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TCF Canada writing: the three tasks, with sample topics
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Three tasks in 60 minutes, each longer than the last: a message of 60–120 words, an article or story of 120–150, then a comparison of two points of view with a reasoned opinion of 120–180. The third is the one that decides your score — and the one candidates rush, because they haven’t managed their time.
- 3 tasks · 60 minutes in total, scored out of 20.
- Task 1: message · 60–120 words.
- Task 2: article or story · 120–150 words.
- Task 3: comparison of two points of view + reasoned opinion · 120–180 words.
- ⚠️ The word ranges are not guidelines: writing less costs you task-completion points.
- CLB 7 requires 10/20 — and task 3 often decides whether you reach it.
Contents
The three tasks
| Task | Type of text | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Message | 60 to 120 words |
| 2 | Article, letter or story | 120 to 150 words |
| 3 | Comparison of two points of view, with a reasoned opinion | 120 to 180 words |
| Total | 60 minutes |
The three tasks get harder: the first is everyday communication, the second structured narration, the third argumentation. And since the points are spread across all three, rushing task 3 mechanically caps your score.
These word ranges are specific to the TCF Canada. Don’t practise on TCF Tout Public topics without adjusting: the required lengths are different there. A text sized for another format is penalized on task completion, whatever the quality of the language.
One sample topic per task
The instructions are in French, as on exam day; what the examiner looks for is explained underneath.
Task 1 — Message — 60 to 120 words · register adapted to the recipient
Vous avez acheté un produit en ligne mais il est arrivé abîmé. Écrivez un email au service client pour expliquer le problème, décrire le défaut et demander un échange ou un remboursement.
What the examiner expects
Three actions are required: explain, describe, request. The examiner checks that all three are there — that is the task-completion criterion, and you can lose it without a single language mistake. Add the conventions of the genre: subject line, greeting and sign-off. The register expected here is formal: « je vous écris », not « je vous écris pour vous dire que ».
Task 2 — Article, letter or story — 120 to 150 words · structured narration
Le maire de votre ville souhaite recueillir l'avis des habitants sur les transports en commun. Écrivez une lettre au maire pour donner votre avis : ce qui fonctionne bien, ce qui doit être amélioré, et vos propositions.
What the examiner expects
Again, three explicit parts: the positive, the negative, the proposals. A three-paragraph plan follows the instructions and saves you from thinking about structure. The classic mistake is 100 words of criticism and 10 of proposals — the imbalance shows, and it is penalized. Formal register, institutional recipient.
Task 3 — Comparison and reasoned opinion — 120 to 180 words · the test within the test
Le gouvernement propose de rendre le vote obligatoire en France pour lutter contre l'abstention. Écrivez un essai argumentatif pour exprimer votre position sur cette proposition. Présentez des arguments pour et contre, puis donnez votre avis personnel en le justifiant.
What the examiner expects
The structure is set by the instructions: for, against, then your position. Skipping the “against” part is the most frequent and most costly mistake — it is precisely the B2 skill being assessed. In 180 words at most, allow about 50 words for the opposing argument, 50 for yours and 40 to conclude. Connectors do the rest: « certes… toutefois », « d'une part… d'autre part ».
Splitting the 60 minutes
This is where it all happens. Task 3 is the longest and the most demanding, and it comes last: without a split decided in advance, you write it in a rush.
| Time | Task | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 12 min | Task 1 | Write and reread. Don’t go over: it is the least rewarding task. |
| 12 – 32 min | Task 2 | A three-paragraph plan, then write. |
| 32 – 55 min | Task 3 | 5 minutes of planning, 18 minutes of writing. |
| 55 – 60 min | All three | Count your words, check the greeting and sign-off. |
The task 1 trap. It is easy, so you polish it — and spend twenty minutes on it. That is time taken from task 3, which is worth more. A correct message in twelve minutes is plenty.
What is assessed
- Task completion. The first criterion, and the most mechanical: are all the required actions covered? Is the genre respected?
- Length. The word ranges are floors and ceilings. Below the minimum, the task is not completed; far above the maximum, your ability to be concise is called into question.
- Coherence and cohesion. A clear plan, explicit connectors. At this level, it is the most visible marker.
- Vocabulary and grammar. Assessed, but they make less difference than the first three: a correct text that misses the instructions loses more than a well-built text with a few mistakes.
- Register. A message to a friend and a letter to a mayor aren’t written the same way. Slipping into casual language in an institutional letter is immediately visible.
The most costly mistakes
- Not counting your words. An estimate by eye is almost always optimistic. Actually count, at least on task 3.
- Leaving out the opposing view in task 3. It is the skill being assessed: giving your opinion without presenting the other side means not answering the question.
- Ignoring the conventions of the genre. A letter with no greeting or sign-off loses points before the language is even assessed.
- Covering two of the three required actions. Reread the instructions at the end: each action verb in them is a box to tick.
- Spending too long on task 1. It is short and easy; it doesn’t deserve a third of the test.
Why this test is hard to prepare for on your own. You can’t judge whether your argument is really balanced, or whether your register has slipped — those flaws are invisible from the inside. And knowing whether you write at 9 or 11 out of 20 means knowing whether you have CLB 6 or CLB 7: a correction against the official criteria is the only way to measure it.
Find out whether your task 3 is worth 9 or 11 out of 20
Hundreds of writing topics in the exact TCF Canada format, with the official word ranges for each task, a real timer and AI feedback against the official criteria — task completion, coherence, vocabulary, grammar. In the “TCF DELF TEF: Tests 2026” app.
Download on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
How many words do you write in the TCF Canada writing test?
Three tasks of increasing length: 60 to 120 words for the message, 120 to 150 for the article or story, 120 to 180 for the comparison of two points of view with a reasoned opinion. These ranges are floors and ceilings, not guidelines.
How long is the writing test?
60 minutes for the three tasks. A split that works: 12 minutes for task 1, 20 for task 2, 23 for task 3 and 5 minutes of final checking. The trap is polishing task 1, which is easy, at the expense of task 3, which is worth more.
Which task matters most?
Task 3, the comparison of two points of view with a reasoned opinion. It calls on the B2 skill and makes the difference between 10 and 14 out of 20 — so between CLB 7 and CLB 9. Skipping the opposing point of view is the most costly mistake in the test.
What happens if I write less than the minimum?
You lose points on task completion, regardless of the quality of your language. It is a mechanical criterion the examiner applies before even assessing vocabulary and grammar. Actually count your words rather than estimating them.
Can I practise with TCF Tout Public topics?
Carefully: the required lengths are not the same. A text sized for another format is penalized on task completion. If you use such topics, hold yourself to the TCF Canada ranges — 60–120, 120–150 and 120–180 words.
What writing score do I need for CLB 7?
10 out of 20. Writing is scored out of 20, unlike listening and reading, which are scored out of 699. CLB 7 is 10–11 out of 20, CLB 8 is 12–13. A single point can therefore change your level.
Related pages
- TCF Canada speaking: the 3 tasks
The other productive test, in only 12 minutes.
- TCF Canada reading practice
39 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, with answers explained.
- TCF Canada exam: format, scores, CLB
The complete guide to the four tests.
Formats change. This page is up to date as of 7 August 2026. The topics shown are original content from our app, designed in the official format — there are no official past TCF papers freely available. Check the current structure on france-education-international.fr before your session.