TCF - Canada

• These questions test the ability to understand spoken French, such as: 
• colloquial words and common expressions in everyday situations involving communication (conversations, interviews, phone calls, etc.);
• the main information in messages and simple, clear announcements; 
• information on people, facts or events in radio or television broadcasts on current events or on personal and professional subjects; 
• presentations on tangible or abstract subjects; 
• any type of discourse given at an ordinary pace of delivery. 

This test is made up of multiple choice questions (MCQ). Each question has 4 possible answers (A, B, C, D), but only one is correct.

The tests are given in a sequence of increasing difficulty.

NB! Each recording is only played once. The question is given after listening to the audio file.

• These questions test the ability to understand written French, such as:
  • colloquial nouns, very simple words and phrases used in situations involving communication (formal or informal messages and correspondence);
  • information in common documents (classified adverts, brochures, menus and times, etc.);
  • information on people, facts or events (personal correspondence);
  • texts in informal language concerning everyday or work life;
  • articles and reports in which the authors take a stance on specific or abstract subjects;
  • long and complex factual or literary texts, specialist articles;
  • abstract or complex texts or extracts from books, specialist articles.

This test is made up of multiple choice questions (MCQ). Each question has 4 possible answers (A, B, C, D), but only one is correct.

The tests are given in a sequence of increasing difficulty.

• This test evaluates the candidate’s ability to express themselves verbally in French and is made up of 3 tasks:
  • Task 1 – Structured interview no preparation (2 minutes): the candidate should demonstrate their ability to converse with a person they do not know (the assessor).
  • Task 2 – Exercise in interaction with preparation (5.5 minutes, 2 of which are spent preparing): the candidate should demonstrate their ability to obtain information in a common everyday situation. The positions of the interlocutor and candidate will be outlined in the instructions.
  • Task 3 – Expressing a point of view no preparation (4.5 minutes): the candidate should demonstrate their ability to speak spontaneously, continuously and in a convincing manner when responding to a question chosen by the assessor.

• In this test, the candidate is assessed on their ability to: 

• talk about themselves and their family and professional life; 
• ask questions suited to the given context for communication; 
• give their opinion and explain the advantages and disadvantages of a plan, express agreement and disagreement; 
• present a clear and structured line of argument in a style appropriate to the context; 
• present complex subjects in a detailed and structured manner, develop these further and give a conclusion. 

This test evaluates the candidate’s ability to express themselves in written French and is made up of 3 tasks:

• Task 1: writing a message to describe, tell and/or explain something, addressed to one or several recipients who are specified in the instructions. Number of words expected: minimum of 60 words/maximum of 120 words.
• Task 2: writing an article, letter, note, etc., aimed at several recipients to give a report of an experience or tell a story. Reports and stories will be supported by comments, opinions and arguments, depending on the purpose (e.g. to make a claim, reconcile, etc.). Number of words expected: minimum of 120 words/maximum of 150 words.
• Task 3: writing a text (for a newspaper, website, colleague, superior at work, etc.) that compares 2 points of view on an event in society, expressed in two documents. The candidate gives their opinion on the subject addressed in the two documents. Number of words expected: minimum of 120 words/maximum of 180 words.

In this test, the candidate is assessed on their ability to: 

• communicate a message clearly; provide the requested information;
• describe, tell, explain; 
• justify a choice, position, decision, etc.; 
• link ideas and demonstrate coherence in their discourse; 
• compare two points of view; 
• express their opinion and defend it; 
• use vocabulary and structures suited to the given task. 
• rephrase an idea. 

NB!  The written skills paper may be marked as “A1 not achieved” if:

• the writing is not legible (in cases of writing on paper);
• the completed tasks do not adhere to the word limits;
• the writing is off-topic;
• one or more tasks have not been completed.