Is TCF Canada hard?
Checked November 1, 2026
It depends on your target. There is no pass or fail, and one test covers every level from A1 to C2, so anyone can sit it. What makes it hard is reaching NCLC 7 in all four skills, which means B2-level marks such as 10 out of 20 in writing, under tight time limits.
What makes it hard, part by part
| Part | What catches candidates out |
|---|---|
| Listening, 39 questions, 35 min | Each recording is played once, and questions get harder as you go |
| Reading, 39 questions, 60 min | About 1.5 minutes per question, with harder texts at the end |
| Writing, 3 tasks, 60 min | Strict word counts for each task, and all three must be done |
| Speaking, 3 tasks, 12 min | Face to face with an examiner, with 2 minutes of preparation for task 2 only |
FEI says the TCF does not follow a course programme. It measures your general French, so you cannot cram a syllabus.
The real question is your weakest skill
IRCC reads each skill on its own. A strong listening score does not make up for 9 out of 20 in writing, which is NCLC 6. Writing is the hardest skill to judge alone, because FEI gives a mark but no annotated copy and no feedback.
What we can’t tell you
We found no official figure for the share of candidates who reach NCLC 7, and no official source says TCF Canada is easier or harder than TEF Canada. Anyone who quotes one should show where it comes from.
To see your own distance from NCLC 7 in writing, write one task here for free and get an estimated mark. For a plan, see how to prepare.