TCF Canada Format Guide: Exam Timing, Scoring & NCLC Chart (2025)

TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français) is one of the French-language tests accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for programs that require proof of French. IRCC lists TCF Canada among the approved Express Entry language tests, and the test format is defined by France Éducation international (the official test provider) on its TCF Canada information page.

This guide explains exactly what happens in each skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking), how long each part takes, what the tasks look like, and how to practice in a way that matches the real exam.

TCF Canada Exam Overview: Duration & Task Count

According to the official provider, TCF Canada has 4 mandatory tests and lasts 2 hours 47 minutes in total.

• Listening comprehension: 39 multiple-choice questions (4 options, 1 correct), 35 minutes
• Reading comprehension: 39 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes
• Written skills (Writing): 3 tasks, 60 minutes
• Verbal skills (Speaking): 3 tasks, 12 minutes (including 2 minutes of preparation time)

These counts and timings come from the provider’s official TCF Canada format description.

Listening (Compréhension orale): what to expect

Format and timing

Listening is an exam-room test with 39 MCQs in 35 minutes, with 4 answer choices and only one correct answer. The provider also states that the test difficulty increases progressively and that each recording is played only once, with the question asked after listening.

How the questions feel in practice

Because you only hear each audio once, your goal is not to understand every word. Your goal is to catch:

• the situation (who, where, why)
• the key detail the question is targeting (time, price, reason, choice)
• the speaker’s intent (requesting, complaining, agreeing, warning)

High-impact practice habits

• Train “single-play only”: Replaying audio during practice builds a habit you cannot use on test day.
• Answer without pausing: Practice in strict timing so you get comfortable deciding quickly.
• Listen for signposts: Words like cependant, en fait, donc, par contre often mark the real answer.

Reading (Compréhension écrite): what to expect

Format and timing

Reading is an exam-room test with 39 MCQs in 60 minutes. Like Listening, it follows a progressive difficulty approach, as indicated on the TCF Canada test description.

Pacing that works

You have about 1 minute 30 seconds per question on average (60 minutes ÷ 39 questions). A practical pacing approach:

• First pass: Answer the easiest questions quickly to secure points.
• Second pass: Return to longer texts and inference questions.
• Final minutes: Check any remaining blanks (never leave avoidable points on the table).

What to practice (so your prep matches the test)

• Skimming: Get the topic and purpose in 10–15 seconds.
• Scanning: Locate names, dates, numbers, and specific conditions.
• Vocabulary from context: Infer meaning using surrounding sentences and examples.
• Reference tracking: Know what ce, cela, y, en refer to.

Writing (Expression écrite / Written skills): 3 tasks, strict word limits

Format and timing

Writing lasts 60 minutes and includes 3 tasks. The provider specifies the expected word ranges for each task:

• Task 1: Write a message to describe/tell/explain something (minimum 60 words, maximum 120 words).
• Task 2: Write an article/letter/note to report an experience or tell a story with relevant comments/opinions (minimum 120 words, maximum 150 words).
• Task 3: Write a text comparing 2 viewpoints from two documents and give your opinion (minimum 120 words, maximum 180 words).

Word count is not optional

The provider warns that the written paper may be marked “A1 not achieved” if the writing is illegible (paper format), if the tasks do not follow the word limits, if the writing is off-topic, or if one or more tasks are not completed, as stated on the official TCF Canada page.

Simple structures that score well

Use a clear structure that matches the task, then focus on accuracy and clarity.

• Task 1 (message): Greeting → purpose → 2–4 key details → polite closing.
• Task 2 (story/report): Context → what happened (chronology) → outcome → short reflection.
• Task 3 (compare viewpoints): Viewpoint A summary → viewpoint B summary → comparison → your opinion + 2 reasons → conclusion.

How to practice efficiently

• Practice “within range”: Aim for 10–15 words above the minimum, staying below the maximum (for example, 70–100 words for Task 1).
• Build reusable phrases: Openings and closings for emails, complaint notes, short articles.
• Edit for errors last: First ensure the task is completed and within word limits, then correct agreement, verb tense, accents, and connectors.

Speaking (Expression orale / Verbal skills): 3 tasks, short and fast

Format and timing

Speaking is a one-on-one test with an examiner. It includes 3 tasks and lasts 12 minutes total, including 2 minutes of preparation time inside Task 2. The provider lists the tasks and timings as follows:

• Task 1 (2 minutes, no prep): Structured interview (basic conversation with the assessor).
• Task 2 (5.5 minutes, includes 2 minutes prep): Interaction to obtain information in an everyday situation.
• Task 3 (4.5 minutes, no prep): Express a point of view convincingly on a question chosen by the assessor.

What “good performance” looks like

• Task 1: Short, natural answers with follow-up details (not one-word replies).
• Task 2: Ask clear questions and adapt when the examiner responds (like a real interaction).
• Task 3: Give a clear position, then support it with 2–3 reasons and a concrete example.

Practice drills that match the exam

• Two-minute warm-ups: Record yourself answering “who/where/why” questions without planning (Task 1 style).
• Information role-plays: Simulate booking, requesting details, making arrangements (Task 2 style). Use question forms like Est-ce que…?, Pourriez-vous…?, J’aimerais savoir…
• Opinion sprints: Pick a topic and speak for 60–90 seconds: position → reason 1 → reason 2 → example → conclusion (Task 3 style).

Paper vs computer: what changes (and what doesn’t)

TCF Canada can be taken on paper or on a computer, depending on the test centre, and you must sit the test at an approved centre. France Éducation international explains that the computer version is not an online test; it is an application installed on the centre’s computers, so you still need to go in person.

What does not change: the skills tested (listening, reading, writing, speaking), the overall structure, and the need to follow the same task requirements and word limits listed on the official TCF Canada format page.

Results, validity, and the scores IRCC cares about

When you get results

The provider states that your results are sent to the test centre within 15 working days from the date France Éducation international receives the papers, and that you collect your certificate from the centre. It also notes that only one copy is issued and recommends keeping a copy.

How long results stay valid

France Éducation international states that the TCF Canada certificate is valid for 2 years from the date results are issued. For Express Entry, IRCC also requires that your language test results be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application, as explained in IRCC’s validity rules.

TCF Scoring vs. NCLC Levels (699 vs 20 Scale)

For TCF Canada, IRCC uses different score scales depending on the skill:

• Listening and Reading use a score range up to 699 in IRCC’s NCLC tables.
• Writing and Speaking use a 0–20 style scale in IRCC’s NCLC tables (for example, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–20).

To convert your test results into NCLC levels for applications, use the official TCF Canada NCLC score table published by IRCC.

Understanding your numbers: 699 vs 20

Quick NCLC targets (common immigration goals)

Targets depend on the program, but these examples help you plan your studying using IRCC’s table:

• NCLC 7: Listening 458–502, Reading 453–498, Writing 10–11, Speaking 10–11
• NCLC 9: Listening 523–548, Reading 524–548, Writing 14–15, Speaking 14–15
• NCLC 10: Listening 549–699, Reading 549–699, Writing 16–20, Speaking 16–20

These ranges are shown in the IRCC NCLC conversion table for TCF Canada.

Entering TCF Canada scores in your IRCC profile

For Express Entry, IRCC explains that you must take an approved test and enter the results in your profile, on its language test instructions. Before submitting, you can also use IRCC’s CRS score tool to understand how language results fit into your overall eligibility and points.

A practical checklist before you submit anything:

• Confirm you selected TCF Canada (not another TCF version).
• Enter Listening and Reading using the up-to-699 scale that matches IRCC’s table.
• Enter Writing and Speaking using the 0–20 style numbers shown for those skills in IRCC’s table.
• Make sure your results will still be valid (less than 2 years old) on the day you submit, following IRCC’s validity requirement.

A practical 4-week prep plan (built around the real format)

Week 1: Build your baseline

• Listening: Do 2 timed sessions of 39 questions (single play only). Track accuracy and note what you miss (numbers, purpose, negatives).
• Reading: Do 2 timed sessions of 39 questions. Track how many you finish comfortably in 60 minutes.
• Writing: Write Task 1 (60–120 words), Task 2 (120–150), Task 3 (120–180) using the ranges on the official task descriptions.
• Speaking: Record one full run: Task 1 (2 min), Task 2 (2 min prep + 3.5 min talk), Task 3 (4.5 min).

Week 2: Fix timing and structure

• Listening: Practice answering immediately after audio ends—no pausing, no replay.
• Reading: Practice “first pass in 40 minutes” so you have time to revisit harder texts.
• Writing: Plan each task in 3–5 bullet points before writing; then edit for errors.
• Speaking: Practice Task 3 with a template: opinion → 2 reasons → example → short conclusion.

Week 3: Raise difficulty under real conditions

• Do one full “same-day” simulation: Listening + Reading + Writing (timed, no breaks longer than you’d realistically have).
• For writing, train finishing all 3 tasks: the provider warns that missing tasks or ignoring word limits can trigger “A1 not achieved” on the official writing notes.
• For speaking, do Task 2 role-plays where you must ask at least 6–8 questions (price, schedule, conditions, steps, alternatives).

Week 4: Lock in performance

• Do 2 full timed sets for Listening and Reading.
• Do 2 full Writing sessions, staying inside each word range.
• Do 2 full Speaking run-throughs (12 minutes each) and focus on clarity, interaction, and clean pronunciation.
• Use IRCC’s official NCLC table to check whether your target level matches your immigration plan.

Booking the test: what to do next

France Éducation international explains that TCF Canada sessions are organized by approved centres, and candidates must contact the nearest approved centre directly for dates, registration steps, location, materials (paper or computer), and cost, on the official registration section. To find locations, start with the provider’s TCF exam centre map.