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TCF Canada writing: format, tasks and scoring
Updated 2026-10-28
The writing test of the TCF Canada (expression écrite) is three tasks written in 60 minutes. This page sums up the format, how the texts are marked, how marks translate into NCLC levels, and how to practise. Plumepass is not affiliated with France Éducation international (FEI), the organisation that runs the test.
Format at a glance
| Task | What you write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A message that describes, tells or explains something to one or more readers. The instruction tells you who they are. | 60 to 120 |
| 2 | An article, letter, note or similar for several readers: an account of an experience, or a narrative with comments, opinions or arguments, depending on the goal (for example to ask for something or to make peace). | 120 to 150 |
| 3 | A text (for a newspaper, a website, a colleague, a superior and so on) that compares two views of a social issue, given in two documents, and gives your own opinion. | 120 to 180 |
The 60 minutes cover the three tasks together. The manual does not set a time per task, so you plan the split yourself. As a study tip only (not an official rule), you could give task 1 the least time and task 3 the most, since task 3 is the longest and needs two documents to be read.
Word counts matter. The manual lists a text without the required number of words as one case where a task can be marked 'A1 non atteint'. FEI does not publish how it counts words. Plumepass counts words separated by spaces.
How the writing is marked
- Two FEI examiners mark each performance independently and blind.
- Each gives every task a level, from 'A1 non atteint' up to C2.
- A calculation rule (not published) turns the six levels into a final mark and level. If the two examiners are far apart, a third marking is done.
- On some computer-based tests, an automated tool called FIDELIA may do a first marking. The second marking is always human.
Three groups of criteria are used: linguistic (range of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, spelling, sentence construction), pragmatic (coherence and cohesion, development of the topic) and sociolinguistic (suitability for the communication situation). More detail is on the scoring and NCLC page.
The same manual says that 'A1 non atteint' can also follow from illegible handwriting on paper, an off-topic text, or a missing task.
From mark to NCLC
The official grid out of 20 is: A1 = 1, A2 = 2 to 5, B1 = 6 to 9, B2 = 10 to 13, C1 = 14 to 17, C2 = 18 to 20. IRCC converts writing marks into NCLC like this:
| NCLC | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada writing mark | 4 to 5 | 6 | 7 to 9 | 10 to 11 | 12 to 13 | 14 to 15 | 16 to 20 |
This matters because the Express Entry French-language proficiency category requires NCLC 7 or higher in all four language abilities, writing included. IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. NCLC 7 in writing means 10 to 11 out of 20, the lower half of B2.
How to practise
- Learn the three formats and their word ranges until you do not have to look them up.
- Write real tasks against a timer. Read the instruction twice and cover every point it lists.
- Count your words before you stop. Stay inside the range with a small margin.
- Get feedback, then rewrite the weakest paragraph yourself before you look at a corrected version.
- Once or twice before the test, run all three tasks in one 60-minute sitting.
Plumepass is built for steps 2 to 5: 120 original practice tasks in the official format, a 60-minute timer, a word counter, and automatic feedback. For each task you get an estimated level and, from A2 upward, a range of marks out of 20 (not a single score) with the matching NCLC levels; for A1 and 'A1 non atteint' you get the level only, without a mark. You also get feedback on the three criteria groups, up to 8 corrections, a next step, and a model answer one level above yours (at most C1) shown side by side with your text. Feedback comes in English or French. It is an estimate by software, not an official mark. Guides by task: task 1, task 2, task 3. Taking TEF Canada instead? See TEF Canada vs TCF Canada writing.
Sources
- France Éducation international, Manuel du candidat TCF, version J, septembre 2024
- IRCC, Language testing for Express Entry
- IRCC, Language test equivalency table
- IRCC, Express Entry category-based selection
Try it on a practice task
Write the task with a timer and word count, then get a level estimate, the corrections that matter and a better version of your answer. 1 grading is free, and 2 more after you add your e-mail.
Questions
How long is the TCF Canada writing test?
The writing test (expression écrite) lasts 60 minutes for three tasks together. The candidate manual gives one limit for the whole test, so you decide how to split the time between the tasks.
How many words do I have to write in each task?
Task 1: 60 to 120 words. Task 2: 120 to 150 words. Task 3: 120 to 180 words. A task without the required number of words can be marked 'A1 non atteint'.
What writing mark do I need for NCLC 7?
According to the IRCC writing table, NCLC 7 corresponds to 10 to 11 out of 20, which is the lower half of B2. NCLC 8 starts at 12.
Can I practise TCF Canada writing for free?
Yes, in part. On Plumepass you get 3 free gradings: the first is free without an account and 2 more are free after you add your e-mail address. After that, plans cost 4.99 USD a week or 12.99 USD a month.