On exam day, arrive early with the ID your centre asked for (often your passport), then expect an ID check, the written sections (listening, reading, writing) and a short speaking test with an examiner. If anything goes wrong with exam conditions, report it to the centre that same day: FEI is not accepting TCF re-marking requests for sessions from September 1, 2026.
Key takeaways
- Arrive early. ID checks and seating take time before the exam starts.
- Bring the exact ID your centre asks for. Some, like AF Delhi, require your passport.
- Speaking is a live conversation with an examiner, around 12 to 15 minutes.
- Report any problem on the day. TCF re-marking is suspended from Sept 1, 2026.
On this page
On TEF or TCF Canada exam day, you arrive early, show the ID your centre asked for (often your passport), then sit listening, reading and writing, plus a short speaking test with a live examiner. If anything goes wrong in the room, tell the centre before you leave. For TCF sessions from September 1, 2026, you cannot ask for re-marking later.
Knowing the day in advance takes away a lot of the fear. Here is how it usually goes, step by step.
Your exam day at a glance
- The day beforeReread your convocation, pack your bagAddress, arrival time, the ID required. Plan the route and get some sleep.
- The morningEat, check your ID, leave earlyThe ID you registered with, your confirmation, water and a light layer.
- Before the start timeCheck-in, ID check, bags awayStaff compare your ID with your registration. Phone fully off.
- In the roomListening, reading, writingTest your headphones when invited. Raise your hand straight away if anything is wrong.
- Your speaking slotAbout 12 min (TCF) or 15 min (TEF) with an examinerIt may be the same day or at another time. Your convocation tells you.
- Before you leaveReport any problemAsk the centre to note what happened. For TCF sessions from September 1, 2026, there's no re-marking later.
What should I do the day before?
#- Re-read your convocation or confirmation email. Note the address, the arrival time and the ID required.
- Check the route and how long it really takes at that time of day.
- Pack your bag the night before (checklist below).
- Sleep. A last-minute cram session costs more than it gives.
What happens when I arrive?
#- 1Arrive earlyAim to be there well before the time on your convocation. Check-in, ID checks and seating all happen before the exam starts, and late arrivals may be refused.
- 2ID check and sign-inStaff compare your ID with your registration. Keep it in your hand, not buried in your bag.
- 3Bags and phones awayPersonal items are usually stored away from your desk. Switch your phone fully off.
- 4Seating and instructionsYou are shown to your seat. Listen to the instructions carefully. This is also the moment to say if something about your seat or equipment looks wrong.
How do the listening, reading and writing parts work?
#Many centres now run these sections on computer. For listening, you will usually wear headphones. Test them when the staff invite you to, and raise your hand straight away if the sound is too quiet, crackles or cuts out.
| Section | TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 39 questions, 35 min | 40 questions, 40 min |
| Reading | 39 questions, 60 min | 40 questions, 60 min |
| Writing | 3 tasks, 60 min | 2 sections, 60 min (25 + 35) |
TEF Canada runs all four modules on the same day, about 2 hours 55 minutes in total. For the task-by-task detail, see the TCF Canada format and TEF Canada format guides.
What is the speaking test like?
#Speaking is a real conversation with an examiner, one to one. It is short, so it goes by fast.
- Task 1: a guided interview about you
- Task 2: a role-play where you ask questions
- Task 3: give and defend your point of view
- Section A: obtain information (5 min)
- Section B: persuade or convince (10 min)
- The examiner plays a role and may push back
- If you do not understand a question, ask politely: "Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?" It is normal.
- Keep talking. Short pauses are fine; long silences cost you.
- The examiner may look neutral on purpose. That says nothing about your score.
Want to rehearse with the real timings? Use the speaking practice timer, and read the task-by-task guides for TCF Canada speaking or TEF Canada writing and speaking.
How do I stay calm on the day?
#- Eat something before you leave, even if you are not hungry.
- Do not compare answers with other candidates between sections. It only adds doubt.
- Treat each section as a fresh start. A hard listening section says nothing about your reading.
- Before speaking, take one slow breath. The first sentence is the hardest; after that it flows.
What if something goes wrong during the exam?
#Noise outside, broken headphones, a computer that freezes, a timer that is wrong. Problems happen. What you do in the next few minutes matters.
- 1Raise your hand at onceTell the invigilator during the section, not after it ends.
- 2Report it before you leaveAsk the centre staff to note the problem, the section and the time. Ask how they record it.
- 3Follow up in writing the same daySend a short, calm email to the centre describing what happened. Keep a copy.
What happens after the exam?
#You leave, breathe, and wait for your results. Your result is valid for 2 years from today's date, not from the day it arrives. Our validity guide explains the two dates IRCC checks.
Then check whether you reached NCLC 7 in every skill with the CLB calculator. If one skill fell short, you are not starting over. You know exactly what to work on next.
Check yourself
1 of 4.Your headphones crackle during listening. When should you say something?
2 of 4.Can you ask FEI to re-mark a TCF Canada session taken in October 2026?
3 of 4.Which ID should you bring?
4 of 4.From when is your result valid for 2 years?
Questions people ask
It depends on the centre, so check your confirmation email. Many centres ask for your passport, and some, like AF Delhi, require it both at registration and on exam day.
Not for sessions from September 1, 2026. FEI has suspended TCF re-marking requests, expected back around fall 2027, so report any problems to the centre on the day.
About 12 minutes for TCF Canada (three tasks) and about 15 minutes for TEF Canada (two sections), with a live examiner.
Yes. All four TEF Canada modules are taken the same day, about 2 hours 55 minutes in total.
Centres can refuse late arrivals, and fees are usually non-refundable. Plan to arrive early and check your centre's own rules.
Terms in this guide
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.