Guide
TCF Canada writing: tasks 1, 2 and 3
The 3 TCF Canada writing tasks: word limits, timing, a method for each one, a model answer in French and what the examiners score.
Updated
Quick answer
The TCF Canada writing section gives you 60 minutes for 3 tasks: a short message of 60–120 words, an account or article of 120–150 words, and a comparison of two viewpoints of 120–180 words. It is scored out of 20, and a score of 10 to 11 is NCLC 7.
The three tasks at a glance
You write all 3 texts in one sitting of 60 minutes, and you manage the clock yourself: nobody tells you when to move on. The tasks get harder as they go, from an everyday message to a formal, argued text, and the last one weighs the most on your level. The times below are a split that leaves a few minutes to reread; they are advice, not a rule of the exam.
| Task | Words | Register | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Short message | 60–120 | Informal or semi-formal | about 15 min |
| 2. Account or article | 120–150 | Neutral, for a public readership | about 20 min |
| 3. Compare two viewpoints | 120–180 | Formal, argued | about 25 min |
Task 1: the short message (60–120 words)
You write to someone you know: a friend, a relative, a colleague. The instruction always contains two or three things to do, such as describe, inform, invite or thank. The examiner checks that each one is there, so the safest plan is one short paragraph per thing asked.
- Open and close like a real message: a greeting, a sign-off, a first name.
- Underline the verbs of the instruction and answer every one of them.
- Use “tu” with a friend and keep it all the way through; mixing “tu” and “vous” costs points.
- Give concrete details (a place, a day, a price) instead of general sentences.
Task 2: the account or article (120–150 words)
Here you write for readers you do not know: a website, a newsletter, a forum. You usually tell an experience and say what you think of it. The register is neutral, the text needs a clear beginning, middle and end, and the past tenses carry most of the work.
- Plan three parts before you write: the situation, what happened, what you take from it.
- Tell the story with passé composé for events and imparfait for the background.
- Link your sentences: d’abord, ensuite, pourtant, finalement.
- End with an opinion or a piece of advice for the reader.
Task 3: comparing two viewpoints (120–180 words)
You read two short documents that defend opposite positions on one subject. Your text has two jobs, and both are scored: first present the two viewpoints in your own words, then give your position and justify it. Copying sentences from the documents earns nothing; reformulating them shows your level.
- Part one, about a third of the text: “Le premier document soutient que… Le second, au contraire, estime que…”.
- Part two: your opinion, two arguments, one example for each.
- Use the formal register: “vous”, no contractions from speech, connectors such as cependant, en revanche, par conséquent.
- Keep five minutes for this task’s reread: agreement and verb endings are where most points are lost.
A model answer for task 1
This is a practice prompt from our bank, written in the published format, and an answer at the level NCLC 7 asks for. Notice that each thing the instruction asks for has its own paragraph.
The prompt: « Vous venez d’emménager dans un nouveau quartier. Écrivez un message à un ami pour lui décrire votre logement et votre quartier, et invitez-le à venir vous rendre visite. »
Salut Karim,
Ça y est, j’ai emménagé samedi dernier ! Mon appartement est au troisième étage d’un petit immeuble calme. Il y a deux chambres, un salon lumineux et un balcon qui donne sur un parc. Le quartier me plaît beaucoup : la boulangerie est au coin de la rue, le métro est à cinq minutes à pied et il y a un marché tous les dimanches.
Tu n’as pas encore vu tout ça, alors viens passer un week-end chez moi ! Tu es libre le mois prochain ? Dis-moi quelle date t’arrange, je te ferai visiter.
À très vite,
SamirHow the writing is scored
Trained examiners read your three texts and give one score out of 20 for the section. They look at whether you did what each instruction asked, how well the text is organised and linked, the range and accuracy of your vocabulary, and your control of grammar and spelling.
For immigration, the score is read as an NCLC level: 10 to 11 is NCLC 7, and 14 to 15 is NCLC 9. A text that falls short of the minimum length, or runs far past the maximum, can lose points whatever its quality, so count your words.
The mistakes that cost the most
Most lost points come from the same few habits, and all of them can be fixed before exam day.
- Answering half the instruction: one forgotten element is a task not fulfilled.
- Writing outside the word range, in either direction.
- Giving an opinion in task 3 without first presenting both documents.
- Using the same register everywhere: task 1 is friendly, task 3 is formal.
- Spending 30 minutes on task 1 and rushing the task that weighs the most.
- Handing in without rereading for agreements, accents and verb endings.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I have to write in the TCF Canada writing section?
Task 1 asks for 60–120 words, task 2 for 120–150 and task 3 for 120–180. Stay inside each range: a text that is too short or much too long can be penalised.
Which writing task matters the most?
The tasks rise in difficulty, and task 3 is where the higher levels are shown, because it asks for a formal, argued text. Give it the largest share of your time.
What writing score is NCLC 7 on TCF Canada?
A writing score of 10 to 11 out of 20 is NCLC 7. From 14 you reach NCLC 9.
Can I use a dictionary or a spell checker?
No. No dictionary, notes or correction tool is allowed, on paper or on computer. Practise writing without them so that exam day feels the same as training.
How do I know my level before the exam?
Write the three tasks in real conditions, timed, and have them corrected on the official criteria. On French in Pocket, the instant check gives a first score and a Coach Review gives a line-by-line correction from a French coach.