answer:

Chers lecteurs,

J'espère que vous allez bien. Je viens pour partager avec vous mon expérience de la séance d'essai offerte par le Club de fitness Pro. Dimanche dernier, je me suis rendue sur les lieux vers 09 heures du matin. Tout d'abord, la responsable m'a fait visiter l'établissement qui regroupe plusieurs salles de différentes disciplines comme la musculation, les arts martiaux, le vélo de salle. Ensuite, j'ai fait la connaissance du coach qui assure le cours de fitness et j'ai immédiatement participé à ce dernier. Enfin, je me suis bien dépensée tout en m'amusant.

J'ai très apprécié l'endroit et j'ai trouvé qu'il était bien aéré et très propre. Je compte bien m'inscrire et je vous invite vivement à le tester.

Cordialement, Carole.

C - TCF Canada Written Expression: Task 3

It consists in writing a text (for a newspaper, a website, a colleague, a line manager, etc.) comparing two points of view on a social issue (part 1), expressed in two short, simple documents of about 90 words each. The candidate then takes a stand on the theme covered by the two documents (part 2).

Expected word count: minimum 120 words / maximum 180 words. That is between 40 and 60 words for part 1 of the task and between 80 and 120 words for part 2.

Letter structure: Task 3

1. Catchy title (optional):

Set a catchy title capturing the general idea covered by the two documents; Exemple : Impact de l'amitié au travail.

2. The two documents' points of view:

Briefly summarise the opinions expressed in the two documents. Exemple : Entretenir des relations amicales avec son supérieur ou entre collègues peut s'avérer délicat pour certains et bénéfique pour d'autres. Tout dépend de la manière avec laquelle on perçoit les choses : les rapports hiérarchiques doivent toujours être respectés, mais ceux-ci peuvent s'estomper lorsqu'on côtoie quelqu'un en dehors des heures de travail. Devons-nous ou pas tisser des relations amicales au travail ?

3. Your own point of view:

Express your personal opinion on the subject with a coherent argument connected to part 1 of task 3;

Use logical connectors to link your ideas, and do not hesitate to use examples to get your ideas across.

Example:

Premièrement, l'amitié au travail est parfois incompatible avec la hiérarchie. En effet, il s'agit surtout des gens qui entretiennent une relation de subordination. Un cas auquel j'étais confronté avec mon employeur qui, au nom de l'amitié, pensait avoir plus d'indulgence de ma part et par conséquent se substituait de ses tâches professionnelles.

Ensuite, les relations amicales peuvent mettre en doute l'égalité des chances. Autrement dit, les patrons qui sont amis avec certains employés pourraient être accusés de favoritisme. Selon « New York Times », 70 % des salariés mettent en doute certaines décisions comme les promotions et les augmentations salariales et sont convaincus que les amis sont prioritaires.

Enfin, les relations personnelles doivent être tenues en dehors du cadre professionnel pour…

Task 3 example with a model answer

Prompt: L'uniforme des étudiants, pour ou contre.

Document 1:

Je pense que le port de l'uniforme scolaire est une excellente idée pour les élèves. Il aide à réduire la discrimination entre les élèves causée par la manière dont ils sont habillés. En portant l'uniforme, tous les élèves sont sur un pied d'égalité et n'ont pas à se soucier de leur apparence en comparaison avec celle des autres. Cela permet également aux élèves de se concentrer sur leur éducation plutôt que sur leur apparence.

Mme X.

Document 2:

Je suis en désaccord avec le port de l'uniforme scolaire. Les adolescents aiment s'exprimer par la manière dont ils s'habillent et porter des couleurs. L'uniforme les limite dans cette expression de soi et peut être oppressant. Je crois que les élèves devraient être autorisés à s'habiller comme ils le souhaitent, sous réserve de respecter les politiques de l'école en matière de décence et de sécurité.

Mme Y.

Model answer:

Peut-on imposer l'uniforme à l'école ?

Avant chaque rentrée des classes, l'uniforme crée un débat qui suscite de nombreuses interrogations aujourd'hui. Selon Mme X, les élèves développent un sentiment d'appartenance à leur école grâce au port de l'uniforme. Tandis que Mme Y trouve que les adolescents sont limités et ne peuvent pas s'habiller comme ils veulent.

Pour ma part, il me semble évident que le port d'une tenue scolaire unique est très avantageux afin d'éviter tout signe de discrimination entre les élèves à l'école.

D'abord, il gomme les inégalités entre eux et leur permet aussi de se concentrer davantage sur la personnalité de leurs camarades plutôt que sur leur apparence physique. De plus, il est un moyen d'identifier immédiatement les intrus qui fréquentent l'établissement. En outre, l'habit unifié est très pratique pour les parents car ils n'ont pas à se soucier de leur acheter d'autres types de vêtements pour aller à l'école.

Après tout, il est certain que l'uniforme à l'école a un impact positif sur les élèves. Cependant, il peut apparaître comme un frein à l'expression de leur style.

This test assesses your ability to express yourself in spoken French and is made up of 3 tasks:

  1. Task 1 – Guided interview without preparation (2 minutes): the candidate must demonstrate their ability to converse with someone they do not know (the examiner).
  2. Task 2 – Interaction exercise with preparation (5 minutes 30, including 2 minutes of preparation): the candidate must demonstrate their ability to obtain information in an everyday situation. The status of both the examiner and the candidate is given in the instructions.
  3. Task 3 – Expressing a point of view without preparation (4 minutes 30): the candidate demonstrates their ability to speak spontaneously, continuously and convincingly in answer to a question chosen by the examiner.

In this test, the candidate is assessed on their ability to:

  1. Talk about themselves and their family and professional environment;
  2. Ask questions suited to the communication situation proposed;
  3. Give their opinion and explain the advantages and drawbacks of a project, express agreement and disagreement;
  4. Present a clear, structured argument in a style appropriate to the context;
  5. Present complex subjects in a detailed, structured way, develop them and conclude.

The oral expression test comprises three tasks over a total of 12 minutes:

First task

It consists of an interview with your examiner, without preparation. You must be able to converse with them and answer simple questions:

  1. Quel est votre film préféré ? Pourquoi ?
  2. Où êtes-vous allé durant vos dernières vacances ?
  3. Comment imaginez-vous votre vie dans 30 ans ?
  4. Où avez-vous appris le français ?
Second task

You ask your examiner questions about an everyday subject. This part is preceded by a preparation phase in which you note down the questions to ask about the theme you have chosen. Here, you lead the conversation.

  1. Je dirige une association d'aide aux personnes en difficulté. Demandez-moi comment fonctionne cette association (actions, financements, adhérents…).
  2. Vous partez en vacances et vous recherchez quelqu'un pour garder votre chat. Je vous propose ma candidature. Posez-moi des questions pour décider si je suis capable de garder votre chat (motivation, goûts, personnalité…).
  3. Vous vous interrogez sur l'organisation des transports en commun en France. Posez-moi toutes les questions à ce sujet (fréquence, horaires, tarifs…).
Third task
  1. Faut-il à votre avis interdire la vente d'alcool aux mineurs ?
  2. Voyager nous rend meilleurs. Êtes-vous d'accord avec cette affirmation ? Pourquoi ?
  3. Les moyens de communication ne cessent de se développer. Les gens communiquent-ils mieux aujourd'hui ?

Advice for succeeding in this TCF Canada test

It is worth stressing how important adequate preparation is for each of the TCF Canada tests. Good preparation will let you sit the exam with confidence and obtain a high score.

To succeed in the TCF Canada oral expression test, we strongly recommend finding out about and getting familiar with how the test unfolds. Since this test focuses on listening and speaking, you will need to train actively by devising small daily exercises.

Listen to one or more French radio or television channels and vary the themes you listen to: news, reports, films, weather forecasts, advertising, political programmes, and so on. That gives you access to different registers of language.

  1. Gradually train yourself to watch films without subtitles.
  2. Train yourself to understand an audio document after a single listen.
  3. Imagine and answer questions that could have been asked about that document.
  4. Think in French as much as possible rather than in your mother tongue.
  5. Describe in French, in your head, everything you see around you as you move about.
  6. Imagine a conversation between the people in a photograph.
  7. Train yourself to stop writing down key words while listening to an audio document, and to memorise them instead.
  8. On exam day, speaking slightly more slowly will help you calm any stress.
  9. Finally, feel free to devise any other small exercise that comes to mind as part of your learning.

Good to know:

The examiner will explain how the test unfolds at the start of the interview and make sure you have understood it.

Draw on your various personal experiences to back up your answers, or invent new ones.

The examiner will interrupt you once the time allowed for the test is up.

TCF registration

TCF Canada sessions are held throughout the year. Approved centres may organise sessions according to their own capacity.

It is up to you to contact the approved TCF centre nearest to your home directly.

The approved TCF centre will inform you about:

  1. Session dates;
  2. The registration procedure;
  3. Where the tests are sat;
  4. The test medium (on paper or on computer);
  5. The fee.

You may sit the TCF Québec as many times as you wish. You must, however, wait 30 days between attempts, whichever version is concerned.

No diploma and no prior preparation are required to sit the TCF.

Map of TCF test centres

TCF results

Your results will be sent to the test centre within 15 working days of the date France Éducation international receives the session material.

It is the test centre that must hand you your TCF certificate.

Your certificate will be valid for 2 years from the date the results are issued. That expiry date will be shown on your certificate.

The TCF Canada assesses six levels of French proficiency (defined with reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe).

A1 not reachedA1A2B1B2C1C2
0 to 100 points101 to 199 points200 to 299 points300 to 399 points400 to 499 points500 to 599 points600 to 699 points

Each candidate receives a certificate showing:

  1. A score for listening comprehension and a score for reading comprehension;
  2. A mark out of 20 for oral expression and a mark out of 20 for written expression;
  3. A level per skill (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, oral expression), ranging from « A1 not reached » to « C2 ».

For more information about the results, please click here.

What level do you need to reach to earn points?

The language proficiency levels required for immigration to Canada are detailed on the IRCC website

In your immigration application you will have to report these results using the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB/NCLC) matching your scores.

To find that level, you can refer to the NCLC correspondence table:

TCF Canada results

NCLCListening comprehensionReading comprehensionOral expressionWritten expression
10 and above549 à 699 (C1-C2)549 à 699 (C1-C2)16 à 20 (C1-C2)16 à 20 (C1-C2)
9523 à 548 (C1)524 à 548 (C1)14-15 (C1)14-15 (C1)
8503 à 522 (C1)499 à 523 (B2-C1)12-13 (B2)12-13 (B2)
7458 à 502 (B2-C1)453 à 498 (B2)10-11 (B2)10-11 (B2)
6398 à 457 (B1-B2)406 à 452 (B2)7-8-9 (B1)7-8-9 (B1)
5369 à 397 (B1)375 à 405 (B1-B2)6 (B1)6 (B1)
4331 à 368 (B1)342 à 374 (B1)4-5 (A2)4-5 (A2)

Preparing for the tests

The TCF Canada is not based on a syllabus but on your French language skills and the candidate's general ability to use French. This language level depends on each person's practice and can be improved by studying French in classes or through specific books (see the resource sheet).

The advice for preparing to sit the TCF is as follows:

Before sitting the test:
  1. Get familiar with the TCF format (format and duration of the tests);
  2. Get familiar with how a TCF session unfolds
  3. Look at the sample tests
  4. Immerse yourself in French as often as possible by reading, watching television, listening to the radio and recordings, and talking with those around you.
During the test:
  1. Listen carefully to the instructions;
  2. Stay as focused as possible, particularly during the listening comprehension test;
  3. Do not waste time taking notes for the multiple-choice tests;
  4. Manage your time for the language structure and reading comprehension tests as well as for the written expression test (all 3 tasks must be completed).