TCF results for the computer test, at a venue or at home, can arrive within 48 hours of your last sub-test, and 95% are released within 6 days. Paper test results take from 5 days in India to about 12 days in most other regions. Each sub-test gets its own score from 0 to 500 with a grade from A to E, and Grade B (350 to 440) is what most healthcare regulators require in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. There is no overall score, so one weak sub-test cannot be carried by a strong one.
- Computer and TCF@Home results: as little as 48 hours, 95% within 6 days.
- Paper results: from about 12 days in most regions, 5 days in India and 6 days in the Philippines.
- You see your results in your TCF account and share them from there with your regulator.
- Each sub-test is graded on its own. Grade B, 350 or more, is the usual requirement.
- You can ask for a re-mark within 72 hours of release, for AU$120 per sub-test.
When do TCF results come out?
It depends on how you took the test. These are TCF's own timeframes. They are indicative, and public holidays, especially in December, can add a few days.
| Test type | When results are released |
|---|---|
| TCF on Computer at a venue | In as little as 48 hours after you finish all four sub-tests, and within 6 calendar days in 95% of cases |
| TCF@Home | As for the computer test: as little as 48 hours, 95% within 6 calendar days |
| TCF on Paper, India | In as little as 5 days after the test date |
| TCF on Paper, Philippines | In as little as 6 days after the test date |
| TCF on Paper, other regions | From about 12 to 13 days after the test date |
For the computer test, the clock starts when your last sub-test is done. Speaking is often on a different day from Listening, Reading and Writing, so count from whichever comes later. The TCF test dates page shows the latest results date for each session. If you are working to a registration deadline, see TCF test dates and fees to plan backwards from it.
How to check and share your TCF results
- Log in to your TCF account, the one you booked with. Your score and grade for each sub-test appear there when they are released.
- Download your Statement of Results for your own records. It shows the 0 to 500 score and the letter grade for each sub-test.
- Share your results from your account by giving permission to each organisation you are applying to. TCF recommends that organisations accept results only when they are shared this way, not as a PDF or a paper copy.
How long a result stays valid is set by the organisation you apply to, not by TCF, so check its website before you book.
The TCF grade table
| Grade | Score range | What it usually means for registration |
|---|---|---|
| A | 450 to 500 | Above the level most boards require |
| B | 350 to 440 | The standard requirement for most regulators |
| C+ | 300 to 340 | Accepted by some boards for one sub-test, often Writing |
| C | 200 to 290 | Below the usual registration requirement |
| D | 100 to 190 | Below the usual registration requirement |
| E | 0 to 90 | Below the usual registration requirement |
Why 350 is the number that matters
A score of 350 is the bottom of Grade B. Most regulators treat Grade B as the level needed to communicate safely with patients and colleagues, and set it as the minimum in each sub-test. A score of 340 is Grade C+, not B, so aim for a margin above 350 in your practice rather than landing on it.
How Listening and Reading are scored
Listening and Reading each have 42 questions, marked right or wrong against an answer key. Your raw mark out of 42 is converted to the 0 to 500 scale, and TCF says candidates awarded Grade B typically get at least 30 marks. In Listening Part A and Reading Part A you write words, so spelling and the form of the word matter.
How Writing is scored
Your letter is assessed against six criteria:
- Purpose: is the reason for the letter clear, early?
- Content: did you choose the case notes the reader needs, and leave out what they do not?
- Conciseness and Clarity: is it short and easy to follow?
- Genre and Style: is the register right for the reader?
- Organisation and Layout: is it in a logical order, in proper letter format?
- Language: is the grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation accurate?
Purpose is marked on a shorter scale than the other five, but a letter that buries its purpose rarely reaches Grade B.
How Speaking is scored
Both role-plays are assessed against nine criteria. Four are linguistic: Intelligibility, Fluency, Appropriateness of Language, and Resources of Grammar and Expression. Five are clinical communication: Relationship-building, Understanding and Incorporating the Patient's Perspective, Providing Structure, Information-gathering, and Information-giving. The warm-up is not assessed.
What does your regulator require?
Requirements differ by country, by profession and by board, and they change. Before you book, check these points on your regulator's own website:
- The minimum grade for each sub-test, and whether any sub-test accepts C+.
- Whether results must come from a single sitting, or whether results from two sittings can be combined.
- How recent your result must be when you apply.
Can you get an TCF result re-marked?
Yes. If you think a result does not reflect how you performed, you can request a re-mark of one or more sub-tests from your TCF account within 72 hours of your results being released. Requests after that window are not accepted.
- Fee: AU$120 per sub-test (US$95 in the USA), refunded if your grade changes.
- Outcome: your account shows the new result, and the updated Statement of Results is available within 24 hours of it.
- No feedback: a re-mark gives you a score, not comments on your performance.
A re-mark makes most sense when a sub-test is just under your target, for example 340 when you need 350. For a bigger gap, the money is usually better spent on a retake. TCF's re-marking policy has the full conditions.
How to move from C+ to B
- Writing: most C+ letters copy too much from the case notes. Choose content for the reader, and state the purpose in the first paragraph.
- Speaking: C+ role-plays tend to give information without checking understanding. Signpost, ask about the patient's concerns, and check that they understood.
- Listening and Reading: the gap is usually a few questions. Find which part loses them, and drill that part on its own.
After every Exam Hero mock test you see an estimated score and grade for each sub-test, so you can track your distance to 350.
