Hello, I’m Vibha Goyal, and I’m happy to share my journey preparing for the TCF exam. The reason I wanted to take the TCF was quite simple, I’m a trainer and a teacher, and I felt it was important for me to experience the exam myself so I could guide my students better.
I’m 25 years old, and interestingly, my academic background has nothing to do with French, I actually did my MBA in marketing. I first started learning French in my first year of college in 2019, but I had a two-year break before picking it up again in 2021. Since then, I’ve been consistently involved with the language. I also spent a year in France as an English assistant teacher, which really helped improve my French. I returned to India in 2024 and appeared for the exam towards the end of the year.
Study Plan & Strategy
I used to dedicate at least an hour every day to studying. I would divide my time between reading comprehension and listening comprehension, using various websites to practise these. For the writing section, I gave myself a full hour to complete all three tasks in one go, making sure to write them down properly.
Writing was definitely my main focus because I felt it was my weakest skill. Towards the end of my preparation, I also began focusing more on listening, as it’s something that improves with regular practice. I made it a point to listen to French podcasts and YouTube videos during my daily commute, which added another one to one-and-a-half hours of random listening practice.
Although I did a lot of self-study, I wasn’t entirely on my own. I worked with a wonderful trainer based in Mumbai who had a lot of experience and knew exactly how to frame answers. I registered for the exam with two months to go. In the first month, I studied on my own, and in the second month, I worked with the trainer, attending four-to-five-hour sessions each week.
Resources Used
I didn’t actually use many books, or any books at all! Instead, I relied heavily on websites such as:
- https://tcfprepaexcellence.com/
- https://reussir-tcfcanada.com/
- https://www.tcfca.com/se-preparer/
- https://formation-tcfcanada.com/
These sites were extremely helpful for practising listening and reading comprehension. I also pulled writing topics and occasionally speaking topics from them. They gave me a solid idea of the kinds of themes and questions to expect.
On top of that, I regularly listened to YouTube videos during my commute. I enjoyed watching ARTE, RFI, BRUT, conspiracy videos, and content from various French speaking YouTubers. After some time, YouTube started recommending French documentary videos, which I found very useful.
I also used mock tests available on those websites, which were a big help. I didn’t buy any paid resources or subscriptions.
Challenges Faced & How I Overcame Them
The biggest challenge I faced was balancing my work and study time. Having a tutor who expected four to five hours of commitment each week really pushed me to study harder, even when I was falling short on time.
My weaker areas improved gradually, but what truly helped was getting feedback. That made a huge difference.
I was always quite self-motivated, so thankfully, I never had moments where I wanted to give up or stop. My main advice to future test-takers is to practise regularly, seek feedback on your written and spoken work, and stay motivated. Check our article on “11 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Learning French“.
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Exam-Day Experience & Lessons Learned
My exam day went really well. I reached the city where the test was held a day early and spent time with my cousins, which kept me relaxed. On the day of the exam, I arrived at the test centre right on time, not too early and everything went smoothly.
There were only two other candidates, and they seemed quite anxious, constantly revising grammar rules and discussing things during breaks. I, on the other hand, stayed calm and chilled out, which I believe worked in my favour.
Time management was never an issue for me during the exam. But if you think it might be a challenge, I strongly recommend using timers while you practise.
A slightly funny detail, I was happily eating during the breaks! The exam has four parts with three breaks in between, including a longer one-hour break. I had packed some sandwiches (though they weren’t the tastiest), and I made sure to keep myself full.
Final Thoughts & Advice
Looking back at my TCF journey, I feel I could have given myself more time to practise. That said, I was happy with my results, I scored a B2 on my first attempt, even though the professor at the test centre told me most people don’t get B2 right away!
If I were to take the exam again, I’d probably just put in a bit more effort. What I did worked well for me, but every learner is different. It’s important to figure out what suits you best, experiment, and give yourself enough time to prepare. There’s no need to rush, you should feel confident about your level.
While I was content with my B2, a C1 would have been even better! Now since giving my exam I’ve been practising with students and I’m sure I can get C2 level based on the tests I’ve given.
To anyone preparing for the exam, I would say: practise a lot, and mentally prepare yourself. Let your heart and gut know you’re going to take this exam so that on the big day, you stay calm and confident.
Check our article “How to Prepare for the TCF Canada Exam: Ultimate Guide” for preparation tips.
