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TCF - Québec

The TCF Québec is aimed at all individuals 16 years old and above, regardless of their nationality or native language, who want to submit an immigration application to the Québec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration, MIFI).

NB: To fill in your MCQ answer sheet correctly, please read the page "Filling in the TCF MCQ answer sheet" carefully.

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General information

The TCF for Québec has been designed to meet the requirements set by the Québec authorities, which has standardised French tests and exams as an automatic and mandatory element of the process to obtain a certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), which is a step towards being granted a permanent visa. French nationals and French speakers are also included in this measure.

The Québec authorities also recognise, as an exemption, the TCF tout public with the verbal skills tests, as well as the DELF and DALF diplomas (with the condition of achieving a minimum score in the listening comprehension and verbal skills tests and a validity of at least 2 years).

About the tests

The TCF Québec is made up of 4 test modules that assess general French language skills. The candidate can choose to sit, according to their preference, 1, 2, 3 or 4 tests out of:

  1. Listening comprehension: Exam room test: 39 multiple choice questions (4 possible answers, only 1 correct answer)
  2. Reading comprehension: Exam room test: 39 multiple choice questions (4 possible answers, only 1 correct answer)
  3. Writing skills: Exam room test: 3 exercises
  4. Verbal skills: Individual test one-on-one with an examiner: 3 exercises

The duration of the TCF Québec varies depending on the number of tests sat (between 12 minutes minimum and 2 hours 22 minutes maximum):

  • Listening comprehension: 35 minutes;
  • Reading comprehension: 60 minutes;
  • Written skills: 60 minutes;
  • Verbal skills: 12 minutes (2 of which are for preparation).

What is assessed in the different tests?

  • 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 without 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 without 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 two 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.
     
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Registration

The TCF Québec sessions are organised throughout the year. The approved centres are authorised to organise sessions in line with their means to do so.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to contact the approved TCF centre closest to their home directly.

The approved TCF centre will provide information on:

  • the session dates;
  • the registration process;
  • the location for sitting the tests;
  • materials for sitting the exam (on paper or on a computer);
  • the cost.

You can sit the TCF Québec as many times as you want. However, you must wait 30 days between each session, regardless of the version concerned.

No diploma or preparation is required to be able to sit the TCF.

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Results

Your results will be sent to the test centre within 15 working days from the date on which France Éducation international receives the papers.

You should collect your certificate directly from the centre in which you sat the TCF Québec tests.

Your certificate will be valid for 2 years from the date on which the results were issued. This date of validity will be indicated on your certificate. 

The TCF Québec assesses six levels of French knowledge (defined with reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages by the Council of Europe.

A1 not achieved

0 to 100 points

A1

101 to 199 point

A2

200 to 299 points

B1

300 to 399 points 

B2

400 to 499 points

C1

500 to 599 points

C2

600 to 699 points

Each candidate receives a certificate that includes:

  • A score for listening comprehension, translated into a CEFR level ranging from "level A1 not achieved" to level C2;
  • A score for reading comprehension,  translated into a CEFR level ranging from "level A1 not achieved" to level C2;
  • A mark out of 20 for verbal skills and its translation into a CEFR level ranging from "level A1 not achieved" to level C2;
  • A mark out of 20 for written skills and its translation into a CEFR level ranging from "level A1 not achieved" to level C2.

For more information on the results, please click here.

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What level has to be achieved to obtain points?

From 1 August 2013, the Québec authorities began allocating points from B2 level and have set the maximum level of points at 16.

The scale, which is set by the Québec Ministry for Immigration, Francisation and Integration, is structured as follows:

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Épreuves orales :

jusqu'à 14 points 

Compréhension orale 

Expression orale 

A1

0 point

A1

0 point

A2

0 point

A2

0 point

B1

0 point

B1

0 point

B2

5 points

B2

5 points

C1

6 points

C1

6 points

C2

7 points

C2

7 points

 

Épreuves écrites :

jusqu'à 2 points supplémentaires 

Compréhension écrite 

Expression écrite

A1 à B1 

0 point 

A1 à B1 

0 point 

B2 à C1 

1 point 

B2 à C2 

1 point 

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Preparation for tests

The TCF Québec is not based on a programme of lessons, but on the candidate’s French language skills and their general ability to use French. This language level depends on individual practice and may be improved by studying French in lessons or with specific books (see the resources page).

Here is some advice on preparing to sit the TCF:

Before sitting the test:

  • become familiar with the TCF format (format and duration of tests),
  • become familiar with how the TCF is carried out,
  • read through example tests,
  • immerse yourself in the French language as often as possible by reading, watching television, listening to the radio or recordings, talking with friends,

During the test:

  • pay careful attention to the instructions,
  • concentrate as much as possible, especially during the listening comprehension test,
  • do not waste time taking notes for MCQ tests,
  • manage your time in the grammar comprehension, reading comprehension and written skills tests (candidates need to complete 3 tasks).
In addition, to study, it is recommended to practise with:

Studying for the TCF listening comprehension on
Le français facile avec RFI website

Le français facile avec RFI

Studying for the mandatory TCF tests on 
 the TV5Monde website

TV5MONDE

Documents to consult

Ressources pour se préparer au TCF
Consulter

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