TCF Canada Preparation
TCF Canada preparation: speaking and writing with an AI examiner
TCF Canada is France Éducation international's French test, accepted by IRCC for Express Entry. It covers four skills: listening and reading (multiple-choice, scored out of 699), writing and speaking (scored out of 20). Each skill is converted into an NCLC level.
Official sources: France Éducation international — TCF Canada · IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
Test your TCF Canada speaking in 60 seconds
No sign-up. An NCLC estimate as a range, never an official result.
The four TCF Canada tests
| Test | Format | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 39 questions, one listening | 35 min | out of 699 |
| Reading | 39 questions | 60 min | out of 699 |
| Writing | 3 tasks: 60–120, 120–150 and 120–180 words | 60 min | out of 20 |
| Speaking | 3 tasks, face to face with an examiner | 12 min | out of 20 |
Official sources: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026) · France Éducation international — TCF Canada
Practise all 4 TCF Canada tests
Speaking
An AI examiner, exam timing, an NCLC estimate at the end.
Pick a topic, exam or practice mode →Listening and reading
Original timed sets, marked instantly. Unlimited practice; one full test a day for free.
TCF Canada and NCLC: the essentials
- NCLC 7 (the Federal Skilled Worker minimum, in every skill): 10 or 11 out of 20 in speaking and writing, 458 to 502 in listening, 453 to 498 in reading.
- 9 out of 20 is NCLC 6. That missing point is the step from B1 to B2: see speaking and writing.
- Your weakest skill is what counts. Full table: TCF Canada and NCLC; calculation: NCLC converter.
Official source: IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
TCF Canada guides
Original practice topics
560 topics written for this site to the official TCF Canada format, with pointers, model answers and a button to take them with the examiner. See the topics
How we estimate your level
- Each task is assessed on the criteria France Éducation international publishes (linguistic, pragmatic, sociolinguistic) and on the CEFR descriptors.
- The score is worked out five times independently and we keep the median. The same text sent again on the same topic gets the same report.
- The result is an estimated NCLC range, never an official result: the TCF raters' detailed grid is not public.
- A text outside the word limits, or a performance that is too short, is not scored like the others: in writing, TCF rates an out-of-range text “below A1”.
FAQ
How long is TCF Canada?
Listening 35 min, reading 60 min, writing 60 min, speaking 12 min face to face.
Official source: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026)
What TCF Canada score gives NCLC 7?
10 or 11 out of 20 in speaking and writing, 458–502 in listening, 453–498 in reading.
Official source: IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
When do TCF Canada results arrive?
Within 15 working days. They are valid for 2 years.
Official source: France Éducation international — TCF Canada
Can I ask for a re-mark?
For sessions from 1 September 2026, re-marking of speaking and writing is suspended; France Éducation international expects to bring it back in autumn 2027.
Official source: France Éducation international — TCF Canada
TCF Canada or TEF Canada?
IRCC accepts both, each with its own NCLC table. The formats differ: see TCF or TEF Canada.
Official source: IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
TCF TEF Study is independent: neither France Éducation international nor CCI Paris Île-de-France has reviewed this content. Facts come from the official pages cited; check them before you register, as the test owners can change them. TCF or TEF Canada: compare the two tests