The TCF Canada: format, score and NCLC
The Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada is recognised by IRCC for immigration and citizenship. It is taken entirely in French. Here is what you need to know before preparing for it.
The 4 tests
Listening Comprehension (compréhension orale)
39 multiple-choice questions on recordings, in 35 minutes. Scored out of 699.
Reading Comprehension (compréhension écrite)
39 multiple-choice questions on written documents, in 60 minutes. Scored out of 699.
Written Expression (expression écrite)
3 writing tasks in 60 minutes: a message, a story or an article, an argument. Marked out of 20.
Oral Expression (expression orale)
An interview of about 12 minutes in 3 tasks with an examiner. Marked out of 20.
How questions are scored
In comprehension, questions range from A1 to C2 and are worth more and more points: questions 20 to 39 make up almost 70% of the total.
- A1Questions 1 to 43 pts per question
- A2Questions 5 to 109 pts per question
- B1Questions 11 to 1915 pts per question
- B2Questions 20 to 2921 pts per question
- C1Questions 30 to 3526 pts per question
- C2Questions 36 to 3933 pts per question
Total: 699 points
NCLC equivalences
IRCC converts each result into an NCLC level. The calculator gives you your level in a few seconds.
| NCLC | Listening Comprehension | Reading Comprehension | Written and Oral Expression |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549 to 699 | 549 to 699 | 16 to 20 |
| 9 | 523 to 548 | 524 to 548 | 14 to 15 |
| 8 | 503 to 522 | 499 to 523 | 12 to 13 |
| 7 | 458 to 502 | 453 to 498 | 10 to 11 |
| 6 | 398 to 457 | 406 to 452 | 7 to 9 |
| 5 | 369 to 397 | 375 to 405 | 6 |
| 4 | 331 to 368 | 342 to 374 | 4 to 5 |
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). See the equivalences on canada.ca
How long results are valid
Results are valid for two years from the test date. Keep this in mind when planning your application.
Registration tips
- Register early: places go quickly in some centres.
- Check the NCLC your program requires before choosing your date.
- Plan several weeks of practice under real conditions.