TCF Canada Preparation Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: How TCF Canada works

TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français) is a French test for adults. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lists it as one of two approved French tests for Express Entry. The other is TEF Canada. For details about the test itself, IRCC's page links to France Éducation international, the organization that provides the TCF.

The four tests

Compréhension means understanding, and expression means producing language. Orale is spoken and écrite is written. The four tests add up to 35 + 60 + 12 + 60 = 167 minutes, not counting check-in or breaks. The two comprehension tests have 39 + 39 = 78 questions.

Work out your pace. In listening, 35 minutes for 39 questions is about 54 seconds per question. In reading, 60 minutes for 39 questions is about 1 minute 32 seconds per question.

The TCF describes French on a 6-level scale that matches the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 (the lowest level) to C2 (the highest).

Scores and NCLC levels

IRCC uses the NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens), the French version of the Canadian Language Benchmarks. In IRCC's equivalency chart, TCF Canada reading and listening scores go up to 699, and writing and speaking scores go up to 20.

The reading and listening columns are not the same. A score of 500 is NCLC 7 in listening (458–502) but NCLC 8 in reading (499–523). Always read the column for the right skill.

Results and Express Entry

• For Express Entry, your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.
• You enter your test results in your Express Entry profile. Each program sets its own minimum NCLC levels, so check IRCC's pages for your program.
• For citizenship, IRCC also accepts TCF Canada results as proof of French. Check IRCC's citizenship language-proof pages for the level you need.

About this course: practice scores here are feedback only. They are not an official TCF Canada result and not an NCLC level, and IRCC does not accept them. The final assessment has 35 questions in 40 minutes. Score 80% or more to get the certificate of completion.

Temaquiz 1: TCF Canada format and scoring

Lesson 2: Compréhension orale (listening)

The listening test has 39 questions in 35 minutes. In this course, each listening question has a recording that your device reads aloud in a French (France) voice. Press play, listen, then answer. The script appears after you answer, so you can check what you missed.

Before you listen

Read the question first and decide what kind of information you need: a time, a place, a reason, a feeling or an opinion. If the question asks « why », listen for parce que, car or en raison de. If it asks what someone thinks, listen for opinion words.

Times, dates and changes

Announcements and timetables in French use the 24-hour clock: quatorze heures dix is 14 h 10 (2:10 p.m.). Many questions test a change to the plan, so listen to the end of the sentence. If a train « prévu à 14 h 10 » leaves « avec vingt minutes de retard », it leaves at 14 h 30.

Everyday expressions

Spoken French uses short expressions that show feelings. Learn these:

Purpose and attitude

Ask yourself why the person is speaking: to inform, invite, cancel, complain, apologize or give advice. In a phone message, the purpose is often in the first two sentences. For attitude, learn these adjectives: enthousiaste (very positive), sceptique (doubtful), indifférent (does not care), admiratif (full of admiration), inquiet (worried).

Temaquiz 2: TCF Canada: Compréhension orale (listening)

Lesson 3: Compréhension écrite (reading)

The reading test has 39 questions in 60 minutes, so you have about 1 minute 32 seconds per question. In this course, texts go from short signs and messages to opinion articles.

Short practical texts

For signs, ads, messages and notices, scan for days and hours, rules, exceptions and deadlines. Sometimes you must calculate: if a pool closes at 20 h and the « dernière entrée » is 30 minutes before closing, the last entry is 19 h 30. A loan of « trois semaines » is 21 days.

Connectors

« Le musée est gratuit le premier dimanche. En revanche, les expositions temporaires restent payantes. » Here en revanche shows an opposition between free and paid.

Purpose and position

In a letter, the purpose is often in the first lines: « Je me permets de vous écrire au sujet de… » gives the subject, and « Je vous serais reconnaissant de bien vouloir… » is a polite request. In an article, look for words that show change over time (d'abord… aujourd'hui) or a feeling such as la méfiance (distrust).

Opinion texts use set phrases. « On aurait tort de… » means it would be wrong to… . « Encore faut-il que… » adds a condition. « Au lieu de les mépriser » means instead of looking down on them.

Expressions, irony and careful claims

Writers sometimes use irony: « Le nouveau règlement, censé simplifier les démarches, compte désormais quarante pages. » The writer means it did not simplify anything. Scientific texts are careful: a link between sport and sleep is not proof that sport causes better sleep.

Temaquiz 3: TCF Canada: Compréhension écrite (reading)

Lesson 4: Expression écrite (writing)

The writing test lasts 60 minutes and has 3 mandatory topics. This course does not reproduce the official task instructions or word limits, so read the official candidate information before your test. Here you practise three useful kinds of writing: a practical message, a formal email and an opinion text.

Formal or informal?

In a formal complaint, stay calm and precise. Write « Je constate que ma commande n'a toujours pas été livrée », not slang such as « c'est n'importe quoi ». Use the conditional to be polite: « Je voudrais savoir… », « Pourriez-vous… ? ».

Answer every point

If a task asks you to give the date, the time, the place and what to bring, all four must be in your text. Before you write, turn the task into a checklist. When you finish, tick each point.

Plan an opinion text

1. Introduce the topic in one sentence.
2. Give your opinion: « À mon avis… », « Je pense que… ».
3. Give a first reason with an example: « D'abord… Par exemple… ».
4. Add a second reason: « De plus… ».
5. Conclude: « Pour conclure… » or « En conclusion… ».

Use connectors to show the logic: parce que or car for a cause, donc for a consequence, mais or pourtant for a contrast.

Grammar checklist

Temaquiz 4: TCF Canada: Expression écrite (writing)

Lesson 5: Expression orale (speaking)

The speaking test lasts 12 minutes and covers 3 subjects, with an examiner. Use vous with the examiner, because you do not know them and the situation is official. In a role-play where the examiner plays a friend, you can use tu.

Introduce yourself

Answer in full sentences, then add details: « Je m'appelle Ana et je viens du Brésil. J'habite à Calgary depuis deux ans. Je travaille comme infirmière. Le week-end, j'aime faire de la randonnée. » A one-word answer such as « Ana. » gives the examiner nothing to assess.

Ask questions in a role-play

Do not mix two forms: « Est-ce que proposez-vous… » is wrong. Useful questions: « Quels sont vos horaires d'ouverture ? » (opening hours), « Combien coûte l'abonnement ? », « Est-il possible de payer par carte ? ». To give advice, say « Je te conseille de… » or « Je vous conseille de… » + infinitive.

Give and justify an opinion

A strong answer has an opinion, a reason and an example: « Oui, c'est utile, parce que les enfants apprennent vite. Par exemple, ma fille parle déjà deux langues. » Organize longer answers with D'abord, De plus and Pour conclure.

Show nuance. « Il est vrai que la ville est chère. Néanmoins, il y a plus d'emplois. » admits a point and then gives a contrasting idea. « Je suis d'accord en partie, mais… » shows partial agreement.

Verb tenses you will need

• Past events: passé composé. « L'année dernière, je suis allé(e) en France. » (aller takes être)
• Hypothesis: si + imparfait, then the conditional. « Si j'avais plus de temps, j'apprendrais le piano. »
• Plans: aller + infinitive. « Je vais commencer un nouveau travail. »

When you have a problem

• You did not understand: « Pourriez-vous répéter la question, s'il vous plaît ? »
• You do not know a word: « Excusez-moi, que veut dire « colocation » ? »
• You need time to think: « Bonne question. Laissez-moi réfléchir un instant. »

Temaquiz 5: TCF Canada: Expression orale (speaking)