The four sections of TCF Canada
Every candidate takes all four sections. Listening and reading are multiple-choice questions with 4 options each. In writing you produce three texts, and speaking is a conversation with an examiner.
| Section | What you do | Size | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compréhension orale (CO) | Listen to recordings; each one plays once | 39 questions | 35 min |
| Compréhension écrite (CE) | Read short and long texts and answer questions | 39 questions | 60 min |
| Expression écrite (EE) | Write a message (60–120 words), an article or letter (120–150 words) and a comparison of two views (120–180 words) | 3 tasks | 60 min |
| Expression orale (EO) | Answer an examiner: a guided interview, a role play with 2 minutes of preparation, then your opinion on a question | 3 tasks | 12 min |
The writing section gives you 60 minutes for all three tasks, so you decide how to split the time. Each task has its own word range, and staying inside it matters. The writing Task 2 guide shows one task in detail.
Listening and reading get harder as you go
The 39 listening questions and the 39 reading questions follow a fixed difficulty ladder, from the easiest level of the Common European Framework (CEFR) to the hardest: A1 (questions 1–4), A2 (questions 5–10), B1 (questions 11–19), B2 (questions 20–29), C1 (questions 30–35), C2 (questions 36–39).
In practice, the early questions use simple everyday French and the last ones use long, complex documents. Answer the first questions briskly to keep time and energy for the end. In listening you hear each recording only once, so there is no going back to check.
See how the ladder works in practice on the listening and reading pages, each with free questions from our first practice series.
How TCF Canada is scored
Listening and reading give a score from 100 to 699. A result below 100 is reported as “A1 non atteint”. Writing and speaking are each marked out of 20.
For immigration, IRCC converts each score to a level on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), the French version of the Canadian Language Benchmarks. For example, NCLC 7 needs 458–502 in listening, 453–498 in reading and 10–11 out of 20 in writing and speaking. The full table is on our TCF Canada score chart.
Why NCLC 7 matters
NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills is the language condition for Express Entry’s French-language draws, and it also earns the French bonus: 25 points, or 50 with CLB 5 or more in English. Read what NCLC 7 needs in each section.
What TCF Canada results are used for
TCF Canada results are mainly used for Canadian immigration. Express Entry counts your French levels in three ways:
- As your first official language, when French is your stronger language: each skill earns up to 34 points if you are single (32 with a spouse or partner).
- As your second official language, next to an English test: up to 6 points per skill, 24 in total.
- Through the French bonus, when all four skills reach NCLC 7: 25 or 50 extra points.
Results are valid for 2 years, so plan your test date around when you will create or update your profile. Our French bonus points calculator shows what your levels add up to.
Try five TCF Canada listening questions
These five questions come from our free practice series, picked from easy to hard. Each recording plays once, as in the test. Answer, then check to see the explanations.
Compréhension orale · 5 questions from free series 1
How to start preparing
- 1
Find your level
Take free listening and reading series, then turn the scores into NCLC levels on the score chart.
- 2
Pick a target per skill
A useful target is NCLC 7 in every skill, because that is where the French-language draws and the bonus start.
- 3
Practise the productive skills early
Writing and speaking usually take the longest to improve. Write one task a day and record yourself answering opinion questions.
- 4
Follow a plan
Our step-by-step preparation guide covers the weeks before the test, section by section.