The TCF Canada & scoring
TCF Canada: the complete guide to the format, scoring and preparation
The TCF Canada is the French test most Express Entry candidates take. It is run by France Éducation international and accepted by IRCC for permanent residence and citizenship. Knowing exactly how it works turns a vague goal ("get to B2") into four concrete targets.
Updated November 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
- The TCF Canada has four compulsory sections: listening (39 questions, 35 min), reading (39 questions, 60 min), writing (3 tasks, 60 min) and speaking (3 tasks, about 12 min).
- Listening and reading are multiple-choice, scored from 0 to 699, with questions getting harder as you go. Writing and speaking are graded by examiners out of 20.
- For NCLC 7 you need 458+ listening, 453+ reading and 10/20 in writing and speaking. All four must clear the bar.
- Results are valid for two years, and you must wait 30 days between two sittings.
1The four sections at a glance
| Section | Format | Time | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (compréhension orale) | 39 multiple-choice questions, each recording played once | 35 min | 0–699 |
| Reading (compréhension écrite) | 39 multiple-choice questions on short texts | 60 min | 0–699 |
| Writing (expression écrite) | 3 tasks, from a short message to an argued opinion | 60 min | 0–20 |
| Speaking (expression orale) | 3 tasks, face to face with an examiner, recorded | ≈12 min | 0–20 |
Listening and reading questions are ordered by difficulty, from simple A1 items (a sign, a voicemail) up to C2 items (a radio debate, an editorial). Harder questions carry more weight, which is why two people with the same number of correct answers can get different scores.
2Listening and reading: what the questions look like
In listening, you hear everyday announcements, phone messages, short conversations and, later, interviews and radio excerpts. Each is played only once. Early questions ask for a fact (when, where, how much); later ones ask for the speaker's opinion, intention or attitude.
In reading, the texts climb from notices and emails to job ads, news articles and opinion pieces. Sixty minutes for 39 questions sounds generous, but the last third of the paper is dense, so pacing matters.
The skill being tested is rarely vocabulary alone
Wrong options are built to catch predictable mistakes: an option that repeats a word you heard, a plan that changed later in the recording, a negation you missed. Learning those patterns is often worth more points than learning more words. See why listening is not a vocabulary problem and the seven reading question types.3Writing: three tasks in one hour
| Task | What you write | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | A message to a friend or contact: invite, describe, ask, explain | 60–120 words |
| Task 2 | An article, blog post or letter recounting an experience with your view | 120–150 words |
| Task 3 | Compare two short documents with opposing views, then give your own position | 120–180 words |
Examiners grade task completion, coherence, vocabulary range and grammatical control. Staying inside the word range matters: too short loses task completion, too long multiplies errors and wastes time you need for Task 3. Most candidates who miss NCLC 7 in writing lose it on Task 3, which demands real argument structure. Start with how to prepare for the writing section.
4Speaking: three tasks in about twelve minutes
| Task | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1: guided interview | The examiner asks about you: work, family, hobbies, plans. No preparation. | 2 min |
| Task 2: interaction | You get a scenario card and ask the examiner questions to get information (renting, joining a club, booking a trip). | 2 min prep + 3½ min |
| Task 3: expressing a point of view | You give and defend your opinion on a social question. The examiner may push back. | 4½ min |
Speaking is where preparation pays the fastest. The tasks are predictable in shape, so you can rehearse a structure for each: how to introduce yourself in 90 seconds, how to ask a dozen varied questions, how to state an opinion with two reasons and a concession. See the speaking guide for B2.
5The scores you need
| Target | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 (French category) | 458+ | 453+ | 10+ | 10+ |
| NCLC 9 (maximum second-language points) | 523+ | 524+ | 14+ | 14+ |
The full conversion, including NCLC 4–10, is in the NCLC levels guide. Remember the weakest-skill rule: one section below 7 means you are not eligible for French draws.
6Registration, fees, results and retakes
- Where: approved test centres, usually Alliances Françaises, universities and language schools, in Canada and around the world. Seats in large Canadian cities fill fast; see booking a seat in Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary.
- Cost: set by each centre. In Canada, expect roughly CAD 400–500 for all four sections. Confirm on your centre's site.
- Results: typically within two to four weeks, as an official certificate (attestation) you upload to Express Entry.
- Validity: two years from the test date, for both your profile and your PR application.
- Retakes: at least 30 days between two sittings. You must retake all four sections; partial retakes are not accepted for Express Entry.
Book TCF Canada, not TCF Tout Public
The general TCF and the TCF Québec are different products. Only the TCF Canada (or TEF Canada) is accepted for Express Entry.7How to prepare efficiently
- 1
Get a baseline
Take a full mock under timed conditions and convert each section to an NCLC level.
- 2
Build the language first
Below roughly B1, grammar and core vocabulary give the biggest returns. Exam drills help more once you can follow a basic conversation.
- 3
Switch to exam-format practice
From B1 on, practise with questions in the real format, review every wrong answer, and name the trap that caught you.
- 4
Rehearse the productive tasks
Write a Task 3 essay and record a Task 3 monologue every week. Get feedback against the grading criteria.
- 5
Simulate the exam day
In the last month, sit two or three full mocks with real timing, in one go.
Not sure how long this will take you? Read how long it takes an English speaker to reach B2, or jump to a ready-made plan: 12 months from zero or A2 to B2 in 12 weeks.
8Frequently asked questions
How long is the TCF Canada?+
About two hours and forty-five minutes of test time: 35 minutes of listening, 60 minutes of reading, 60 minutes of writing and about 12 minutes of speaking. The speaking test is often scheduled separately on the same day.
Is the TCF Canada harder than the TEF Canada?+
Neither is objectively harder. They convert to the same NCLC levels. Many candidates find the TCF's short, fixed-format tasks easier to prepare for; others prefer the TEF's format. See our TCF vs TEF comparison.
Can I retake just the section I failed?+
Not for Express Entry. IRCC needs all four results from the same test session, so you must sit the whole TCF Canada again, at least 30 days after the previous sitting.
Is there negative marking in the TCF Canada?+
No. A wrong answer does not cost points, so never leave a listening or reading question blank.
Can I use the TCF Canada for Canadian citizenship?+
Yes. TCF Canada results are accepted as proof of language ability for citizenship, where the requirement is CLB/NCLC 4 in speaking and listening.
Keep reading
Turn the method into points
Practise with levelled TCF Canada questions and full mock exams built for NCLC 7, with an explanation for every answer.