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TCF Canada test sample: how to build and mark a practice test

A good TCF Canada test sample copies the real exam: 39 listening questions in 35 minutes, 39 reading questions in 60 minutes, 3 writing tasks in 60 minutes and a 12-minute speaking test. Below you can build this test at home, run it in one sitting and mark each skill against the IRCC table.

What a sample test must include

The real TCF Canada takes 2 hours 47 minutes. A sample test is useful only if it keeps the same parts and the same timing. If your practice is shorter or has no timer, you will not know how the real day feels.

Part	What is in the real test	Time
Listening	39 multiple-choice questions, 4 options each	35 min
Reading	39 multiple-choice questions	60 min
Writing	3 tasks: a message (60-120 words), a report or story (120-150 words), a comparative text with your opinion (120-180 words)	60 min
Speaking	3 exercises with an examiner: an interview (2 min), an interaction to get information (5.5 min, including 2 min to prepare), your point of view (4.5 min)	12 min

Source: Alliance Française de Philadelphie, TCF Canada page, checked 21 October 2026. Confirm with your test centre before you book.

Where to find sample material

Your test centre. Ask the Alliance Française or university centre where you plan to book whether it offers preparation material or practice sessions.
Books and online courses for TCF Canada. Check that the book or course is made for TCF Canada, and compare its format with the table above.
Your own writing tasks. For writing you do not need a book. Our guides give the format and a model answer for Task 1, Task 2 and Task 3.

Whatever you choose, check the question count and the timing against the table above.

How to run a sample test at home

Pick a quiet time of about 3 hours and put your phone away.
Start with listening, then reading, then writing. Use a real timer: 35, 60 and 60 minutes. Do not pause.
Do not use a dictionary or a translator. Then your result shows your real level.
Record the speaking test last. Use your phone. For the second exercise, take 2 minutes to prepare, then speak for the remaining 3.5 minutes.
Write down your result for each skill before you look at any correction.

How to mark each skill

IRCC converts each TCF Canada result to an NCLC level. Listening and reading are scored up to 699, writing and speaking out of 20. This is the part of the IRCC table you need for most goals:

NCLC	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
9	523-548	524-548	14-15	14-15
8	503-522	499-523	12-13	12-13
7	458-502	453-498	10-11	10-11
6	398-457	406-452	7-9	7-9

Source: IRCC, language testing for Express Entry (canada.ca), checked 21 October 2026. IRCC can change its tables, so confirm on canada.ca before you apply.

Listening and reading: count your correct answers out of 39. A practice test does not give the 0 to 699 score of the real exam, so use the count to compare one test with the next.
Writing: you need someone or something to mark it. On your own, you will miss many of your mistakes and cannot see your score. Paste each text into the tool below to get a score out of 20 and your NCLC level.
Speaking: listen to your recording. Note long pauses, repeated words and sentences you did not finish. If you can, send it to a teacher.

What to do after the test

Find the skill with the biggest gap to your target NCLC level.
Read every correction in your writing and rewrite the sentences with mistakes.
Study the weak skill for a week or two, then run a new sample test.
Keep a short list of your repeated mistakes, such as gender agreement or verb tenses, and read it before each test.

Your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence, so plan the real exam with enough time. See the TCF Canada exam page for the full score table, and the writing tasks overview for word counts and timing.

For the writing part, try the writing mock exam: three tasks, one 60-minute timer, like the real test.

Mark your sample writing in seconds

Paste the text from your sample test and get a score out of 20, your NCLC level and every mistake explained in English, Português, हिंदी or ਪੰਜਾਬੀ. 5 free checks a day, no sign-up.

Check my writing free

Questions

Is there a free TCF Canada sample test?

Ask your test centre first about preparation material. You can also build your own test with the real format: 39 listening questions, 39 reading questions, 3 writing tasks and a 12-minute speaking test.

How long is a full TCF Canada sample test?

The real exam takes 2 hours 47 minutes: 35 minutes of listening, 60 minutes of reading, 60 minutes of writing and 12 minutes of speaking. A good sample test uses the same timing.

How do I mark my TCF Canada writing sample?

Writing is scored out of 20 and IRCC converts the score to an NCLC level. On the IRCC table, NCLC 7 is 10 to 11 and NCLC 8 is 12 to 13. Ask a teacher or use a checker, because it is hard to judge your own mistakes.

How many sample tests should I do?

One at the start to find your weakest skill, then one every one or two weeks. After each test, fix your mistakes before you start the next one.

How long are TCF Canada results valid?

For IRCC, your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

More about TCF Canada

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