TCF - Québec

• 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.