The TCF exams

The TCF is composed of:

• 3 compulsory tests : Oral comprehension, written comprehension, mastery of language structures.
• 2 optional tests : Oral expression, written expression.

  Each version of the TCF has its own particularities regarding the tests and their format ( the TCF tests according to the version chosen ). Preparation for the TCF
  

  The tables below detail each TCF test:

  Listening Comprehension
  Tests the ability to understand spoken French: familiar words and common expressions; simple and clear messages and announcements; information about people, facts or events presented in the media; presentations dealing with concrete or abstract subjects; speech delivered at a fluent rate.
  TCF TP, DAP, ANF and Quebec: 29 questions TCF CRF: 20 questions TCF Canada: 39 questions 4 answer choices per question, only 1 correct answer
  TCF TP, DAP, ANF and Quebec: 25 minutes TCF CRF: 15 minutes TCF Canada: 35 minutes

  Mastery of language structures
  This test only concerns the TCF TP (and therefore the DAP). Tests the ability to master language structures, from the most basic to the most complex, knowing: identify errors in vocabulary or language register; choose the equivalent of an expression or a grammatical term; select the correct formulations depending on a communication situation.
  18 questions 4 answer choices per question, only 1 correct answer
  15 minutes

  Written comprehension
  Tests the ability to understand written French: familiar names, very simple words and phrases used in communication situations; information contained in current documents; information about people, facts or events; abstract or complex texts taken from books and specialized articles.
  TCF TP, DAP, ANF and Quebec: 29 questions TCF CRF: 20 questions TCF Canada: 39 questions 4 answer choices per question, only 1 correct answer
  TCF TP, DAP, ANF and Quebec: 45 minutes TCF CRF: 20 minutes TCF Canada: 60 minutes

  Written expression
  Tests your ability to express yourself in written French.
  Task 1 : Writing a message to describe, addressed to one or more recipients (between 60 and 120 words). Task 2 : Writing an article / letter / note to several recipients to describe an experience or a story (between 120 and 150 words). Task 3 : Write a text comparing two points of view (between 120 and 180 words).
  60 minutes

  Oral expression
  Individual face-to-face test with an examiner, aimed at assessing the ability to express oneself in French
  Task 1 (2 min) : Guided interview without preparation: the candidate must demonstrate their ability to communicate with a person they do not know. Task 2 (5 min 30 including 2 min preparation) : The candidate must demonstrate their ability to obtain information in a common everyday situation Task 3 (4 min 30) : Expression of a point of view without preparation, spontaneously, in response to a question chosen by the examiner.
  12 minutes (10 minutes for TCF, AND and CRF versions).