TCF Canada: how it works, where to take it and how it is scored
What is TCF Canada needed for?
TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français) is one of two French-language tests taken for immigration to Canada or Canadian citizenship. It serves a similar purpose to TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation du français), but is developed by a different organization.
TCF Canada consists of four required parts.
- Compréhension orale (39 questions) – 35 minutes
- Compréhension écrite (39 questions) – 60 minutes
- Expression écrite (3 tasks) – 60 minutes
- Expression orale (3 tasks) – 12 minutes
I described in detail what is included in each part of TCF Canada in another article at the link. Here I will only say that the tasks in each module are arranged according to the principle - from simple to complex.
Knowledge is assessed:
- on a 20-point scale in speaking and writing and
- on a scale from 100 to 699 points in reading and listening.
Points will not be deducted for incorrect answers in tests. There is a chance to play a guessing game.
What scores do you need to pass TCF Canada for?
This is individual and depends on whether you choose French as a first or second language to immigrate to Canada. To understand what language score you need, use counting points on the official website.
In general, the results of TCF Canada are equivalent to the European Common Proficiency in a Foreign Language from A1 to C2 (Common European Framework of Reference, CEFR).
But future immigrants need a different assessment system - the Canadian one. It is based on this that the points in Express Entry are calculated. It is called Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) or Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). It has 10 levels.
How long will it take to wait for exam results?
From 15 days and longer. For example, I found out mine a month later. All tests are sent to France and only after the examination committee checks the answers and makes a decision, you receive a certificate on an A4 sheet with points for each of the four skills. The certificate is valid for two years.
Is it possible to file an appeal if you are unhappy with the result?
The official documents say yes. It will cost 20-80 euros. But, to be honest, I don’t yet know of a single case where the French raised their score after this. I would like to believe that I simply did not meet these people. If time is pressing, sometimes it is easier to retake the entire exam than to waste precious months and money waiting for leniency that may not come.
How often can I take TCF Canada?
The good news is that you can retake TCF Canada as many times as you like until you get the score you need, the only condition is to wait 30 days before retaking it. The bad news is that the exam is rarely held in Russia. Even in St. Petersburg and Moscow, where the French Institute hosts it, sessions are held approximately two or three times a year, but it is difficult to even predict in which months. That’s why many people go abroad or to other cities in Russia to retake exams. A list of exam centers can be found at official website TCF.
How does TCF Canada work?
All parts in one day. They cannot be retaken separately. Until recently, in St. Petersburg, the exam was conducted only on paper and cost 12,000 rubles. Now some centers accept the computer option. It is possible that results come faster. Please check.
What if you have DELF or DALF on hand? Is it possible not to take TCF?
Unfortunately, DELF/DALF does not replace TCF Canada. If you are immigrating to English-speaking Canada, you only have a choice between TCF and TEF. As for immigration to Quebec, it has its own subtleties and its own immigration policy. Find all the information about this on the official website of the Quebec government.
Read more about TEF Canada - another French exam for immigration to Canada. link.