How does TCF Canada speaking task 1 work?
Checked November 1, 2026
Task 1 is a 2-minute guided interview with no preparation. In the sample paper from France Éducation international (FEI), the examiner opens with « Est-ce que vous pouvez vous présenter ? » (can you introduce yourself?), then asks about you, your family, your work, your habits or your plans. It shows you can talk with someone you don’t know.
How it runs
- You go into the room alone, facing one examiner. They ask your surname and first name and repeat them for the recording.
- They announce the task and ask you to introduce yourself. The 2 minutes include their questions and your answers.
- They follow up on what you said. They may interrupt, prompt you or tell you time is up.
The interview is recorded, then marked again by a second FEI marker.
Possible topics
FEI’s sample paper gives the examiner this list of themes.
- Personal details, personality, languages spoken
- Family and friends
- Education and studies
- Work or university situation
- Activities and habits at work, at home, in free time
- Tastes, skills, interests
- A past event or activity
- Living conditions (place, housing, surroundings, facilities, weather)
- Personal belongings
- Plans and wishes
- Getting around and travel
- Public institutions, infrastructure, associations
The handbook sets this task the goal of talking with someone you don’t know. For the speaking test as a whole, it also lists talking about yourself and your family and work environment.
How to do it well
- Answer in two or three sentences. A fact, then a detail or a reason. A bare « oui » makes the examiner prompt you and shows nothing.
- Vary the tenses. Present for your situation, past for an event, future for plans. FEI’s themes call for all three.
- Prepare ideas, not a script. A recited introduction can be interrupted and could be marked “A1 non atteint” (details).
- Ask them to repeat if needed. It is a real conversation.
A skeleton for “introduce yourself”
In about 30 seconds, say your name and where you are from, your job or studies, your family, then one plan. The examiner then picks up on one of these points. Keep the order in mind, but change the words each time you practise.
An invented example. To « Qu’est-ce que vous faites le week-end ? » (what do you do at weekends?), you might answer « Le samedi matin, je joue au football avec des collègues. L’après-midi, je fais les courses avec ma femme, et le dimanche on rend visite à mes parents. »
All three tasks and their timing are in the speaking guide. NCLC Prep marks writing, not speaking. If writing needs work too, you can test a task there.