How long is the TCF Canada?

2 hours 47 minutes in total: 35 min listening, 60 min reading, 60 min writing and 12 min speaking.

Is the TCF Canada on computer?

Depending on the centre, listening, reading and writing are on paper or on computer. Speaking is always a face-to-face interview with an examiner.

How long are TCF Canada results valid?

Two years from the date the results are issued. For Express Entry, IRCC also requires results less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

Can I retake the TCF Canada?

Yes. France Éducation international now asks you to wait 20 days between two sittings. Older documents still mention 30 days, so confirm with your test centre.

What happens if I write too few or too many words?

A writing task outside its word range can be rated “A1 non atteint” (below A1). So can a missing task, an off-topic answer, or sentences copied from the documents.

Is there a pass or fail?

No. You receive a score per skill, which converts to an NCLC level.

TCF Canada · Complete guide

The TCF Canada exam, explained simply

Four tests, 2 hours 47 minutes, and scores that convert directly into NCLC levels. Here’s exactly how the test works, so nothing surprises you.

Take a free practice test NCLC converter

skills tested: 4
total exam time: 2 h 47
result validity: 2 years

At a glance

The four sections

The four sections of the TCF Canada
Section	Format	Time	Score
Listening · Compréhension orale	39 multiple-choice questions, 4 options. Each recording plays once. Practise listening	35 min	0–699
Reading · Compréhension écrite	39 multiple-choice questions, 4 options. Practise reading	60 min	0–699
Writing · Expression écrite	3 tasks with word ranges. Practise writing	60 min	0–20
Speaking · Expression orale	3 tasks, face to face with an examiner. Practise speaking	12 min (incl. 2 min prep)	0–20

Source: France Éducation international. Questions get harder as you go (A1 to C2).

Who it’s for

What is the TCF Canada?

The Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada is run by France Éducation international. IRCC accepts it for Express Entry, other permanent residence programs and Canadian citizenship.

All four tests are compulsory: no exemption is allowed. Citizenship looks only at listening and speaking. Taking the other test? Compare with the TEF Canada exam format.

Taken on paper or on computer, depending on the centre. Computer delivery runs at the centre: it is not an online test.
Speaking is always face to face with an examiner, and recorded.
Results are valid for 2 years from the date they are issued.
France Éducation international asks you to wait 20 days between two sittings.
Fees are set by each test centre.

Section by section

What happens in each part

Listening
Recordings play once and get harder from A1 to C2. Choose one of four answers.
Practise listening
Reading
Short notices to opinion essays. Pace is everything: about 90 seconds per question on average.
Practise reading
Writing
A message (60–120 words), an article (120–150) and a two-document comparison (120–180). Stay inside each range.
Practise writing
Speaking
A guided interview, an interaction with preparation, and an opinion task.
Practise speaking

Scoring

How scoring works

Listening and reading are scored from 0 to 699. Only correct answers count, and France Éducation international’s scale takes the difficulty of each question into account, so the hardest questions move your score most. Wrong answers cost nothing.

Writing and speaking are scored out of 20. On computer, a first marking of your writing may be done by FIDELIA, an automated marking aid; the second marking is always done by a person. Your speaking recording is rated twice. Each skill then converts into an NCLC level, and most programs look at each skill separately. See how TCF scores convert to NCLC.

Official equivalences

TCF Canada scores and NCLC levels

TCF Canada to NCLC conversion
NCLC	Listening (0–699)	Reading (0–699)	Writing (0–20)	Speaking (0–20)
10+	549–699	549–699	16–20	16–20
9	523–548	524–548	14–15	14–15
8	503–522	499–523	12–13	12–13
7	458–502	453–498	10–11	10–11
6	398–457	406–452	7–9	7–9
5	369–397	375–405	6	6
4	331–368	342–374	4–5	4–5

Based on IRCC equivalency tables. Always confirm current requirements on canada.ca.

Test day

What to expect on the day

Bring the ID you registered with
Your test centre checks your identity before the first test.
Expect a photo
You are photographed on test day, at IRCC’s request.
Be on time for listening
No one is admitted once listening has started, and you can’t leave the room during it.
Results about 3 weeks later
France Éducation international says 15 working days after it receives your session’s material.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Last verified Oct 5, 2026 against canada.ca and France Éducation international, the TCF Canada test owner. How we check facts

Keep going

WritingTCF Canada7 min read
TCF Canada Writing Task 3: Structure, Word Counts and Examples
How to write TCF Canada task 3: summarise two documents in 40–60 words, argue your view in 80–120. Template, connectors, a corrected model and a word counter.
Sep 30, 2026
SpeakingTCF Canada8 min read
TCF Canada Speaking Task 2: Format, Questions and Examples
How TCF Canada speaking task 2 works, the question forms examiners want to hear, a full annotated model dialogue and 10 practice scenarios.
Sep 26, 2026
Scores & NCLCTCF Canada7 min read
TCF Canada Score Chart 2026: NCLC & CLB for Every Skill
The official TCF Canada to NCLC chart for 2026, explained skill by skill, with a converter, the lowest-skill rule and the levels each program needs.
Sep 15, 2026

Your next step

TCF Canada listening practice

Compréhension orale · 39 questions, 35 min

Practise listening

The TCF Canada exam, explained simply

The four sections

What is the TCF Canada?

What happens in each part

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

How scoring works

TCF Canada scores and NCLC levels

What to expect on the day

Bring the ID you registered with

Expect a photo

Be on time for listening

Results about 3 weeks later