How the correction works
In the TCF, each writing task receives a level from "below A1" (A1 non atteint) to C2, given by two examiners who mark it independently. A calculation rule, which is not published, then turns these levels into a score out of 20. Our corrector uses the three groups of criteria from France Éducation international's candidate handbook.
| Criterion | What TCF examiners look at | What the corrector shows you |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistic | Range of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, spelling, sentence complexity | Every mistake found, explained and corrected |
| Pragmatic | Coherence and cohesion, development of the topic | The points of the prompt you covered or missed, and how your ideas connect |
| Sociolinguistic | Fit with the communication situation | Register, « tu » or « vous », opening and closing phrases |
What an estimate measures, and what it doesn't
The corrector relies on an AI guided by these criteria. France Éducation international uses its own AI, FIDELIA, as the first marker for some writing tests taken on computer; the second marking is always done by a person.
- What it measures well: word count, the points of the prompt you covered, language mistakes, register, and the level reached on each criterion.
- What it doesn't give you: your official score out of 20, since the calculation rule is not published, or the possible gap between two human examiners. It also doesn't recreate test conditions: the time limit and writing without a spell checker are up to you.
- How to read it: every result shows a confidence level. Treat the estimated level as a guide to improve, not a guaranteed result.
Word limits for each task
| Task | TCF Canada and Québec (60 min) | TCF IRN (30 min) |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | 60 to 120 words: a message to describe, tell or explain | 30 to 60 words: describe a person, a group, a place or an object in a short message |
| Task 2 | 120 to 150 words: an article, letter or note telling a story, with comments | 40 to 90 words: tell about activities or an experience |
| Task 3 | 120 to 180 words: compare two points of view, then give yours | 40 to 90 words: give and justify your opinion on a place, an object, a person or a group |
The prompts and your answer are in French, as on the test. The corrector's explanations are in French too, so you learn the vocabulary of feedback you will meet in your preparation.
Mistakes that lead to "below A1"
According to the candidate handbook, a paper is rated "below A1" (A1 non atteint), however good the French, in the five cases below. Our corrector checks them too: word count and whether you followed the prompt appear at the top of every result.
- the word count is not respected;
- the text is off topic;
- the task is not completed;
- sentences are copied from the prompt;
- the text was learned by heart.
What the subscription includes
| Without a subscription | Subscription (14-day free trial) | |
|---|---|---|
| Writing corrections | Not included | Unlimited (up to 50 a day) |
| Speaking corrections | Not included | Included |
| Tests | TCF Canada, Québec and IRN, all 3 tasks | TCF Canada, Québec and IRN, all 3 tasks |
| Commitment | None | Weekly, monthly or 3 months, cancel anytime |