TCF Canada sets three tasks in one 60-minute block; TEF Canada sets two sections with their own clocks. In both, two independent markers assess your texts, and in TCF the word limits are compulsory.
| Test | Task | Words | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Task 1: a message that describes, narrates or explains | 60-120 | Shared 60 min, no official split |
| TCF Canada | Task 2: an article, letter or note reporting an experience, with comments | 120-150 | Shared 60 min |
| TCF Canada | Task 3: compare two viewpoints from two documents, then give your own | 120-180 (40-60 + 80-120) | Shared 60 min |
| TEF Canada | Section A: continue a news story | At least 80, several paragraphs | 25 min |
| TEF Canada | Section B: give and justify your view of a statement | At least 200, at least 3 arguments | 35 min |
The booklet gives the general rules: respect the minimum and maximum number of words for each task, and do the tasks in order, 1, 2, then 3. A word is anything between two spaces, so "C'est-à-dire" is one word and "Un bon sujet" is three. You write the word count under each task.
Task 1 is a message to one or more people whose status is given in the instruction, to describe, narrate or explain. In FEI's sample your suitcase has not arrived at the airport and you fill in a lost-luggage form, describing the case and how you lost it.
Task 2 is an article, letter or note for several readers, reporting an experience or telling a story, with comments, opinions or arguments for a purpose. In the sample a friend has won a trip to your country and asks for advice; you reply and justify your advice.
Task 3 compares two points of view on a social issue, given in two short documents, and then gives your own opinion. The sample asks for an article in two parts: the two opinions in your own words (40-60 words), then your position on the general theme (80-120 words).
FEI can award "A1 not reached" when a task is not written with the required number of words, is off topic or missing, copies sentences from the subject or the documents, is a text learned by heart, is illegible, or is written on the scrap paper (which is destroyed).
Section A (25 minutes) gives you the headline and first lines of a news-in-brief story. You finish the article in at least 80 words, in several paragraphs. CCI's advice: bring new details, explanations and information that are not in the opening, keep it coherent, use the headline, and do not copy, summarise or rephrase the opening.
Section B (35 minutes) quotes a statement from a newspaper, such as "Il faut d'urgence supprimer la publicité à la télévision." You write to the newspaper to say what you think, in at least 200 words, with at least three arguments. CCI notes that the letter layout is not required and a formal letterhead earns nothing; long generic introductions and conclusions are ignored, so open by reacting to the statement.
Both sections are typed, with a virtual keyboard for é, è, ê, ç and à. CCI publishes no maximum word count.
| Test | Official criteria |
|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Linguistic: range of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, spelling, sentence building. Pragmatic: coherence and cohesion, development of the topic. Sociolinguistic: fit with the situation. |
| TEF Canada | Quality of the text: respect of the situation, overall organisation, clarity of information or argument, ability to develop, nuance and specify. Command of written French: vocabulary, syntax (sentences, tenses, moods), spelling. |
How the levels become a score is on the writing scoring page.
Real prompts with model answers are on the writing 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.