How much does the TCF Canada cost?

Test-centre fees range from CAD $310–$400 depending on location. Contact your local accredited centre for exact pricing.

TCF Canada

TCF Canada: Complete Guide & Practice Tests

Q: How long is the TCF Canada exam?

Approximately 3 hours: 35 minutes listening (39 questions), 60 minutes reading (39 questions), 60 minutes writing (3 tasks), and 12 minutes speaking (3 tasks).

Q: What TCF score do I need for CLB 7?

In TCF Canada: Listening 369+, Reading 453+, Writing 10+, Speaking 10+ correspond to CLB 7. Each skill has its own cut-off in the official TCF-to-CLB conversion table.

Q: Is TCF Canada accepted for Express Entry?

Yes. TCF Canada is fully accepted by IRCC for Express Entry, PNPs, and Canadian citizenship applications. Results are valid for 2 years.

Everything you need to know about the Test de connaissance du français Canada — format, scoring, NCLC/CLB conversion, and a proven preparation plan.

What is TCF Canada?

The Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada) is an official French proficiency exam administered by France Éducation International (FEI), a public institution operating under the French Ministry of Education. IRCC accepts TCF Canada results for:

Express Entry (all economic streams)
Provincial Nominee Programs, including Quebec's Arrima system
Canadian citizenship applications
Francophone mobility and francophone minority community streams

Exam format & timing

TCF Canada has four sections. Unlike the general TCF, this version is specifically structured for Canadian immigration purposes.

Section	Questions	Time	Format
Listening (Compréhension orale)	39	35 min	Multiple choice
Reading (Compréhension écrite)	39	60 min	Multiple choice
Writing (Expression écrite)	3 tasks	60 min	Message + article + argument
Speaking (Expression orale)	3 tasks	12 min	Guided interview + topic + argument

Scoring & CLB/NCLC conversion

Listening and Reading are scored from 100 to 699. Writing and Speaking are scored from 0 to 20. IRCC publishes the official TCF-to-CLB (NCLC) conversion table:

CLB/NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
CLB 10	549–699	549–699	16–20	16–20
CLB 9	523–548	524–548	14–15	14–15
CLB 8	503–522	496–523	12–13	12–13
CLB 7	458–502	453–495	10–11	10–11
CLB 6	398–457	406–452	7–9	7–9
CLB 5	369–397	375–405	6	6
CLB 4	331–368	342–374	4–5	4–5

Target for Express Entry CLB 7 minimum to claim French points; CLB 9 unlocks significantly more CRS (50 additional points for strong French as a secondary language, 74 if French is primary).

Section-by-section breakdown

Listening — 39 questions in 35 minutes

Audio snippets of increasing difficulty: short exchanges, announcements, radio interviews, news reports. Each plays only once. The difficulty curve is steeper than TEF — the final 10 questions separate CLB 8 from CLB 10.

Reading — 39 questions in 60 minutes

Advertisements, notes, informational texts, articles, literary extracts. About 90 seconds per question — manage your pace.

Writing — 3 tasks in 60 minutes

Task 1: 60–120 word message (describe an event, ask for information).
Task 2: 120–150 word article/report for a website.
Task 3: 120–180 word argumentative text comparing two opinions.

Each task is scored 0–20 using six CEFR criteria (task completion, coherence, range, accuracy, register, orthography).

Speaking — 3 tasks in 12 minutes

Task 1 (~2 min): guided interview about yourself.
Task 2 (~5 min): obtain information from the examiner by asking questions.
Task 3 (~5 min): develop and defend a point of view.

4-week study plan

Week 1 — Diagnostic. Take one full timed mock. Identify your weakest section and lowest-accuracy topic (agreement, connectors, pronunciation, etc.).
Week 2 — Listening + Reading depth. 30 min daily, alternating sections. Log every missed question by type.
Week 3 — Writing + Speaking rubric drill. Write one 150-word text per day, rotating between tasks 1, 2, 3. Record yourself answering speaking prompts; listen back for pronunciation gaps.
Week 4 — Full mocks. Two complete timed exams. Review against the 6-criteria rubric for writing and speaking. Last 48 hours: rest, review notes, sleep well.

Ready to start?

Take a free TCF Canada mock test — same format, AI-evaluated writing & speaking.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the TCF Canada exam?

Approximately 3 hours including short breaks. Listening 35 min, reading 60 min, writing 60 min, speaking 12 min.

What TCF score do I need for CLB 7?

Listening 458+, Reading 453+, Writing 10+, Speaking 10+. You need CLB 7 on all four skills to claim French points in Express Entry.

Is TCF Canada accepted for Express Entry?

Yes. Results are valid for 2 years from the test date.

How much does TCF Canada cost?

CAD $310–$400 depending on the centre. Contact your nearest accredited centre for the exact price in your region.

Should I take TCF or TEF Canada?

Both map to the same CLB levels and are equally valid for IRCC. See our TCF vs TEF comparison for the practical differences.