The Expression ecrite (Writing) section of the TEF Canada requires you to write two texts in 60 minutes: a short informal or semi-formal message, and a longer formal text. Unlike the adaptive TCF Canada, the TEF Canada writing section presents the same tasks to all candidates. For CLB 7, you must demonstrate B2-level written French: clear argumentation, appropriate register, varied vocabulary, and accurate grammar with complex sentence structures. This guide covers both tasks, scoring criteria, and the strategies that lead to a CLB 7 pass.
TEF Canada Expression Ecrite – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | 60 minutes (both tasks combined) |
| Number of tasks | 2 |
| Task 1 type | Short informal or semi-formal message or letter (approx. 80–120 words) |
| Task 2 type | Longer formal text: opinion essay, formal letter, or formal article (approx. 200–250 words) |
| Scoring | Each task scored by trained raters on multiple criteria |
| CLB 7 requirement | B2 writing performance across both tasks |
Task 1 – Short Informal or Semi-Formal Message
Task 1 asks you to write a short message, email, or note in an informal or semi-formal context. Common prompts: write to a friend about a plan, send a message to a neighbour about an issue, reply to a social invitation, contact an acquaintance about a shared activity. The task specifies 3–4 content points to include.
| Scoring Criterion | What Is Assessed | CLB 7 Standard |
| Task achievement | All required content points included; appropriate register for the relationship described | All points addressed clearly; appropriate tu/vous use; tone matches context |
| Coherence | Is the message logically organised and easy to follow? | Clear opening and closing; logical sequence; appropriate connectors (parce que / donc / alors / par contre) |
| Vocabulary | Is the vocabulary appropriate and varied? | B1-B2 vocabulary; avoids A1/A2 word repetition; some idiomatic phrasing |
| Grammar | Accuracy of verb forms, agreement, sentence structure | Past tense (passe compose / imparfait) correctly used; subordinate clauses; minimal errors |
Task 2 – Formal Text: Opinion Essay or Formal Letter
Task 2 is a longer, formal writing task. The most common format is an opinion essay responding to a position statement or a social question. Some prompts require a formal letter (to an employer, a public institution, or an authority). At CLB 7, the essay must present a clear position, develop it with arguments and examples, address a counter-perspective, and conclude effectively.
| Text Type | Required Structure | Register |
| Opinion essay | Introduction + thesis → Argument 1 with example → Argument 2 with example → Counter-argument and rebuttal → Conclusion | Formal: vous form if addressing reader; third person for general claims; no slang; no contractions |
| Formal letter (complaint / request) | Salutation → Purpose statement → Detailed exposition → Request or proposed action → Formal closing | Formal: Madame / Monsieur; Je me permets de… / Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) de… / Dans l’attente de votre reponse… |
CLB 7 French Writing – Key Language Features
| Feature | B2/CLB 7 French Examples |
| Complex sentence structures | Il convient de noter que… / Bien que… + subjonctif / En depit du fait que… / Quoi que l’on pense de… |
| Argumentation connectors | D’une part… d’autre part… / Certes… cependant… / Il n’en demeure pas moins que… / Force est de constater que… |
| Expressing opinion formally | A mon sens… / Il me semble que… / Selon moi… / Je suis d’avis que… / Il est permis de penser que… |
| Introducing examples | C’est notamment le cas de… / On peut citer comme exemple… / Il suffit de considerer… / Prenons l’exemple de… |
Time Management for the 60-Minute Writing Section
| Task | Planning | Writing | Review | Total |
| Task 1 (80–120 words) | 3 minutes | 12 minutes | 3 minutes | 18 minutes |
| Task 2 (200–250 words) | 5 minutes | 27 minutes | 5 minutes | 37 minutes |
| Buffer | — | — | 5 minutes | 5 minutes |
TEF Canada writing preparation requires producing formal French under timed conditions regularly. In the 6 weeks before your exam, write at least 3 Task 2 essays and 3 Task 1 messages per week. After each piece, check: did you address every content point? Did you use at least 4 B2-level connectors? Are your verb tenses correct, especially subjonctif in formal contexts? languagetest.in provides TEF Canada Expression Ecrite mock tasks for both task types with model responses at B2/CLB 7 level and scoring rubrics to support structured writing practice.
References: TEF Canada official: lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr | IRCC CLB benchmarks: canada.ca | languagetest.in TEF Canada writing preparation
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