TL;DR — depends on which version you took
| Format | On-screen "temporary" score | Official certificate by email |
|---|---|---|
| CBT (computer-based) | Listening + Reading shown immediately after the exam | Typically within 2 weeks (15 business days) |
| Paper-based | Not available | Typically 4-6 weeks |
Why the gap: CBT listening + reading are auto-scored by the test engine; paper papers have to be shipped to France Éducation International (FEI), human-scored, then mailed back to your centre. Speaking + Writing (human-rated) only show up on the official certificate — no temporary score, even on CBT.
⚠️ The on-screen temporary score is for reference only — not the official result. It can't be used for IRCC submission. Wait for the signed PDF certificate.
Three result channels (in order of arrival)
1. Email (most common)
About 2 weeks after a CBT or 4-6 weeks after a paper-based exam, the email you registered with receives a message from your test centre (e.g. Alliance Française Toronto / Vancouver / Ottawa) with the PDF certificate attached — this is the official result for IRCC / study purposes.
Watch out for:
- Spam / Promotions / All Mail folder — Gmail aggressively filters these
- If your registration email had a typo, the certificate bounces back to the centre — message them with the correct address
- Subject line usually contains
TCF Canada,Attestation, orRésultats
2. Centre pickup (depends on policy)
Some centres require in-person pickup of the paper certificate, others mail it. Your registration confirmation should say which. If unclear, email the centre at week 4.
3. France Éducation International website (not a self-service portal)
A common misconception: people think they can log into france-education-international.fr and check their score. You cannot. FEI scores the papers and ships certificates back to your centre — they don't run a candidate-facing portal. The QR code at the bottom of the certificate is for authenticity verification, not score lookup.
Late results — what to do
When to worry: CBT past week 3 / paper-based past week 6. The timeline below is for paper-based; for CBT, shrink week 4 to week 2.
End of week 4 (paper) / week 2 (CBT)
- Check Gmail's spam, Promotions tab, All Mail
- Search for
TCF,Alliance,Attestation - Verify the email on your registration form
Week 5 still nothing
Contact the test centre (not FEI), template:
Subject: TCF Canada Result Inquiry – [Your Name] – [Test Date]
Bonjour,
I'm writing to inquire about my TCF Canada results.
Details:
- Name: [Full Name]
- Test date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
- Location: [Center city]
- Candidate number: [if known]
I have not yet received my certificate by email.
Could you check the status of my paper?
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Common centre contacts (verify on official site):
- Toronto: via alliance-francaise.ca
- Vancouver: alliancefrancaise.ca
- Montreal: aftcf.ca
- Ottawa: use the email on your registration confirmation
Week 8 still nothing
- Ask the centre to confirm whether FEI's shipment has arrived
- If lost in mail, the centre can request FEI to reissue
- Provide your candidate number if you have it
Reading the certificate: 4 scores + CEFR levels
The certificate shows:
- Listening (CO): score + CEFR level (A1 to C2)
- Reading (CE): score + CEFR level
- Writing (EE): /20 + CEFR level
- Speaking (EO): /20 + CEFR level
The certificate is valid for 2 years from the issue date.
Need to convert score → CEFR / CLB / NCLC? See the score conversion guide.
Submitting your certificate
Canadian immigration (Express Entry / PNP)
- Upload the PDF to your IRCC account
- No paper copy needed
- All 4 sections must hit your target CLB to score the corresponding points (CLB 7 = the threshold for most federal programs)
Quebec immigration
- Some streams accept TCF Canada, others require TCFQ — check your specific program
- PDF upload is generally accepted
Studying in France
- TCF Canada is not the version for student visas — you need TCF Tout Public or DELF/DALF
- Don't submit the wrong test
To anyone waiting for results right now
The week after the exam, panic is normal — your memory only retains the slip-ups. Scores usually come in better than you feel because:
- TCF grades by level (A1-C2), not pass/fail per question
- Individual mistakes matter less than you think
- Don't spend 4 weeks self-flagellating over remembered errors — wait for the breakdown, then target weak sections
If this attempt missed the mark, identify the weakest section and book the next slot 2 weeks out. The certificate is valid 2 years so you can take multiple attempts and submit the best.
On this site:
- Walkman — listening on commute, queue your wrong answers / bookmarks / sets
- Seat monitor — 9-city real-time seat watch, instant email when one opens
- French cheat sheet — numbers, time, articles, conjugation at a glance