Section A: continue a news article
25 minutes · at least 80 words
You read the beginning of a short news story and write what happens next, as a journalist would: facts, events, past tenses and several paragraphs.
Free TEF Canada writing grader
Find out your NCLC level for TEF Canada writing in 2 minutes
Write or paste your answer to a Section A or Section B task. You get an estimated NCLC level, a score for each criterion, the three fixes that will raise your score the most, and a corrected version of your text.
- Sections A and B, with 30 original practice prompts
- Score per criterion, top 3 fixes and a corrected version
- Feedback in English or French
Grade your answer
This is an estimate from an AI grader, calibrated against texts marked by human examiners. It is not an official TEF result.
How the TEF Canada writing test works
The writing test (expression écrite) lasts 60 minutes and has two sections. You write both texts in French.
Section B: give and defend your opinion
35 minutes · at least 200 words
You react to a statement, for example in a letter to a newspaper or a forum post. You take a clear position and support it with several arguments and examples.
What examiners look at
- Task completion
- Did you do what the task asks, in the right format and register, with enough content?
- Coherence and cohesion
- Is the text organised in paragraphs, with clear links between ideas?
- Vocabulary
- Is your vocabulary varied, precise and correctly spelled?
- Grammar
- Agreement, verb forms, tenses and sentence structure.
TEF Canada writing scores and NCLC levels
TEF Canada writing is scored out of 450. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) converts the score into an NCLC level. Most Express Entry candidates aim for NCLC 7 in all four skills.
| NCLC level | TEF writing score (out of 450) |
|---|---|
| NCLC 10+ | 393–450 |
| NCLC 9 | 371–392 |
| NCLC 8 | 349–370 |
| NCLC 7 | 310–348 |
| NCLC 6 | 271–309 |
| NCLC 5 | 226–270 |
| NCLC 4 | 181–225 |
Source: IRCC equivalence table for TEF Canada, checked on 2026-10-08.
See the scores for all four skills in the TEF Canada score chartThe whole test at a glance
- ListeningMultiple choice, 40 minutes
- ReadingMultiple choice, 60 minutes
- WritingTwo sections, 60 minutes
- SpeakingTwo sections with an examiner, 15 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official TEF Canada?
No. This is an independent practice tool, not affiliated with CCI Paris Île-de-France or the TEF. Only an approved test centre can give you an official result.
How accurate is the NCLC estimate?
An AI grader scores your text against the TEF writing criteria, using reference texts marked by human examiners. Our code then turns those scores into an NCLC level through a calibration table that we keep refining. Treat the result as an estimate to track your progress, not as a promise of your exam score.
What NCLC level do I need for Express Entry?
Most candidates aim for NCLC 7 in all four skills. On TEF Canada writing, NCLC 7 means a score between 310 and 348 out of 450.
How many words should I write?
At least 80 words for Section A and at least 200 for Section B. The grader accepts up to 400 words. Writing much more than the minimum does not earn points by itself; quality does.
Can I use my own practice prompt?
Yes. Choose “My own prompt” and paste the task you practised with. For our own prompts, you also see a model answer after grading.
Do you keep my text?
Your text is sent to our AI providers to be graded. We do not store it in our database; we keep only the scores, the word count and the section. See the privacy policy for details.
Is it free?
Yes. The score calculator and the guides are free, and your first two writing gradings are free. Paid plans with unlimited grading, a speaking simulator and full mock tests are in development: you can join the waitlist to reserve the founding-member price. Nothing is charged today.