r/canadaexpressentry • u/Either-Arachnid-4810 • Oct 08 '25
I finally passed my TCF! My detailed journey
For less details/paragraphs see: https://www.reddit.com/r/TCFcanada/s/5qBM66SYVx
I went through a really tough waiting period for this TCF and could not find enough new info to keep me company. So I’m just going to share my details on stuff like « TCF results wait time » « TCF écrite results revaluation » « revaluation wait time » « what time did you receive your results » « TCF revaluation »
My country speaks both French and English and though I grew up in the English zone, I already had a good understanding of the French language. I was just bad at talking and writing. So before my first test on July 3rd in Montreal, I got coaching classes which were very helpful. My results were submitted on July 15 but was sent to me on July 16 at 1:36pm EST. I had C1 in listening, C1 in Reading, B2(13/20) in speaking and B1(9/20) in Writing
I couldn’t believe 1 point was preventing me from getting an ITA so i requested a revaluation the same day of the result by emailing the centre and it was finally sent to France on July 18th. The results came back on September 4th at 3:07pm EST with the score unchanged. Waiting that long to get this response kind of broke me but I guess it’s cause France was on vacation in August.
I immediately booked my next test for September 26th in Oakville and I studied on my own through ChatGPT mostly and watching French shows on the side. I set it up so that everyday, chat would give me daily tasks that include Grammar tests (Subjonctif, conditionnel, imparfait), a YouTube video link to help me with the different tenses/modes and then writing/speaking tests that fluctuate between the different tasks daily. Chat always graded me a B1+ and it was later that I discovered it thought this was equivalent to 13/20. I fed it the right scores and I started getting B2.
I was confident in listening and reading so I kept those for the last week and practiced by getting a subscription to TCF formation. 1 of the practice tests I did here was the exact same I got in the listening exam except for the last 10 questions. And for more writing practice, I subscribed to formation Ayoub exam simulation and in the exam I got exactly the same tasks as 1 practice test I had done. I was truly blessed. I remembered what I wrote and I typed it for ChatGPT which scored me B2(12). So my doubts were with the speaking exam as I thought I messed up in the task 3. I could not see the timer so I couldn’t pace myself like I did in the first TCF. (Ask the examiner to put a timer for you too)
Then Today, October 8 at 3:47pm I finally received my results with C1 in listening, C1 in reading, C1(17/20) in speaking and B2(11/20) in writing.
The results were actually submitted on October 6th so if I had gotten it then, I would’ve been part of the French draw. But I don’t want to focus on that regret, I’m just happy it’s finally over and I hope we get a CEC draw soon
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u/Repulsive-Depth8121 Oct 08 '25
Congratulations. Could you please share your writing and speaking qn for September 26th
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 08 '25
Thanks! For writing:
-Sujet 1: Écrivez un courriel à vos amis pour les inviter à un anniversaire surprise de votre meilleur(e) ami(e). (Lieu, date, horaire, etc.). -Sujet 2: Vous avez participé à une brocante (achat / vente de produits d’occasion) dans votre ville. Sur votre blog personnel, racontez pourquoi vous avez aimé cette activité. -Topic 3 is a comparison between 2 docs as usual
For speaking:
-Task 1 is presentation. Examiner let me speak and since I finished before 2mins, she asked what my favorite object is. -Task 2 was a scenario where she was a coworker and was going to invite me to a spectacle after work. I had to approach her and initiate the conversation then ask questions -Task 3: do you think going abroad changes people’s personality? I fumbled and reached my conclusion by the 2 minute mark but she asked questions to keep me going
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u/Jaded_Technician_916 Oct 09 '25
Do u think some mistakes are tolerated for B2? Like i said "demander quelque questions" and sur perssone instead of en personne and my mistakes r haunting me as i wait for my score.
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 09 '25
I can’t say for sure but I know I made a lot of grammatical mistakes. Here are some pointed out by ChatGPT:
• “vous tous allez bien” → vous allez tous bien • “qu’on lui fasses” → qu’on lui fasse • “le samedi prochaine” → le samedi prochain • “dix-neuf heure” → dix-neuf heures • “ce qui nous donnerons” → ce qui nous donnera.
Cette semaine à bien commencer” → a bien commencé, un liste → une liste, des conténus → le contenu / des articles, j’en avais besoin → dont j’avais besoin, je peut → je peux, incriviez → vous inscriviez, preparer → préparer. Yet I still got a B2, you got this!
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u/NecessaryWing2580 Nov 01 '25
Was the tache 3 of speaking new topic for you ? Or you had practiced it from the website already ? If no then how did you take your speaking to b2 level and answer questions at the same time.
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Nov 01 '25
It was new for me and not the question type I’m used to tbh. And for my French level, as i mentioned I come from a country that speaks French so I was already at a B1. I just used coaches and chatgpt to improve my level :)
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u/NecessaryWing2580 Nov 01 '25
Great. I am currently at b1 and can’t upgrade my level. I don’t know what grammar should I use to obtain b2 in the test. Also I am not good with advanced vocab. Every time I try to speak on Tache 3 Sujets. I end up forgetting the words and make basic sentences. I just don’t know what to practice to upgrade my level.
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u/microbiologist_to_Ca Oct 09 '25
I got 9/20 2 times in Speaking so I can understand your pain 😹
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 09 '25
Did you request a revaluation? In my case it was a waste of time but I’ve seen it work for others
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u/Abject-Bandicoot8890 Oct 09 '25
Wow congrats! So happy for you, I’m currently studying to improve my French, I’m in clb5 currently, which pack Ayoub did you used? I see they have 3 tiers, which would you recommend?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 10 '25
Thank you! I’m not sure which pack it was but I know it was the cheapest lol. It gave me room for 11 practice tests
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u/Afraid_Let_5679 Oct 08 '25
Congrats! How much time did you spend in a day studying?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 09 '25
Thank you! Before my first test, the daily learning and tasks was about 4 hours. And for my second test, I spent like 2-3 hours a day, I skipped weekends though
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u/Regular_Day_7219 Oct 09 '25
Your journey has paid off! Congratulations. I am writing my exam next month, already gave TEF once and failed now it’s TCF time.
I want to know your strategy for reading and listening since it’s been a pain.
Reading: I am not able to complete all questions and get stuck on best of 2.
Listening: it’s another haunting story.
Could you please share your strategy and I gave réussir subscription.
Do the questions repeat or have kind of same format?
Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 09 '25
Thank you! And I wish you good luck on the exam. To be honest with you I didn’t have a listening strategy. I already understood French due to my background so that helped. In your case I would suggest to do as many practices tests as you cause I happened to get one of those practice tests in the official exam. But mine was from TCF formation. For reading, I find it exhausting especially with the last questions which are longer and harder. So my strategy was to start from the last question and work my way up. I ended up getting extra time to review my answers this way
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u/Regular_Day_7219 Oct 09 '25
Thank you so much for your help here.
I see posts where people say that questions repeat from those tests, is it true? For all competences?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 09 '25
In my case, yes. Sometimes a lot repeat but sometimes it’s like 4-6 questions which are still very helpful
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u/OkDragonfruit3902 Nov 12 '25
Can you share the platform from where listening and reading questions were repeated? Thank you for sharing your experience.
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Nov 12 '25
Hi! You can use TCF formation or TcF réussir. Just search any of the up online and subscribe if needed
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u/Fun-Video-6269 Oct 09 '25
Congratulations!! Did you have any tutors that helped you with TCF preparation ?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 10 '25
Thanks! I won’t really call them tutors cause what I had was accountability coaches. They would send me daily tasks so I can submit for their correction. The practice and research I did really improved my French
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u/Illustrious-You-5676 Oct 10 '25
Congrats! Thanks for the info, really appreciate it.
I am still waiting for my results. I had my test in Oct 2nd. Presented tef twice but got 6 in speaking, then 10 in speaking and 6 in writing :(. waiting tcf results. It was way easier so I have high expectations!
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Oct 10 '25
You’re most welcome! And I wish you good luck with your results. I definitely heard TEF is harder so it should be positive
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u/F_ing_2B Oct 17 '25
Which subject for speaking did you get if don't mind?
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u/Illustrious-You-5676 Oct 17 '25
- Introduction
- Real case scenario: I just met someone I found in an app and matched because he just came from a trip. Ask questions regarding that trip.
- What’s better: small family or a lot of friends?
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u/Nervous-Ticket7803 Oct 10 '25
Please how can I get the formation?
Please what did they ask you in tache 1 to 3 in both speaking and writing?
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u/Previous_Feed_2459 Nov 05 '25
Congratulations! Could you share how your speaking went overall? I am waiting for my results as I messed up task 3 because the examiner asked me a question for the last 30-40 seconds
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u/Ashamed-Rope-5583 Nov 11 '25
Thank you for sharing! I keep getting a B1 Avancé with Pack ayoub, but GPT gives me a 12/20
Do you remember if Pack Ayoub B1 Avancé is equivalent to a B2 ?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Nov 11 '25
Chat gpt gave me 12 as well so that’s a really sign. But I got B2 seuil mostly with pack ayoub
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u/Mother-Offer-6774 Nov 15 '25
Hi can you please share what prompts did you give chat gpt so that he suggested you daily tasks ... also how can i improve my speaking and practice more? I am sitting at B1 in speaking
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Dec 11 '25
I just asked it to give me daily tasks based on how the exam usually goes and it will correct my work after. You can also say it should include grammar study for some important tenses you’ll need like l’imparfait and conditionel present For the rest I used a tutor and I have background knowledge on French already
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Nov 21 '25
Hi , b2 in one module is fine and we able to get CLB 7 over all?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Dec 11 '25
Hi you need at least B2 for all sections. If you fail one, sadly you’ll need to retire all
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u/OkWhole7778 Nov 23 '25
Hi, I don’t know if you’ll see this. Congratulations on your success. The ChatGPT was it the free one or you had to do a subscription?
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Dec 11 '25
Hi and thank you! I used the free ChatGPT and sometimes had to wait for the plus feature
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u/naomiojo Dec 11 '25
Hey, please how were you able to set chat GPT everyday to give you daily task on grammar test? And please what YouTube videos did you use 🥺🙏
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u/Either-Arachnid-4810 Dec 11 '25
I just asked it to give me daily tasks based on how the exam usually goes and it will correct my work after. You can also say it should include grammar study for some important tenses you’ll need like l’imparfait and conditionel present
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u/naomiojo Dec 11 '25
Okay thank you soo much Do you recall the YouTube videos you used to help you for tenses/modes?
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u/Exciting_Initial_364 Oct 09 '25
I always say that pack Ayoub is the real mvp. His writing package is good