Exam rules, answered from the source
The small format questions that cause outsized anxiety — how many words, does a wrong answer cost you, what's the real limit — answered from the official handbooks and dated. Where the forums contradict each other, here's the sourced answer.
TEF Canada writing: how many words for Section A and Section B?
TEF CanadaSection A: minimum 80 words. Section B: minimum 200 words. There is no official maximum — but padding past the point you can keep accurate costs you marks, not gains them.
Does TEF Canada have negative marking?
TEF CanadaNo. In Listening and Reading, a correct answer is +1 and a wrong or blank answer is 0 — there is no penalty for a wrong guess. So always answer every question, even when you are unsure.
TCF Canada writing: how many words for each task (Tâche 1, 2, 3)?
TCF CanadaTask 1: 60–120 words. Task 2: 120–150 words. Task 3: 120–180 words total. These are RANGES, not minimums — "180" is Task 3's maximum, not a floor.
CELPIP writing: how many words for Task 1 and Task 2?
CELPIPBoth tasks: 150–200 words. Task 1 is an email; Task 2 responds to survey questions. The on-screen counter shows your count as you type.
Does CELPIP have negative marking — should I guess?
CELPIPNo negative marking. A wrong answer costs you nothing beyond the point you didn't earn, so answer every Listening and Reading question and never leave a blank — a guess is always worth it.
PTE Core word counts: Summarize Written Text and Write Email?
PTE CoreSummarize Written Text: 25–50 words (and unlike PTE Academic, it does NOT have to be one sentence). Write Email: 80–120 words (the live test instructs 80–120; 50–120 still earns full "form" credit). PTE Core has no essay.