OuiPR / Word counter
TCF Canada word counter for writing Tasks 1, 2 and 3
Choose the task, then paste or type your French text. The counter shows how many words you have and whether you are inside the range: 60 to 120 words for Task 1, 120 to 150 for Task 2 and 120 to 180 for Task 3.
In the checker, paste your topic too: the score then takes it into account.
Word limits for each TCF Canada writing task
The writing test (expression écrite) has 3 tasks and lasts 60 minutes in total. Each task gives its own word range.
| Task | What you write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | A message to describe, explain or tell something | 60-120 |
| Task 2 | A report or story with comments or arguments, for several readers | 120-150 |
| Task 3 | A text that compares two points of view from documents and gives your opinion | 120-180 |
Source: Alliance Française de Philadelphie, TCF Canada page, checked 29 October 2026. Confirm with your test centre before you book.
How this counter counts words
A word is any group of characters between two spaces that has at least one letter or number in it. So:
- l'ami, j'habite and c'est-à-dire count as 1 word each.
- 2026 and 10h count as 1 word.
- A punctuation mark on its own does not count. French texts often have a space before ? ! : ;, so "Pourquoi ?" is 1 word, not 2.
Our writing checker and mock exam count the same way, so the number here matches what you see there. We found no official rule that explains how TCF Canada examiners count words, so do not write right at the limit. Leave a margin of about 10 words.
Tips to hit the right length
- Aim for the middle. About 90 words for Task 1, 135 for Task 2 and 150 for Task 3.
- Task 2 has the narrowest range. Only 30 words between 120 and 150, so count before you finish.
- Plan your time. You have 60 minutes for all three texts, and Task 3 is the longest. See the writing tasks overview for what each task asks.
- Practise with a timer. The mock exam gives you the three tasks in 60 minutes and counts your words as you type.
Right length? Now check the French
Paste your Task 1, 2 or 3 text and get a score out of 20, your NCLC level and every mistake explained. 5 free checks a day, no sign-up.
Check my writing freeQuestions
How many words for TCF Canada writing?
Task 1 is 60 to 120 words, Task 2 is 120 to 150 words and Task 3 is 120 to 180 words. You write all three in 60 minutes.
Does l'ami or c'est-à-dire count as one word?
In this counter, yes: any group of characters between spaces counts as one word. We found no official TCF rule on this, so stay about 10 words inside the range.
Do punctuation marks count as words?
No. A mark on its own, like a ? after a space, is not counted. Only groups with at least one letter or number count.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
Your text stays in your browser so you can come back to it, and it also appears in the OuiPR checker for the same task. It is sent only if you press Check in the checker.
Can I get a score for my text?
Yes. The button under the counter opens the OuiPR checker with your text: a score out of 20, your NCLC level and each mistake explained in English. 5 free checks a day, no sign-up.
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