Getting started

Create your free account

Sign in with Google. TCF Practice is completely free — no subscription. Your account is created automatically on first sign-in. Try free essay evaluations in Practice and Mock Exam before adding your own AI API key.

Optional: tell us about your exam goals

After sign-in you may see a short intake form for exam date and target NCLC. Every field is optional — choose Skip for now to start practising immediately.

Follow the in-app Getting Started checklist

On your dashboard, a step-by-step guide tracks setup progress: try a free evaluation in Practice, set exam goals (optional), add your own API key when ready (optional), and try a mock exam (optional). Each step links directly to the right screen.

Try a free evaluation first

Write an essay in Practice or Mock Exam and choose the free platform evaluation — no API key needed. Each user gets a limited number of free credits.

Add your AI API key (optional)

When you want unlimited evaluations or other AI tools, open Settings → AI Providers and paste a key from OpenAI, OpenRouter, Grok (xAI), Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, or self-hosted Ollama (HTTPS). Keys are encrypted before storage. You pay the provider directly.

Test the connection

Use Test connection in Settings to confirm your key works before you rely on it for evaluations.

Start Practice from the dashboard

Practice and Mock Exam are the primary actions at the top of your dashboard. Open Practice, choose a built-in, community, or personal question, and write in French with the accent toolbar and live word count.

Request AI evaluation

Submit your essay from Practice or Mock Exam and choose the free platform evaluation or a provider you connected in Settings. You can compare multiple providers when you connect your own keys. Writing Coach, Orthographe generation, and other AI tools require your own API key. AI scores and CEFR/NCLC estimates are for learning only — not official TCF results.

Review feedback in History

Saved practice essays and mock exams appear in History with scores, estimated level, and detailed feedback. Drafts autosave while you write.

Set exam date and target NCLC in Settings

Open Settings → Profile → TCF exam profile. Add your planned exam date and the NCLC level you need (for example B2 / NCLC 7 for Express Entry writing). You can update these any time.

Use your Exam Plan on the dashboard

When exam goals are set, the dashboard shows a countdown to exam day, your current NCLC (from essay history) versus your target, a progress bar, motivation messages, and a study to-do list.

Track CLB / NCLC status

Once you have an API key, evaluated essay history, and a target NCLC, the dashboard also shows your current versus required NCLC with quick links to Practice and History.

Take a timed mock exam

Mock Exam simulates the 60-minute TCF writing section across all three tasks. You can cancel an in-progress session from the header without submitting.

Meet your Writing Coach

Open Learn → Writing Coach for a conversational study partner. Complete Phase 1 intake and the coach can suggest personalised next steps on your dashboard to-do list.

Drill spelling and grammar in Orthographe

Mistakes from evaluated essays feed into Orthographe — both spelling and grammar. Due cards return on a spaced schedule (Anki-style) until you get them right. Mark items as learned to remove them from your active list.

Study in the Learning Center

Browse vocabulary, grammar, templates, sample answers, and exam tips alongside your writing practice.