TCF Canada – Your Friendly Guide

This part tests how well you understand spoken French. Pro tip: each recording is played only once, and you'll get the question after listening. So ears open, brain ready! It's a good idea to train yourself to read the questions while listening, so you know exactly what to pay attention to.

You'll hear things like:

• Everyday conversations — chats, interviews, phone calls
• Messages and announcements — notices, short messages, reminders
• Radio or TV broadcasts — info about people, events, current topics
• Presentations — talks on concrete or abstract subjects

Here, the goal is to understand written French. Texts start easy and get progressively more complex. You'll deal with:

• Everyday messages — emails, notes, informal or formal
• Common documents — menus, brochures, ads, timetables
• Personal correspondence — letters or messages about people, events, or facts
• Informal texts — daily life or work situations
• Articles and reports — opinions on specific or abstract topics
• Long or complex texts — literary, factual, or specialized writing

This is your chance to chat in French like a pro. It's a one-on-one with an examiner, with 3 tasks:

• Task 1 — Quick interview (2 min, no prep): show you can talk naturally with someone you don't know.
• Task 2 — Interaction exercise (5:30 min, 2 min prep): you'll obtain information in an everyday situation. Instructions explain your role and the examiner's role.
• Task 3 — Expressing an opinion (4:30 min, no prep): respond to a question chosen by the examiner. Bonus: the examiner may ask extra questions to make sure you didn't memorize your answers.

During speaking, you're assessed on:

• Talking about yourself, your family, and work life
• Asking relevant questions in context
• Giving opinions, explaining pros/cons, agreeing or disagreeing
• Presenting ideas clearly and structured
• Discussing complex topics with detail and a proper conclusion

Here, you show how well you can write in French. There are 3 tasks:

• Task 1 — Short message: describe, explain, or tell something. Instructions say who it's for. Length: 60–120 words.
• Task 2 — Story or report: write a short article, letter, or note for several people. Include opinions, comments, or arguments if needed. Length: 120–150 words.
• Task 3 — Compare viewpoints: compare two points of view from documents and give your own opinion. Length: 120–180 words.

You're assessed on:

• Communicating a clear message
• Providing requested information
• Describing, telling, or explaining ideas
• Justifying a choice, opinion, or decision
• Linking ideas coherently
• Comparing two points of view
• Expressing and defending opinions
• Using appropriate vocabulary and grammar
• Rephrasing ideas effectively