Guide TCF Canada
TCF Canada speaking task 3: arguing a point of view (4 min 30)
TCF Canada speaking task 3 lasts 4 min 30 with no preparation: the examiner gives you a question about society and you argue your view clearly and convincingly, with examples. They can interrupt you to question your arguments.
Key facts
- Length: 4 min 30, no preparation.
- What is expected: a sustained, convincing argument with reasons and examples. The examiner may step in and ask you to develop your arguments.
- If the examiner thinks you are reciting a memorised text, they can interrupt you at any moment; a recited answer can be rated “below A1”.
- Scoring: two raters, working separately, give each task a CEFR level (from “below A1” to C2); the levels are combined into a score out of 20. The exact combination rule and the detailed grid are not published.
- For IRCC: 10–11/20 = NCLC 7, 7–9/20 = NCLC 6, 12–13/20 = NCLC 8, 14–15/20 = NCLC 9, 16–20/20 = NCLC 10 and above.
Official sources: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026) · Official speaking sample test · IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
Practise now
No sign-up. An NCLC estimate as a range, never an official result.
Where candidates get stuck
What comes up most often in the candidate accounts we have read.
- An unexpected topic. You understand the question but have nothing to say about consumption, city planning or adult education. The block is often about ideas, not language.
- Going in circles. After a minute you repeat the same argument in different words.
- The interruption. The examiner cuts in after a few sentences to ask for an example; you lose the thread, especially if the speech was memorised.
- Vague statements. “C'est important pour la société.” Without a concrete example, the argument does not convince.
Official sources: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026) · Official speaking sample test
How to practise
- A simple, flexible structure: your answer in one sentence, two arguments each with a real or observed example, a concession (“Il est vrai que…”), a conclusion that adds nuance.
- When interrupted: answer the question you were asked, then return to your plan (“Pour revenir à mon deuxième argument…”).
- Build ideas on the big social themes (work, technology, consumption, education, generations) with our original topics: for and against, outline, then a timed run with an examiner who interrupts.
Original practice topics
151 topics written for this site, with pointers and, for writing, two model answers.
- La dématérialisation des démarches, à la banque comme dans les services publics, simplifie-t-elle… C1
- Les applications qui mesurent notre sommeil, nos pas ou notre alimentation nous aident-elles… C1
- Les avis en ligne laissés par des inconnus sont-ils devenus plus fiables que les conseils d'un… C1
- Le fait de pouvoir tout chercher instantanément sur son téléphone appauvrit-il notre mémoire et… C1
- Les cours du soir en ligne sont-ils aussi efficaces que les cours en classe pour les adultes qui… B2
- Les employeurs devraient-ils permettre à leurs employés de suivre une formation pendant leurs… B2
FAQ
Is there preparation time in Task 3?
No. Task 3 lasts 4 min 30 with no preparation: only Task 2 has some (2 minutes).
Official source: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026)
Is the examiner allowed to interrupt me?
Yes. The examiner may step in to make you develop your arguments, and can interrupt a candidate who seems to be reciting at any time. It is not necessarily a bad sign: it is a chance to show you can react.
Official source: TCF candidate handbook (version Q, Sept. 2026)
Do I have to be for or against?
You need a clear position, but it can be nuanced (“oui, à condition que…”). What convinces is your reasons and examples, not the side you pick.
What score do I need for NCLC 7 in TCF Canada speaking?
10 or 11 out of 20 is NCLC 7 in the IRCC table; 7 to 9 out of 20 is NCLC 6. See our page “From 9 to 10 out of 20”.
Official source: IRCC — language test results (Express Entry)
Read next
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. Updated 22 October 2026.