Both speaking tests are one-to-one with an examiner, recorded, and marked twice. TCF Canada lasts 12 minutes in three tasks; TEF Canada lasts 15 minutes in two role-plays built on an advertisement.
| Test | Task | Preparation | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Task 1: guided interview | None | 2 min |
| TCF Canada | Task 2: role-play in which you ask the questions | 2 min | 3 min 30 |
| TCF Canada | Task 3: give and defend a point of view | None | 4 min 30 |
| TEF Canada | Section A: phone call to get information (formal) | Not stated in current official pages | 5 min |
| TEF Canada | Section B: present an ad and convince a friend (informal) | Not stated in current official pages | 10 min |
The examiner opens by explaining that the test lasts 12 minutes in three parts, that parts 1 and 3 have no preparation and part 2 has 2 minutes, and that you may ask at any time for a word or question to be repeated or rephrased. Once the recording starts it cannot be stopped.
Task 1, guided interview (2 min). You show you can talk with someone you do not know. It opens with "Est-ce que vous pouvez vous présenter ?" and the examiner follows up on themes such as family, friends, studies, work, habits, interests, a past event, living conditions, plans and travel.
Task 2, interaction with preparation (2 min + 3 min 30). You get a subject card and must obtain information in an everyday situation, with the roles set in the instruction. You speak first and lead the conversation. You may take short notes on the examiner's scrap paper, not on the subject. A sample subject: the examiner runs an association that helps people in difficulty, and you ask how it works (activities, members, funding).
Task 3, point of view without preparation (4 min 30). The examiner reads a question and you argue your view with examples, trying to convince. The examiner may interrupt to ask about your arguments. Sample questions: "Pour vous, qu'est-ce qu'un pays agréable à vivre ?" and "Voyager nous rend meilleurs. Êtes-vous d'accord avec cette affirmation ?"
A candidate who seems to be reciting a prepared text is interrupted with questions, and recitation can be marked "A1 not reached".
Section A, getting information (5 min). You read an everyday ad (a job, a service, leisure, housing) that leaves out key details, and phone to find out more. You ask about ten questions; the examiner plays the person you call. The register is formal, so use "vous".
Section B, arguing to convince (10 min). You tell a friend about an ad, present it in your own words, and try to convince them to take part. The examiner plays the friend and, as CCI puts it, will never agree with you: expect objection after objection. The register is informal, so use "tu".
No notes or scrap paper are allowed. The current official pages give no preparation time; CCI's 2018 manual allowed 1 minute to discover the subject before each section.
| Test | Official criteria |
|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Linguistic: range and control of vocabulary, grammar, ease, pronunciation, overall fluency. Pragmatic: interaction, structure, coherence and cohesion, development of the topic. Sociolinguistic: fit with the situation. |
| TEF Canada | Section A: getting information, asking for clarification, a formal conversation. Section B: presenting a situation, developing ideas, an informal conversation. In both: vocabulary, syntax and pronunciation. |
The examiner gives the first assessment and a second assessor marks the recording independently. Scores are explained on the speaking scoring page.
Sample subjects with model answers are on the speaking samples page.
Practise TCF / TEF online
Every section of TCF Canada and TEF Canada is in the TestSucceed app. The tasks are timed like the real exam and marked instantly, and your writing and speaking are assessed by AI trained by our French exam experts. Start with TCF / TEF practice or sit a full TCF / TEF mock test.
Written by Kirill O'Nayd
French test expert and educator at TestSucceed. He prepares candidates for TCF Canada and TEF Canada and follows how each section is timed and marked. See all TestSucceed preparation materials.