TCF Canada writing, task by task
Checked November 1, 2026
The writing test (expression écrite) lasts 60 minutes for 3 tasks. You manage the time yourself. It is marked out of 20, and that mark converts to your NCLC level.
The 3 tasks
| Task | What you write | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A short message to someone, covering every point the prompt lists | 60–120 |
| 2 | An article, a letter or a note that tells about something and comments on it | 120–150 |
| 3 | Two short documents with opposite views: present both, then give and defend your own opinion | 120–180 |
For task 3, a common split is about 40–60 words to present the two views and 80–120 for your opinion.
Word counts are a hard rule
France Éducation international lists the cases that could get the whole paper rated A1 non atteint (below A1):
- a task that does not respect the required number of words;
- a text that is off topic, or a task not done;
- sentences copied from the prompt or the documents;
- a text learned by heart;
- writing left on the draft sheet; on paper, handwriting that cannot be read.
So count your words on every task, answer every point of the prompt and never paste a prepared text.
How it is marked
Each paper is marked twice, independently, without the second marker seeing the first mark. On a computer-based test, the first pass may come from FIDELIA, France Éducation international’s automated marking aid. The second marker is always a person. You can ask to take the writing on paper instead.
The mark out of 20 gives your NCLC level:
| Mark out of 20 | NCLC | CEFR in the handbook |
|---|---|---|
| 16–20 | 10 and above | C1–C2 |
| 14–15 | 9 | C1 |
| 12–13 | 8 | B2 |
| 10–11 | 7 | B2 |
| 7–9 | 6 | B1 |
| 6 | 5 | B1 |
| 4–5 | 4 | A2 |
Express Entry’s French-language draws ask for NCLC 7 in all four skills, which is 10 out of 20 in writing.
After the test
- Results arrive in about 15 working days and stay valid for 2 years.
- You can sit the test again after 20 days.
- Requests to re-mark a paper are suspended for sessions from 1 September 2026. France Éducation international plans to bring them back in autumn 2027.
How to practise
Write each task against the clock, at the real length, then get it corrected. Start with task 1: it is the shortest and shows your grammar and register quickly.