How does the TCF Canada Speaking test work?

The TCF Canada Speaking test lasts about 12 minutes and has 3 tasks with an examiner: task 1 (guided interview: introduce yourself and answer questions), task 2 (interaction: get information on a given topic) and task 3 (expressing and arguing a point of view on a set topic). Each task is harder than the last.

What criteria is the TCF Canada Speaking test scored on?

Speaking is assessed on the ability to communicate and interact, ease and fluency, range and control of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy and pronunciation. TCFCAD's AI marker analyses your speaking against these official criteria and places you on the NCLC scale.

Does TCFCAD mark speaking?

Yes. TCFCAD offers an AI Speaking marker that instantly assesses your answers to the 3 tasks, with corrected topics, key phrases and a detailed method for each task. You get immediate feedback and advice to reach NCLC 9.

How do I succeed in task 3 of the TCF Canada Speaking test?

Task 3 asks you to express and defend a point of view on a set topic, with no preparation time. To succeed: state your position clearly, structure your argument with 2 or 3 points backed by examples, use linking words and conclude. TCFCAD provides corrected topics and key phrases specific to task 3 so you can practise effectively.

How can I practise TCF Canada speaking without a partner?

TCFCAD's AI speaking marker lets you practise alone, at any time: you answer topics for the 3 tasks and get an instant assessment on the official criteria, just like with an examiner. You can repeat as often as you need to build confidence before exam day.

TCF Canada Speaking: free AI simulator

In short

The TCF Canada Speaking test is an interview of about 12 minutes with an examiner, made up of 3 tasks (guided interview, interaction, expressing a point of view), scored out of 20 then converted to NCLC. On TCFCAD, an AI marker plays the examiner and assesses you on the official criteria.

01 — The 3 tasks to master

The speaking test, broken down.

12 minutes, 3 tasks, with an examiner. Here is exactly what to expect and how to perform.

01 2 min · no preparation

Guided interview

Simple questions · daily life

The examiner asks simple questions about your life, your tastes and your plans. Goal: show that you can talk with someone you don't know.

Answer clearly and without excessive hesitation
Expand your answers a little (don't answer in one word)
Register everyday and natural

Example question

« Pouvez-vous vous présenter ? Quel est votre film préféré ? Comment imaginez-vous votre vie dans 30 ans ? »

02 5 min 30 · 2 min prep

Interaction with preparation

Questions to ask · you lead

You ask the examiner questions about an everyday topic. You have 5 minutes to prepare your list of questions before the exchange.

Prepare at least 6 varied questions in 5 min
Cover different aspects of the topic (what, who, how, why)
Follow up on the answers with follow-up questions

Example situation

« Vous recherchez quelqu'un pour garder votre animal. Posez les questions pour décider si ce candidat convient. »

03 4 min 30 · no preparation

Expressing a point of view

Argument · opinion · debate

You develop your opinion spontaneously on a current topic. This task assesses your ability to argue and defend a position in a structured way.

Introduction: rephrase the topic and state your position
2 to 3 arguments backed by concrete examples
Conclusion: sum up and confirm your view

Example topic

« Voyager nous rend heureux. Êtes-vous d'accord ? Les moyens de communication se développent — communique-t-on mieux aujourd'hui ? »

02 — Everything you need

Three resources, one method.

Corrected topics to practise on real themes, an AI marker to measure your progress, key phrases so you're never lost for words.

Preview of the monthly archive of corrected Speaking topics

Model answers

Corrected recent topics

Model answers for the 3 tasks, annotated against the official NCLC criteria, on recent and frequent topics.

Topics renewed every month
Notes by assessment criterion
B2 and C1 levels explained

See the topics

Most used

Preview of the AI Speaking marker: score and feedback by criterion

Practice

Instant AI marker

You record or type your answer, and the AI marks it in 15 s on the 3 official TCF criteria with a detailed score /20.

Instant marking, score /20
Feedback by criterion (linguistic, pragmatic…)
Progress tracking across all series

Launch the AI marker

Templates

Templates & Key phrases

Ready-made structures to organise your task 3 answer, transition expressions and phrases for task 2.

Structures for the 3 tasks
100+ linking expressions
Phrases to agree / disagree

See the templates

03 — The official marking scale

On 3 criteria, not one more.

This is exactly what two independent markers listen for in your recording. Our AI reproduces this scale exactly.

Criterion 01

Linguistic competence

Richness and precision of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, fluency, pronunciation.

Vocabulary Grammar Pronunciation

Criterion 02

Pragmatic competence

Ability to interact, coherence of speech, organisation of ideas, flow.

Interaction Structure Coherence

Criterion 03

Sociolinguistic competence

Fit with the communication situation, appropriate register, suitable level of language.

Register Appropriateness Naturalness

Official marking scale published by France Éducation International, the body that designs and marks the TCF Canada.

04 — Do / don't

The habits that make the difference.

What markers notice straight away in NCLC 9 answers — and the mistakes that lose points in every task.

DO

Winning habits.

Expand each answer in task 1 with an example or an explanation.
Prepare 6+ questions in task 2 — not just yes/no ones.
State your plan in task 3 before arguing (« Je vais défendre l'idée que… »).
Use varied linking words to connect ideas (d'une part, cependant, ainsi…).
Correct yourself naturally when you make a mistake, without stopping for too long.

DON'T

Costly mistakes.

Answering in a single word in task 1 — it's the easiest task to improve.
Asking only closed questions in task 2 (yes/no). Mix in « comment », « pourquoi ».
Speaking without structure in task 3 — jumping between ideas at random drags the score down.
Always using the same words — lexical range is a criterion in its own right.
Going silent or freezing — it's better to rephrase or ask again than to stay silent.

05 — Toolbox

Phrases to know by heart.

Ready-made French expressions for every situation. Learn them before the exam to speak fluently and naturally.

Giving your opinion

À mon avisSelon moiJe pense queIl me semble quePour ma part

Introducing an argument

D'une partPremièrementTout d'abordEn premier lieuPar ailleurs

Qualifying / contrasting

CependantToutefoisEn revancheNéanmoinsD'un autre côté

To conclude

En conclusionPour résumerEn sommeFinalementEn définitive

Task 2 questions

Pourriez-vous me dire…Comment fonctionne…Qu'est-ce qui…Y a-t-il…

Buying time

C'est une bonne questionVoyons…Je dirais queEn faitDisons que

Illustrating

Par exempleNotammentEn effetPrenons le cas deÀ titre d'exemple

Rephrasing

Autrement ditC'est-à-direEn d'autres termesJe veux direPlus précisément

Master the
Speaking test