TL;DR
The "real questions" of the TCF that circulate online are what candidates remember, often inaccurate, and they come from no official source. Learning them by heart is risky, because a recited text can be marked « A1 non atteint » (below A1). Effective preparation means practising in the official format on a wide range of topics.
Where do these questions come from?
Sites offering "recent topics" or "real questions" rebuild them from what candidates remember. Nothing guarantees they are accurate, and the answers given are sometimes wrong. They do not come from France Éducation international or from any official source.
Why learning by heart is a bad strategy
- The candidate handbook states that a text learned by heart can be marked « A1 non atteint ».
- There are many possible topics: betting on a few of them is a lottery.
- In speaking, the examiner asks follow-up questions, and a recited speech quickly falls apart.
- Since September 1, 2026, re-marking has been suspended: a badly marked task can no longer be reviewed.
Reliable practice sources
| Source | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Candidate handbook (France Éducation international) | The official format, the marking criteria and sample questions |
| Sample tests (France Éducation international) | Official questions and prompts, with online answer checking |
| RFI, Le français facile | Listening practice, recommended by France Éducation international |
| TV5MONDE | 600 free listening, reading and language structure questions |
| Original practice sets in the official format | New topics, with the right number of questions and words, and feedback |
What France Éducation international says
The TCF "is not based on a course syllabus": it assesses your general ability to use French. France Éducation international advises you to get familiar with the format and how the test runs, to read the sample questions and to immerse yourself in the language. Its TCF Canada page never advises learning topics by heart.
What really works
- Practise on original topics in the exact format of the test (39 questions each for listening and reading on the TCF Canada).
- Master reusable structures: outline, linking words, phrases for giving your opinion.
- Get feedback on your writing and speaking against the three official criteria, so you know what to improve.
A reusable structure for Task 3 of writing, which works with any topic, without reciting anything:
Selon le premier document… En revanche, le second… Pour ma part, je pense que… car… Par exemple… En conclusion…
Frequently asked questions
Are the "real questions" of the TCF official?+−
Can I prepare sentences in advance?+−
Are there official sample questions?+−
Does French Score use real exam questions?+−
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