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TCF Canada speaking: the three tasks, with sample topics
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Three tasks in 12 minutes, face to face, including just 2 minutes of preparation for the second task. It is the shortest test in the TCF Canada — and the worst managed: untrained candidates use up their time on task 1, the easiest, and rush task 3, the one that earns the most.
- 3 tasks · 12 minutes in total, face to face, scored out of 20.
- Task 1: guided interview — no preparation.
- Task 2: interaction exercise — 2 minutes of preparation.
- Task 3: expressing a point of view based on a document.
- ⚠️ Task 1 is predictable: you can prepare it in advance — the structure, not the text.
- CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) requires 10/20 in speaking.
Contents
The three tasks
| Task | Type | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guided interview — you introduce yourself, the examiner asks follow-up questions | none |
| 2 | Interaction exercise — a situation to resolve | 2 minutes |
| 3 | Expressing a point of view based on a document | — |
| Total | 12 minutes, preparation included |
Twelve minutes for three tasks is very short: about three to four minutes of speaking per task. So the challenge isn’t lasting the distance, it is being productive immediately — a candidate who takes a minute to get going has lost a quarter of their task.
One sample topic per task
The instructions are in French, as on exam day; what the examiner looks for is explained underneath.
Task 1 — Guided interview — no preparation · the warm-up, one to lock in
Présentez-vous : votre nom, votre âge, votre nationalité, votre situation familiale et votre métier ou vos études.
What the examiner expects
This is the most rewarding task of your whole preparation, because it is entirely predictable. Prepare and rehearse out loud a presentation of 60 to 90 seconds, then anticipate the usual follow-up questions: why are you learning French, what are your plans in Canada, how long have you been studying. Here the examiner mainly assesses fluency and pronunciation — not the depth of your ideas. Don’t recite mechanically: learn the structure, not the text.
Task 2 — Interaction exercise — 2 minutes of preparation · a situation to resolve
Racontez un voyage ou une visite que vous avez fait(e) en France. Décrivez l'endroit, ce que vous avez fait, ce qui vous a plu et ce qui vous a moins plu. Expliquez pourquoi vous recommanderiez ou non cet endroit.
What the examiner expects
The two minutes of preparation are for noting keywords, not sentences. A candidate who writes sentences and then reads their notes is spotted immediately and penalized on fluency. The instructions here contain four elements — describe, narrate, nuance, recommend: cover them all, in that order, and you have a ready-made plan. Past tenses (passé composé and imparfait) are the grammar point most closely watched in this type of task.
Task 3 — Expressing a point of view — based on a document · the task that earns the most
Document : « Selon une étude récente, 65 % des Français estiment que l'immigration est trop importante en France. Pourtant, les économistes soulignent que l'immigration contribue positivement à la croissance économique et compense le vieillissement de la population. »
Donnez votre avis argumenté sur ce décalage entre perception et réalité économique.
What the examiner expects
Don’t summarize the document — use it. The examiner has the text in front of them: paraphrasing it uses up your time without earning points. Start straight away with your position, then argue it. Here, the instructions point to a « décalage », a gap: that is what you have to explain, not immigration in general. Going off-topic is the most costly mistake, even more than language errors.
Managing twelve minutes
- Start immediately. There is no time for a silence while you think: start with a prepared hook sentence; it gives you three seconds to organize what comes next.
- Don’t over-invest in task 1. It is easy and reassuring, so candidates settle into it. A 90-second presentation is enough; the rest of the time belongs to tasks 2 and 3.
- Use your two minutes of preparation for task 2: three or four keywords in the order of your plan, nothing more.
- Save energy for task 3. It is the most demanding, and it comes last, when fatigue and stress are at their peak.
- Accept the follow-up questions. An examiner who interrupts or contradicts you isn’t penalizing you: they are testing your ability to react. Giving in immediately costs points.
What the examiner assesses
| Criterion | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Content | Have you covered all the elements of the instructions? |
| Vocabulary | Range and precision, not rare words |
| Grammar | Past tenses, agreement, complex structures |
| Coherence | A plan the listener can hear, explicit connectors |
| Pronunciation | Intelligibility, rhythm, intonation |
Note that pronunciation is a criterion in its own right, and it is the one candidates prepare least. A rich answer that is hard to follow hits a ceiling: the examiner assesses what they understand, not what you meant to say.
The most costly mistakes
- Reciting task 1. A presentation learned by heart can be heard, and the examiner immediately asks questions off your script. Learn the structure, not the sentences.
- Writing sentences during the two minutes of preparation. You won’t have time to say it all, and reading from notes is easy to spot.
- Paraphrasing the document in task 3. The examiner has it in front of them. Open with your position.
- Not answering the question asked. It is the most costly mistake, and it has nothing to do with your level of French.
- Not practising out loud. Preparing for the speaking test by reading is the best way to find out on exam day that you can’t keep going for three minutes.
You don’t prepare for the speaking test by reading
Hundreds of speaking topics in the exact TCF Canada format, with a real timer and real preparation time. You speak, the app transcribes and scores — pronunciation and fluency included — against the official criteria, as many times as you need. In the “TCF DELF TEF: Tests 2026” app.
Download on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
How long is the TCF Canada speaking test?
12 minutes in total for the three tasks, face to face, including 2 minutes of preparation for the second task. That is very short: count on about three to four minutes of speaking per task, with no downtime.
What are the three TCF Canada speaking tasks?
A guided interview in which you introduce yourself and the examiner asks follow-up questions, with no preparation; an interaction exercise with 2 minutes of preparation; then expressing a point of view based on a prompt document.
How do I prepare for TCF Canada speaking task 1?
It is the most rewarding task of your whole preparation, because it is entirely predictable. Rehearse a presentation of 60 to 90 seconds out loud and anticipate the usual follow-up questions: why you are learning French, your plans, how long you have been studying. Learn the structure, never the text — a recitation can be heard.
What should I do during the two minutes of preparation for task 2?
Note three or four keywords in the order of your plan, nothing more. Writing sentences is counterproductive: you won’t have time to say it all, and reading from notes is spotted immediately and costs points on fluency.
Should I summarize the document in speaking task 3?
No. The examiner has it in front of them: paraphrasing it uses up your time without earning points. Start straight away with your position, then argue it — answering precisely the question asked, which is often about one particular aspect of the document.
What if the examiner contradicts me?
Hold your position, but qualify it. An examiner who follows up or objects isn’t penalizing you: they are testing your ability to react and to defend a point of view. Giving in at the first objection costs points on the content criterion.
Related pages
- TCF Canada writing: the 3 tasks
The other productive test, with its three word ranges.
- TCF Canada exam: format, scores, CLB
The complete guide to the four tests and the CLB conversion.
- TCF Canada CLB 7: the exact scores
10/20 in speaking — and why a single point changes your level.
Formats change. This page is up to date as of 7 August 2026. The topics shown are original content from our app, designed in the official format — there are no official past TCF papers freely available. Check the current structure on france-education-international.fr before your session.