TL;DR
For TCF sessions taken since September 1, 2026, requests to re-mark (re-evaluate, or « recorriger ») writing and speaking are suspended, and France Éducation international expects to resume them in fall 2027. If your mark is not enough, the only option is to retake the test, with 20 days between two sittings for the TCF Canada and for each section of the TCF Québec.
Before and since September 1, 2026
| Sessions before September 1, 2026 | Sessions since September 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Re-marking of writing and speaking | Possible on request | Suspended, expected to resume in fall 2027 |
| Writing and speaking mark | Could be revised | Final once published |
| If your score is not enough | Re-marking or a new sitting | A new sitting only |
France Éducation international announces this on its TCF Canada and TCF Québec pages, among others. The suspension is expected to last about a year; according to the organization, it aims to improve its tools and make request handling smoother.
How your writing and speaking mark is set
No re-marking does not mean careless marking. According to the candidate handbook, each writing and speaking task gets a level, from « A1 non atteint » (below A1) to C2, given by two examiners who mark independently. For speaking, the first is the examiner at the centre, who records the interview; the recording is then marked by a second examiner trained by France Éducation international. If their levels are far apart, a third examiner steps in. An unpublished rule then turns the task levels into a mark out of 20.
France Éducation international also says it uses FIDELIA, an AI marking assistant, as the first marker for some writing tests taken on computer; the second marking is still done by a person.
The most expensive mistakes
The handbook lists the cases where a task is marked « A1 non atteint ». These are the easiest points to protect:
- Not respecting the word limits (below the minimum or above the maximum).
- Going off topic, or not doing the task.
- Copying sentences from the prompt.
- A text learned by heart, with no clear link to the instructions.
Your mark is not enough: what to do
- Find the section that holds you back (listening, reading, writing or speaking) and the level you are missing, for example NCLC 7 on the TCF Canada.
- Allow at least 20 days before a new sitting: this gap applies between two TCF Canada sittings, and between two sittings of the same TCF Québec section.
- Add the time it takes to get results: 15 business days from France Éducation international receiving the session material, for the TCF Canada and the TCF Québec.
- Tell the centre, on the day and as soon as the test ends, about any problem you had during the test.
- Check that your new score report will arrive in time for your application.
- Focus your practice on the official criteria: following the instructions and the word limits, organizing your text, using the right register.
Example: 9 out of 20 in writing on the TCF Canada is NCLC 6. You are 1 point away from NCLC 7 (10 out of 20), a point often won by covering every part of the instructions and structuring Task 3 better.
Taking a TCF for France?
Preparing for a test in France? This article also exists in French.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still challenge my TCF writing or speaking mark?+−
When should re-marking resume?+−
Who marks writing and speaking?+−
How long do I have to wait to retake the TCF Canada?+−
Why has re-marking been suspended?+−
What score would you get in writing?
Write a TCF task and get an estimated level based on the official criteria. With the 14-day free trial. How we check the correction