What TCF Coach gives you back
A practice tool for the two sections that fail people — Expression écrite and Expression orale. Real exam tasks, feedback graded on the official marking scheme, and the tools to practise the way the test centre runs.
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Feedback graded the way the exam is
The official result gives you one number for the whole section. TCF Coach grades one task at a time — the level and score it would earn, the criteria capping it, every mistake, and your answer rewritten at your target level. This is the whole reason it exists.
The task
- Section: Expression écrite, tâche 3
- You're given: two short texts arguing opposite sides of a topical question
- Instruction: « Vous rédigez un texte pour comparer les points de vue exprimés dans ces deux documents, puis vous donnez votre opinion personnelle sur le sujet, en donnant des exemples. » — 120–180 words
- Prompt: Caméras de surveillance : sécurité ou limites ? — Doc 1: cameras are popular, 75% in favour. Doc 2: expensive and ineffective, up to seven staff per camera.
- Target level: B2
The response — what the candidate wrote
De nos jours, les caméras de surveillance sont partout dans les villes et cela pose question.
Le premier document dit que les caméras apportent de la sécurité et que 75 % des français sont pour. La plupart des gens acceptent d'être filmé dans la rue. Le deuxième document dit que les caméras coûtent cher et ne sont pas très efficace, parce qu'il faut beaucoup de personnes pour les surveiller : en Allemagne, sept personnes pour une seule caméra.
Moi, je pense que les caméras sont utiles. Dans mon quartier il y a des caméras et je me sens plus en sécurité le soir. C'est vrai que ça coûte de l'argent, mais la sécurité est plus important. Aussi, quand il y a un vol, la police peut retrouver le voleur grâce aux images.
En conclusion, je suis pour les caméras de surveillance.
The level and score
Two correctors each give one level per task; this is the level one corrector would give this answer. B2 starts at a score of 10 — a point away.
Why it caps at B1
| Language | Vocabulary is everyday and accurate ("apportent de la sécurité", "coûtent cher") but has none of the abstract vocabulary a B2 comparison leans on (la vidéosurveillance, un dispositif, dissuasif). Agreement slips repeat: "d'être filmé" → "filmés", "très efficace" → "efficaces", "plus important" → "importante". Sentences stay short — no subjunctive, no relative or concessive clause. |
|---|---|
| Structure & coherence | Both documents are reported and a position is argued — the task is done. But the viewpoints are juxtaposed, not compared: "Le premier document dit que… Le deuxième document dit que…" with no connector of contrast (en revanche, tandis que). Weighing the sides against each other, and conceding the other view, is what B2 adds. |
| Register & tone | Close to the right footing, but "Moi, je pense que" and a sentence-initial "Aussi," are spoken register. An impersonal frame — "On peut penser que" — fits an opinion text better. |
Mistakes
- orthographe 75 % des français → 75 % des Français — a nationality used as a noun takes a capital.
- grammaire acceptent d'être filmé → acceptent d'être filmés — past participle agrees with "les gens".
- grammaire ne sont pas très efficace → ne sont pas très efficaces — adjective agrees with "les caméras".
- grammaire la sécurité est plus important → la sécurité est plus importante — agreement with the feminine "la sécurité".
- connecteur logique Aussi, quand il y a un vol → De plus, quand il y a un vol — "Aussi" at the head of a sentence is spoken.
- élaboration de la phrase Le premier document dit que… Le deuxième document dit que… → Le premier document affirme que… tandis que le second souligne que… — vary the verb and link the two views.
The same answer, rewritten at B2
Your two opening sentences:
Le premier document dit que les caméras apportent de la sécurité et que 75 % des français sont pour. Le deuxième document dit que les caméras coûtent cher et ne sont pas très efficace.
Same idea, at target level:
Si le premier document met en avant un large soutien de l'opinion — 75 % des Français se disent favorables au dispositif —, le second en conteste l'utilité : la vidéosurveillance y est jugée coûteuse et peu dissuasive.
One sentence for two, "Si… , le second…" sets the documents against each other, and "dispositif / conteste l'utilité / peu dissuasive" is the register the comparison needs. The whole answer is rewritten this way, from your own words.
Speaking answers are transcribed before grading, so pronunciation and aisance aren't scored — vocabulary, grammar, structure, task completion and register are.
A growing bank of real TCF tasks
80 full tests across both sections — 40 per paper — more added regularly, each one the three tasks of a real sitting, at the real word counts and timings. The first two tests in each section are free.
Practice mode, and exam mode coming soon
Drill one task at a time with feedback straight after — or, soon, sit a whole test end to end under real timing with the aids switched off.
Practice tools
The accent keyboard, timer and word count you'll face on the day — most non-native candidates take the English keyboard, so on-screen accents are a real skill — plus the level descriptors you won't get in the room.
Speaking tasks run the fixed prep and response countdowns, and record in the browser — listen back and re-record before you submit.
Attempt history
Every past answer and its full feedback — transcript too, for speaking — kept in one place to reopen any time.
Your dashboard coming soon
A read across recent attempts instead of ten separate reports — where you've improved, and which criterion is still the thing to push.
From feedback to a study plan coming soon
Your recurring gaps, ranked worst first, each with a short drill built from your mistakes — not a generic worksheet, because everyone fails this exam for different reasons. Bookmark any mistake today; the review list is next.