HiTCF is now in ChatGPT's plugin directory. Once it's added, ChatGPT can act as your TCF Canada speaking examiner: the topics come from the HiTCF practice bank instead of being made up on the spot, you answer in French, and you get feedback right away. You can ask for a score too.
Here is the full flow, from setup to your first answer.
Step 1: Add the plugin
- Open ChatGPT and click Plugins in the left sidebar.
- Search for
hitcf. - Under Public, find HiTCF (subtitle TCF Canada speaking practice) and add it.
You add it from the Plugins page, not by searching in a chat. The free ChatGPT plan includes this section, so you don't need Plus.
Step 2: Authorize with your HiTCF account
The first time the plugin is used, ChatGPT opens a HiTCF authorization page. Sign in, approve, and you're back in ChatGPT with the plugin connected. No account yet? Create one at hitcf.com. A free account works.
From then on, ChatGPT replies in the interface language set in your HiTCF account (中文 / English / Français). The topic itself always stays in the original French.
Step 3: Ask for a topic and start speaking
Just type:
Give me a Tâche 3 topic
It shows a topic (in French, with a translation in your account language) and then takes on the examiner role. Tap the microphone next to the input box and answer in French. When you're done, it gives you a sentence or two of feedback: what worked and the first thing to fix.
All three tâches are available. Try "Give me a Tâche 1" or "Let's do a Tâche 2".
Choosing your own topic
Say "List a few Tâche 3 topics about travail" and it shows a card with several topics. Reply with a number to start on that one, or tap to get a new batch.
The filter matches French keywords in the topic text, so French words work best: travail, internet, école, santé, environnement. Leave the keyword out and you get a random selection.
How each tâche works
Tâche 1 · Introducing yourself (about 2 minutes) It opens as the examiner and asks about your everyday life. In the real exam the examiner usually says one line, asking you to introduce yourself, and the rest of the time is yours. So give a full introduction in your first answer instead of waiting for question after question.
Tâche 2 · Role-play (about 5 minutes) It sets up a situation, and here you ask the questions: find out information, prices, arrangements. It answers in character.
Tâche 3 · Giving your opinion (about 4 minutes 30 seconds) It reads out the topic and then stays quiet. You build your position, give examples and conclude, all in one go.
These durations are the speaking times set by the exam, there to tell you how long to talk. ChatGPT doesn't keep time for you, so use a timer if you want one.
Getting a score
When you've finished, say "Score my answer". It calls HiTCF's grading and returns:
- An overall score (out of 20) and the matching CEFR level
- Feedback on vocabulary, grammar, task completion and more
- Specific corrections and alternative phrasings
Scoring is meant for Tâche 1 and Tâche 3, where you speak on your own. Tâche 2 is a back-and-forth, so go by the written feedback there. Scoring needs a HiTCF membership or an account still in its trial. If yours doesn't have it, ChatGPT will say so, and the practice and feedback before that still work.
Good to know
- Pronunciation isn't assessed. What ChatGPT passes on for grading is a text transcript of what you said, so pronunciation and fluency can't be judged. For pronunciation, use speaking practice on HiTCF, which scores your actual recording.
- Nothing is saved. Conversations in ChatGPT don't go into your HiTCF practice history, mistake notebook or review schedule. To keep the sentences you got wrong and work on them again, practise on HiTCF.
- Which one to use. Use ChatGPT when you want to start talking anytime and walk through the exam format live. Come back to HiTCF for your practice records, reviews and targeted work on your mistakes.