Listening Comprehension (CO)
39 questions
Questions
35 minutes
Duration
Multiple choice (4 options)
Format
Each recording is played once, and difficulty rises from A1 to C2. The pace is set by the audio, not by you.
The Complete Guide to TCF Canada
Everything you need to know about the TCF Canada exam structure, scoring, and preparation strategies
Exam Overview
TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada) is a French proficiency test designed and marked by France Éducation international, a public institution under the French Ministry of Education. It is one of the two French tests that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts for immigration applications. Results are valid for 2 years. A waiting period applies between two attempts — 20 days according to test centres in 2026, previously 30 — so check with your centre before booking again.
Total duration: 2 hours 47 minutesExam order: Listening → Reading → Writing → Speaking
In-depth guides
One page per topic: how each section works, how it is scored, and how to prepare.
- Score chart: CLB / NCLC and CEFRThe official conversion table for all four skills, and what each level means for Express Entry.
- Score calculatorConvert your four scores to NCLC / CLB levels, or estimate a score from your correct answers.
- Listening (Compréhension orale)39 questions in 35 minutes, audio played once: format, scoring and how to prepare.
- Reading (Compréhension écrite)39 questions in 60 minutes: text types by level, time management and strategy.
- Writing (Expression écrite)Three tasks in 60 minutes: word limits, what each task asks for and how it is marked.
- Speaking (Expression orale)Three tasks in 12 minutes with an examiner: timings, expectations and practice ideas.
Exam Sections
Reading Comprehension (CE)
39 questions
Questions
60 minutes
Duration
Multiple choice (4 options)
Format
Difficulty rises from A1 to C2. You control the pace, so time management matters most.
Written Expression (EE)
3 tasks
Questions
60 minutes
Duration
Writing
Format
A message, then an article or letter, then a comparison of two viewpoints with your own position. Each task has a word limit.
Oral Expression (EO)
3 tasks
Questions
12 minutes
Duration
Interview with an examiner
Format
A guided interview, an interaction where you ask the questions, then expressing a point of view. One-to-one with an examiner.
Scoring Rules
Listening and reading are multiple-choice tests with no penalty for wrong answers, and harder questions are worth more. The table shows the weighting commonly used to estimate a score out of 699; the official formula is not published.
| CEFR Level | Points per Question | Questions | Subtotal | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 2% |
| A2 | 9 | 6 | 54 | 8% |
| B1 | 15 | 9 | 135 | 19% |
| B2 | 21 | 10 | 210 | 30% |
| C1 | 26 | 6 | 156 | 22% |
| C2 | 33 | 4 | 132 | 19% |
| Total | — | 39 | 699 | 100% |
Writing and speaking are each scored out of 20 by examiners according to standardized criteria.
CEFR Levels on Your Certificate
Listening / Reading (max 699)
A1100–199
A2200–299
B1300–399
B2400–499
C1500–599
C2600–699
Writing / Speaking (max 20)
A11
A22–5
B16–9
B210–13
C114–17
C218–20
NCLC / CLB Conversion Table
Canadian immigration programs use CLB levels, called NCLC for French tests. Each skill is converted separately. Note that a CEFR level is not an NCLC level: B2 covers 400–499, while NCLC 7 starts at 458 in listening and 453 in reading.
| NCLC / CLB | Listening (CO) | Reading (CE) | Writing (EE) | Speaking (EO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC / CLB 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
| NCLC / CLB 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| NCLC / CLB 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| NCLC / CLB 7Common EE requirement | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| NCLC / CLB 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| NCLC / CLB 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| NCLC / CLB 10+ | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
LuckyTCF Platform Coverage
LuckyTCF offers level-by-level practice and timed mock exams for listening and reading, with a transcript or passage, translation and explanation for every question, plus writing practice.
Listening Comprehension (CO) Reading Comprehension (CE)