English guide · TCF Canada
TCF Canada Practice Test
Start free, understand the 4 parts and your NCLC score
The TCF Canada is the French test that IRCC recognises for Canadian immigration and citizenship. This guide explains in English how it works, what level you need, and how to train with free mock tests on the Kru Rémi platform.
Good to know: the exercises are in French, like the exam. The explanations on this page are in English. On the DELF platform, hovering over French text shows its English meaning.
The essentials
What is the TCF Canada and who needs it?
The TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada) is a test run by France Éducation international. IRCC, Canada's immigration department, recognises it as proof of French level for immigration and citizenship applications.
It is not a diploma. It measures your level on a given date, and your attestation is valid for 2 years from the day the results are issued. For an immigration file you need either the TCF Canada or the TEF Canada, the other French option.
All four parts are compulsory. Each result converts to an NCLC level, and that level is what immigration programs look at.
Exam format
The 4 parts of the TCF Canada
About 2 h 47 min in total. Under each part you will see its official French name: that is what you will read on exam day.
35 min · 39 questions
Listening
Compréhension orale
A mix of recordings (conversations, announcements, interviews) with multiple-choice questions and four answers (A, B, C, D). Almost every recording plays only once, and the same test runs from A1 to C2 level.
60 min · 39 questions
Reading
Compréhension écrite
Emails, articles, adverts and administrative texts of rising difficulty. Each question is worth between 3 and 33 points depending on how hard it is, so the last questions add the most to your score.
12 min · 3 tasks
Speaking
Expression orale
A one-to-one interview with an examiner, in three tasks: talk about yourself and your plans (about 2 min), a role play where you ask questions to get information (about 5 min 30 s), and defend your point of view on a topic (about 4 min 30 s).
60 min · 3 tasks
Writing
Expression écrite
Three compulsory texts of rising difficulty: a short message (60–120 words), an article or story (120–150 words) and an argumentative text (120–180 words).
Scores
How the TCF Canada is scored and which NCLC level you need
Listening and Reading are each scored out of 699, Speaking and Writing out of 20. Each score then converts to an NCLC level (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) using IRCC's equivalence table.
NCLC levels are the same 12 levels as the CLB: NCLC applies to French, CLB to English, and IRCC treats them the same way.
In most programs your weakest skill is the one that counts. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires at least NCLC 7 in all four skills; some other programs ask for NCLC 5 or 6. Always check the exact requirements of your program on the official IRCC website.
| Level | Listening (/699) | Reading (/699) | Writing (/20) | Speaking (/20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10+ | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| NCLC 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| NCLC 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| NCLC 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| NCLC 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| NCLC 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| NCLC 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
Method
How to prepare, step by step
- 1
Take a mock test under real conditions
Start with practice test 1 for Listening and for Reading: 39 questions, with the same timer and format as the exam. At the end you get your score out of 699 and your NCLC level. The first 2 tests (séries) are free and need no account.
- 2
Measure the gap to your target
Enter your scores in the NCLC calculator and see which skill is holding you back: it usually deserves the most time.
- 3
Learn the method for Writing and Speaking
The Writing and Speaking methodology is free: how each task is built, with model answers for inspiration.
- 4
Train on exam topics
The platform gathers topics that have come up recently in the exam, each with a model correction, plus a bank of current-affairs topics with outlines and key phrases. Each month, 3 corrected topics are free.
- 5
Write and get feedback
The Writing simulator follows the official format, 60 min (3 tasks), and corrects each text in detail with artificial intelligence. A free account gives you 3 corrections.
Free and paid
What you can do for free and what full access costs
Free
- The first 2 Listening and Reading practice tests, no account needed
- Some corrected topics from each month and each theme
- The full Writing and Speaking methodology
- The NCLC calculator
- 3 Writing simulator corrections with a free account
- Method and mock-exam videos on YouTube
With full access
- 10 Listening and 10 Reading practice tests, 39 questions each
- All corrected Writing and Speaking topics
- Unlimited corrections in the Writing simulator
- The whole DELF platform (A1–B2), included in the same access
1 month
US$9.99
TCF Canada + DELF
6 months
US$20.99
TCF Canada + DELF
One-time payment, no subscription and no automatic renewal. You pay by card, your account is created with the email address used for payment, and access opens straight away.
FAQ
Common questions about the TCF Canada
What is the TCF Canada for?
It is a French test from France Éducation international that IRCC recognises for Canadian immigration and citizenship. It has four compulsory parts: Listening (compréhension orale), Reading (compréhension écrite), Writing (expression écrite) and Speaking (expression orale).
How long is the exam?
About 2 h 47 min in total: Listening 35 min (39 questions), Reading 60 min (39 questions), Writing 60 min (3 tasks) and Speaking 12 min (3 tasks).
What NCLC level do I need to immigrate to Canada?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires at least NCLC 7 in all four skills; some other programs ask for NCLC 5 or 6. Always check the exact requirements of your program on the IRCC website.
How long are the results valid?
The TCF Canada attestation is valid for 2 years from the day the results are issued. The DELF, by contrast, is a diploma that is valid for life.
How long must I wait before retaking the TCF Canada?
France Éducation international sets a compulsory wait of 20 days between two sittings of the TCF Canada.
Can I ask for my Speaking or Writing to be re-marked?
Not for now: from the sessions of 1 September 2026, re-marking requests for Speaking and Writing are suspended until about autumn 2027.
How much does the exam itself cost?
Exam fees are set by each test centre, so ask the centre where you plan to sit the exam. This is separate from the price of the Kru Rémi platform.
Are the exercises in English?
No. The TCF Canada is a French exam, so all the exercises on the platform are in French, as they will be on exam day. This guide explains in English how it works and where to start.
What can I practise for free?
The first 2 Listening and Reading practice tests (no account needed), some corrected topics each month, the full methodology, the NCLC calculator, and 3 Writing simulator corrections with a free account.
How much does full access cost?
US$9.99 for 1 month or US$20.99 for 6 months, as a one-time payment with no subscription and no automatic renewal. The same access also opens the whole DELF platform.
Start today with a free practice test
No account and no card: open practice test 1, take it with the exam timer and find out your current NCLC level.
Take practice test 1 free