Guide
TEF Canada writing: sections A and B
The TEF Canada written expression: the news item of section A, the letter of section B, a method for each, a model answer in French and the scores.
Updated
Quick answer
The TEF Canada written expression lasts 60 minutes and has two sections: in section A you continue a short news item (a fait divers) in at least 80 words; in section B you write a letter to a newspaper or a forum post defending a position in at least 200 words. It is scored out of 699.
The two sections at a glance
You write both texts in one sitting of 60 minutes. The two sections test different things: section A asks you to tell a story the way a newspaper would, section B asks you to convince a reader. They also ask for different registers, so switching from one to the other is part of the exercise. The times below are a suggested split, not a rule of the exam: adjust them to your own pace, but keep the larger share for section B.
| Section | What you write | Length | Register | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. News item | The rest of a fait divers whose opening is given | at least 80 words | Neutral, journalistic | about 25 min |
| B. Letter or forum post | A reaction to a statement, with a clear position | at least 200 words | Formal, argued | about 35 min |
Section A: continuing a news item
You receive the first lines of a short newspaper article about a local event: an accident, a rescue, an unusual incident. Your job is to write what comes next, as the journalist would. You are not telling your own story and you are not giving your opinion: you report facts, in order, for readers who were not there. The opening you are given fixes the characters, the place and the moment, and your continuation has to fit them.
- Stay consistent with the opening: keep the same place, the same day, the same people and the same facts.
- Write in the third person, like a reporter; no “je”, no “à mon avis”.
- Use the past tenses: passé composé for the events, imparfait for the background, plus-que-parfait for what had happened before.
- Give the events a clear sequence with time markers: d’abord, quelques minutes plus tard, ensuite, finalement.
- End with a real closing: the outcome, the consequences, a witness’s words or what happens next.
Section B: the letter or forum post
You read a statement, published in a newspaper or on a forum, on a topic of public life: work, technology, cities, education, consumption. You answer it with a letter to the newspaper or a post on the forum, and you take a side. The text must show a clear position and at least three developed arguments, in a formal register. A list of ideas is not enough: each argument has to be explained and supported.
- Plan before you write: an introduction that recalls the statement and gives your position, three argument paragraphs, a conclusion.
- Build each argument in three steps: the idea, the explanation, a concrete example.
- Link your paragraphs with connectors: tout d’abord, de plus, par ailleurs, en revanche, c’est pourquoi, en définitive.
- Keep a formal register: “vous” for the reader, no spoken forms such as “ça” or “super”, no slang.
- Write for the medium: a letter opens with “Madame, Monsieur,” and closes with a formula; a forum post can skip those but stays just as formal.
A model answer for section A
Here is an opening written for this guide, in the style of section A, and a continuation that shows what a complete answer looks like. The continuation is well above the minimum of 80 words. Notice how it keeps the place and the time of the opening, stays in the third person and moves from the event to its outcome.
Début de l’article (donné) :
Samedi matin, les clients d’un supermarché de Villeneuve ont eu une drôle de surprise : un jeune cerf se promenait entre les rayons.
Suite rédigée :
L’animal était entré vers 9 h 30 par les portes automatiques, restées ouvertes à cause de la chaleur. Selon un employé, il semblait plus effrayé que dangereux. Il a d’abord traversé le rayon des fruits, puis il s’est immobilisé devant les surgelés.
Le directeur a aussitôt fait évacuer le magasin et a prévenu les pompiers. En attendant leur arrivée, deux employés ont bloqué les allées avec des chariots pour éviter que le cerf ne se blesse.
Les pompiers sont arrivés vingt minutes plus tard. Après plusieurs tentatives, ils ont réussi à guider l’animal vers une sortie de secours, sans le toucher. Le cerf a ensuite rejoint le bois voisin.
Aucun blessé n’est à déplorer, et seuls quelques cartons de lait ont été renversés. Le magasin a rouvert ses portes en début d’après-midi. « On en parlera longtemps », a confié une cliente en souriant.How the writing is scored
Trained raters read your two texts and you receive one score for written expression, out of 699. They judge whether each text does what its instruction asked, how well it is organised and linked, the range and precision of your vocabulary, and your control of grammar and spelling. For the exact criteria, check the official TEF Canada site of Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France).
For immigration, the score is read as an NCLC level: 428–471 is NCLC 7, and 512–557 is NCLC 9. Treat the minimum word counts as part of the instruction: a text that is too short cannot fully show what you can do.
The mistakes that cost the most
Most lost points come from a handful of habits, and each one can be trained away before exam day.
- Contradicting the opening of section A: a new place, another day, characters who change name.
- Slipping into “je” or giving your opinion in section A, which is a news report, not a testimony.
- Jumping between present and past tenses in the same story.
- Giving an opinion in section B with only one or two arguments, or arguments with no examples.
- Using an informal register in section B: “tu”, “ça”, exclamation marks, spoken turns of phrase.
- Spending too long on section A and rushing the longer, argued text.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I have to write in the TEF Canada written expression?
At least 80 words for section A and at least 200 words for section B. Count your words in training until you can tell the length of a text at a glance.
What is a fait divers in section A?
A short news article about a local event: an accident, a theft, a rescue, an unusual incident. You get its opening and write the rest as a journalist, in the third person and in the past tenses, from the facts to the outcome.
Should section B be a letter or a forum post?
It depends on the instruction, which tells you where your text is published. In both cases the register is formal and the structure is the same: a position, at least three developed arguments, a conclusion. Only the opening and closing change.
What writing score is NCLC 7 on TEF Canada?
A written expression score of 428–471 out of 699 is NCLC 7, and 512–557 is NCLC 9. The score conversion page gives every band.
How do I know my level before the exam?
Write both sections 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.