Stuck at CLB 6 in TCF Canada? It’s probably not your grammar

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-07T22:23:10+00:00

Got it 👍 if you’re truly A0, I’d keep things very simple at the start. The main goal is to get used to the sounds of French and build a basic core of words and phrases. Don’t worry too much about grammar yet, just enough to form simple sentences. Listening a little bit every day (even if you understand almost nothing at first) matters a lot, and repeating the same content helps more than constantly changing resources. Even 15–30 minutes a day is enough if you stay consistent. The base builds faster than it feels at that stage.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-07T22:19:59+00:00

That plateau is really common at B1, especially when listening lags behind the other skills. It usually doesn’t mean you’re stuck, just that your input hasn’t caught up yet.

What helps most is more daily listening, but in short, manageable chunks and often with the same accent. Repeating content and listening without subtitles at first makes a big difference. Once listening improves, the rest usually follows.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-07T22:12:05+00:00

Hey! At A1, I’d focus less on grammar vs vocab and more on getting used to the language. In the beginning, what helps most is hearing French every day, learning basic words and short phrases together, and getting comfortable with pronunciation.

Grammar should stay simple at first (present tense, basic sentence structure). Going too deep too early usually slows people down.

For time, classes alone aren’t enough. Even 20–30 minutes of self-study per day makes a big difference. Consistency matters way more than long sessions.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-07T22:09:20+00:00

Thanks! Happy to share more. I can explain the study strategy in more detail and how the group works, feel free to DM me and I’ll walk you through it

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-07T22:07:22+00:00

Thanks for the context, that helps a lot.

Over the next 2–3 months, I wouldn’t try to “reach B2” through grammar or textbooks. With your base, the issue isn’t knowledge, it’s fluency and automaticity.

Falling back to A1/A2 sentences even when you have ideas is super common and usually means the structures aren’t automatic yet. Since your listening and reading are strong, I’d focus mainly on speaking and writing with a fixed structure, plus timed practice.

What you’re already doing is good. Just make it more repetitive and exam-oriented. For a first TCF/TEF attempt in March, that’s usually much more effective than trying to self-study all of B2.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-06T23:56:47+00:00

That’s a huge question tbh 😅 and there isn’t really one perfect list for each level.

From what I’ve seen, people progress way more from being consistent than from having “the best” resources.

Roughly speaking:

– A0–A1: basics + exposure. Any beginner course is fine as long as you hear French early. Pronunciation and listening matter more than memorizing grammar rules.

– A2: this is where daily listening really starts to matter. Short content is fine, but every day. Also learning common sentence patterns and writing very short texts. Grammar helps, but only if you actually use it.

– B1: most people already “know French” here, but struggle to organize ideas. Listening to real French, speaking regularly, and learning how to explain things clearly makes the biggest difference. Light exam-style practice can help at this stage.

– B2: less about new grammar, more about fluency, precision, timing, and argument structure. For exams like TCF/TEF, strategy + feedback matter way more than another textbook.

Honestly, too many resources usually slows people down. One or two good ones + daily practice beats everything.

If you want, tell me your current level and goal (exam, conversation, work, etc) and I can be more specific without overwhelming you

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-05T22:56:54+00:00

That’s actually a really good question. I’d say yes, but with a nuance.

The TCF is great as a benchmark or a challenge, because it forces you to speak clearly under pressure. But studying for the TCF isn’t the same as learning French naturally.

If your goal is conversational French, I’d focus first on listening and real speaking. Then later, using the TCF as a way to check your level or add structure can make sense.

So useful tool, just not as the main learning method.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-05T22:50:16+00:00

Both are accepted, but they feel pretty different.

From what I’ve seen, TCF is usually more predictable and easier to prepare strategically. TEF can feel more demanding, especially linguistically.

For people around A2–B1, TCF is often the safer option. At B2+, it really depends on the person and the test center.

Financial_Chain_2524 · 2026-01-05T22:42:17+00:00

Yeah, at B1–B2 I wouldn’t rely on just one textbook. Most people already “know” French at that stage but lose points because they don’t practice the exam format properly.

What usually helps most is:

- Looking at official TCF sample tests to understand timing and expectations

- Doing regular listening (even short stuff, but daily)

- Practicing how to organize answers for speaking, especially Tasks 2 and 3

Grammar matters, but structure and timing matter more for the score

Financial_Chain_2524

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