TCF Canada writing tasks 1 and 2 (expression écrite, tâches 1 et 2) are short, practical texts: task 1 is a message of 60 to 120 words, task 2 is an article, letter or note of 120 to 150 words that tells about an experience and gives your opinion. Unlike the TEF, the TCF sets a minimum and a maximum, and going outside either one can cost you the whole test.
The good news: both tasks follow predictable patterns. This guide gives you a template for each, annotated model answers (ours, not official) at NCLC 5, 7 and 9, the deductions to avoid, and a live word counter so you can practise against the real limits.
- Words for task 1 (message)
- 60–120
- Words for task 2 (article, letter)
- 120–150
- For all three writing tasks
- 60 min
- Writing score for NCLC 7
- 10/20
The writing test at a glance
The writing test has three tasks in a single 60-minute block, as France Éducation international (FEI), the test owner, sets out:
| Task | What you write (FEI's description) | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A message to describe, recount and/or explain, to one or more people whose role is given in the prompt | 60–120 |
| 2 | An article, letter or note for several readers, reporting an experience or telling a story, with comments, opinions or arguments for a purpose | 120–150 |
| 3 | A text comparing two points of view from two documents, then your own opinion | 120–180 |
The rules printed on FEI's sample paper:
- Do the tasks in order: task 1, then task 2, then task 3.
- Respect the minimum and maximum number of words for each task.
- A word is any group of characters between two spaces. "Un bon sujet" is 3 words, "c'est-à-dire" is 1.
There's no official time per task. Our suggestion: 10 to 12 minutes for task 1, 18 to 20 for task 2, and about 30 for task 3, which needs reading time. Both tasks are marked twice, independently, and for tests from 1 September 2026 you can't ask for a re-mark (see our news item on the suspended TCF Canada re-correction service). On computer, the first marking may be done with the help of FIDELIA, FEI's automated marking aid; the second is always human.
Task 1: the message (60–120 words)
Task 1 is a short, practical message: an invitation, a reply to a friend, a note to a colleague, a description for a form. FEI's own sample asks you to fill in an airport form describing a lost suitcase and how you lost it. The prompt always tells you who you're writing to, and that decides your register.
A template for task 1
- Greeting suited to the reader: Salut Léa (friend), Bonjour à tous (colleagues), Madame, Monsieur (organisation).
- Why you're writing, in one sentence.
- Describe (what it's like), recount (what happened) or explain (how it works): whatever the prompt asks, with two or three precise details.
- The practical part: date, time, place, what to bring, what to do.
- A request or next step, then a closing that fits the register: À samedi ! / Cordialement.
Our practice prompt: Vous venez d'emménager dans un nouvel appartement. Vous écrivez un message à vos amis pour les inviter à pendre la crémaillère. Décrivez votre appartement et donnez toutes les informations utiles. (60 mots minimum, 120 mots maximum)
Task 1 at around NCLC 5
Salut tout le monde !
J'ai enfin déménagé !1Mon nouvel appartement est au troisième étage. Il y a deux chambres, une grande cuisine et un petit balcon. Il est très lumineux et le quartier est calme.2Je fais une petite fête samedi 14 novembre à partir de 19 heures. Mon adresse est 25, rue des Érables. Vous pouvez venir en métro, la station Laurier est à cinq minutes.3 Il n'y a pas d'ascenseur, désolé !
Apportez seulement votre bonne humeur. Répondez-moi avant jeudi, s'il vous plaît. À samedi !4
Ravi
Why it works
- 1The purpose is clear from the first line, in a friendly register.
- 2A simple but complete description: rooms, light, neighbourhood.
- 3All the practical information is there: date, time, address, transport.
- 4A clear request with a deadline, and a closing that fits the register.
It does the job: correct, clear and complete. What keeps it around NCLC 5 is that the sentences are short and similar (il y a… il est… je fais…), the vocabulary is basic, and there are few connectors.
Task 1 at around NCLC 7
Salut tout le monde,
Ça y est, j'ai enfin trouvé mon appartement !1Il se trouve au troisième étage d'un vieil immeuble en briques, dans un quartier calme mais très vivant. Il a deux chambres, une cuisine ouverte sur le salon et, surtout, un petit balcon d'où l'on voit le parc.2Pour fêter ça, je vous invite à pendre la crémaillère3 samedi 14 novembre, à partir de 19 heures, au 25, rue des Érables. Le plus simple, c'est de prendre le métro jusqu'à la station Laurier, à cinq minutes à pied.4 Attention, il n'y a pas d'ascenseur !
Je m'occupe du repas. Pouvez-vous simplement me confirmer votre présence d'ici jeudi ?5
À très vite, Ravi
Why it works
- 1A natural, idiomatic opening (ça y est) that sounds like a real message.
- 2Richer description: a relative clause (d'où l'on voit…), mais and surtout organise the details.
- 3The idiom pendre la crémaillère is exactly right for this situation.
- 4Practical details flow in one sentence instead of a list.
- 5A polite request phrased as a question, with a deadline. 112 words: inside the range with a safe margin.
Task 2: the article or letter (120–150 words)
Task 2 asks you to tell about an experience and comment on it, for several readers: a blog, a newsletter, an email to friends, a letter to an association. FEI says the account comes with comments, opinions or arguments that serve a goal, for example to make a complaint or to make peace. FEI's own sample asks you to reply to a friend's email and justify your advice.
A template for task 2
- A title (for an article or blog post) or a greeting (for a letter or email).
- Set the scene: when, where, who, what. Use the passé composé and imparfait.
- What happened, in order, with one or two vivid details.
- Your opinion, with two reasons: À mon avis… D'abord… Ensuite…
- The goal of the text: encourage, advise, complain, thank. End with a call to action.
Our practice prompt: Vous avez participé à une journée de bénévolat organisée par votre ville. Vous écrivez un article pour le blog de votre quartier : vous racontez cette expérience et vous donnez votre opinion pour encourager les lecteurs à participer. (120 mots minimum, 150 mots maximum)
Task 2 at around NCLC 7
Why it works
- 1A short title: right for a blog article.
- 2The scene is set efficiently: when, what, who, where.
- 3Passé composé for events, imparfait for description: the core tense contrast of this task.
- 4A personal detail turns the account into an experience.
- 5A clear opinion with two reasons, introduced by connectors.
- 6The ending serves the goal of the text: encouraging readers to take part.
Task 2 at around NCLC 9
Samedi dernier, j'ai rejoint la journée citoyenne organisée par la ville. J'y allais un peu à reculons, je l'avoue : sacrifier un samedi matin pour ramasser des déchets ne me semblait pas très exaltant.2
Je me trompais.3 Répartis en petites équipes, une quarantaine de bénévoles ont nettoyé les berges de la rivière et repeint les bancs du parc. À midi, le changement était spectaculaire, et la fierté se lisait sur tous les visages.4
Mais ce qui m'a le plus marqué, ce sont les rencontres.5 Mon voisin de palier, que je saluais à peine depuis deux ans, s'est révélé un ancien menuisier passionnant.
Certes, une journée ne règle pas le problème des déchets. Encore faudrait-il que chacun change ses habitudes au quotidien.6Mais ces initiatives ont le mérite de rappeler que le quartier nous appartient à tous. Rendez-vous au printemps !7Why it works
- 1A title with a hook that announces the angle of the article.
- 2An honest admission (à reculons, je l'avoue) gives the text a voice and sets up a turn.
- 3A short sentence marks the turning point: confident control of rhythm.
- 4Precise, vivid vocabulary (berges, spectaculaire, la fierté se lisait…).
- 5A cleft sentence (ce qui m'a le plus marqué, ce sont…) puts the focus where the writer wants it.
- 6A concession with a subjunctive (encore faudrait-il que… change) adds nuance before the conclusion.
- 7The ending turns the opinion into a call to action. 145 words: close to the cap but inside it.
What changes from NCLC 5 to NCLC 9
| NCLC 5 | NCLC 7 | NCLC 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task | Complete and clear | Complete, organised in paragraphs | Complete, with a clear voice and angle |
| Sentences | Short, similar | Linked, with relative clauses | Varied length and rhythm, emphasis |
| Tenses | Present, passé composé | Passé composé vs imparfait, future | All of these plus subjunctive and conditional |
| Vocabulary | Everyday | Precise, some idioms | Vivid, natural idioms |
| Opinion (task 2) | Stated | Two reasons with connectors | Nuanced, with a concession |
These model answers are ours, written for this guide. They show what changes between levels, but no written sample can guarantee a score.
Common deductions in tasks 1 and 2
- Wrong word count. The most expensive mistake on the TCF, because of the "A1 non atteint" rule. Count, and keep a margin of 5 to 10 words from each limit.
- Missing part of the prompt. If it asks you to describe and give practical information, both must be there. Tick each element off before you finish.
- Wrong register. Tu in a letter to a company, or Madame, Monsieur to a close friend. Check who the reader is.
- No opinion in task 2. A story without comments only does half the task.
- Copying the prompt. Reuse its key words if you need to, but don't lift whole sentences into your answer.
- Grammar slips that add up. Agreement, accents and tense errors are covered one by one in our list of common French writing mistakes in the TCF and TEF.
- One block of text. Use short paragraphs: greeting, content, practical part, closing.
- Spending too long on task 1. Over-polishing a 60-word message steals time from task 3, the longest task.
Need more ready-made openings, connectors and closings? The free TCF and TEF writing phrases list has them by purpose, and the French grammar cheat sheet covers the passé composé, imparfait and subjunctive you'll use here.
Your turn: timed practice
Try these original prompts. Each counter shows your word count against the real TCF range and gives you our suggested time. Use the accent bar if your keyboard doesn't have French characters.
Tâche 1 : Votre collègue Sophie commence demain dans votre équipe. Vous lui écrivez un message pour lui souhaiter la bienvenue, lui expliquer comment se passera sa première journée et lui donner quelques conseils pratiques. (60 mots minimum, 120 mots maximum)
0 wordsTarget: 60–120 words
60 more to reach the minimum
Counting rule: we count words separated by spaces, so "l'homme" counts as one word. Counts on the exam may differ slightly; aim for the middle of the range.
Tâche 2 : Vous avez récemment suivi un cours en ligne (cuisine, langue, informatique…). Vous écrivez un article pour le site de votre association : vous racontez cette expérience et vous donnez votre avis pour aider les lecteurs à décider s'ils doivent le suivre. (120 mots minimum, 150 mots maximum)
0 wordsTarget: 120–150 words
120 more to reach the minimum
Counting rule: we count words separated by spaces, so "l'homme" counts as one word. Counts on the exam may differ slightly; aim for the middle of the range.
Get your writing scored
Self-checking only goes so far. Our TCF Canada writing practice gives feedback on all three tasks, with an estimated score out of 20 and corrections, and the TCF Canada writing drills by task type give you the real instructions, word counts and timing for a fresh subject each time. Check what your score means for Express Entry with the NCLC score converter (10/20 is NCLC 7), and start from the TCF Canada practice test hub for the full exam, or sit free TCF Canada mock test 1 under real timing.
Next, tackle the longest task with our TCF Canada writing task 3 examples. Taking the TEF Canada instead? Its writing test has two sections with minimum word counts only (80 and 200 words) and separate time limits: see our TEF Canada writing examples and the TEF Canada writing practice.
Our take
Tasks 1 and 2 are where careful candidates bank points. The prompts are practical, the templates are reliable and the language needed is everyday French. Respect the word range, answer every part of the prompt, pick the right register, and give task 2 a real opinion. Then move on quickly: task 3 needs the time more than they do.