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the methodology of the TCF Canada Written Expression

In this article, we will examine in detail the written expression test of the TCF Canada, which is aimed at any person, regardless of their nationality and language of origin (including French and people from French-speaking countries), wishing to undertake steps for permanent economic immigration or to obtain Canadian citizenship from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Components of the TCF Canada

The TCF Canada consists of four sections. It assesses general French language skills in listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing. The TCF Canada comprises 39 multiple-choice questions for listening comprehension and 39 multiple-choice questions for reading comprehension, each with only one correct answer (all comprehension questions are arranged in order of increasing difficulty); three tasks for speaking; and three tasks for writing. The test result leads to the issuance of a level certificate (valid for two years).

Four compulsory tests:

Reading comprehension (39 questions)

Duration: 60 min

Listening comprehension (39 questions)

Duration: 35 min

Written expression (3 tasks)

Duration: 60 min

Oral expression (3 tasks)

Duration: 12 min

TCF Canada Written Expression: Introduction

You are being assessed on your ability to:

1.

Communicate a message clearly.

2.

Provide the requested information.

3.

Describe, narrate and explain.

4.

Justify a choice, a position or a decision.

5.

Link ideas together and demonstrate coherence in your speech.

6.

Compare two points of view.

7.

Express your opinion and support it with arguments.

8.

Use vocabulary and structures appropriate to the task.

9.

Being able to synthesize and reformulate.

  • TCF Canada Written Expression duration: 1 hour.
  • TCF Canada Written Expression distribution: 03 tasks.

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 1:

Write a message to describe, narrate and/or explain, addressed to one or more recipients, whose status has been specified in the instructions. Minimum 60 words / maximum 120 words.

TCF Canada Written Expression: Email Structure Task 1:

Subject: (My holidays in Marrakech)

  • 1)
    Greetings (Hey Nabil, how are you?)
  • 2)
    General purpose of the email (I'm writing this email to let you know I'll be in Paris.)
  • 3)
    Details of the circumstance (Who? What? When? Where? With whom?)
  • 4)
    Express concrete expectations (Depending on the topic's instructions I would like you to identify some chic places that I could visit.)
  • 5)
    Formulas of recommendation, promise, thanks
  • 6)
    Farewell formulas (See you soon, take care, best regards, cordially, etc.)

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 2:

Writing an article, letter, memo, etc., intended for multiple recipients to provide an account of an experience or a narrative. Accounts and narratives will be accompanied by comments, opinions, or arguments, depending on the objective (e.g., to make a claim, to seek reconciliation, etc.). Minimum 120 words / maximum 150 words.

The goal: to create a narrative, an account, with the aim of pleasing or attracting, reconciling, etc. If it's an email, I've already shown how to structure one. But if it's a blog post, here's a simple structure.

“Imagine being asked to write a blog post about a job you're passionate about, making people want to learn more about it.”

TCF Canada Written Expression: The structure of Task 2:

  1. You need an attractive title: For example: "Teaching, a noble profession." Nowadays, blog articles are very appealing thanks to their titles. We have titles like "3 Ways to Win Back Your Ex." It's attractive; it makes you want to read.
  2. After the title: the first paragraph simply provides a concise and engaging presentation of the activity. (Here you present the teaching. What is it? You provide insightful information about it.)
  3. Next: you present your own experience (details).
  4. Finally: some recommendations. You recommend that people who follow your blog take an interest in the activity you describe. It will all depend on the instructions.

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 3:

TCF Canada Written Expression: The structure of Task 3:

  • Write a text (for a newspaper, website, colleague, superior, etc.) comparing two viewpoints on a social issue (Part 1), expressed in two short, simple documents of approximately 90 words each. The candidate then takes a position on the topic addressed in the two documents (Part 2).
  • Expected word count: minimum 120 words / maximum 180 words.
  • You are given two documents, two opinions about a reality. You are asked to write a short article.
  • The article must include a first part of 40–60 words in which you summarize the viewpoints presented in the two documents.
  • The article must include a second part of 80–120 words in which you express your own opinion on the subject discussed in the two documents.

TCF Canada Written Expression: The structure of Task 3:

  1. Title;
  2. Viewpoint of the two documents;
  3. Your point of view.

“Nowadays, the question of children's use of the Internet divides public opinion. Some believe that (Summary Doc A) the Internet makes children lazy and unproductive. On the other hand, (Summary Doc B) others find in this tool a real support for knowledge and the development of children's imagination.”

And then your perspective on the subject can begin with a structure like this:

“In this regard, it is important to recognize that today it is becoming difficult to understand the dynamics of current societies without considering the role played by the Internet. This tool has become indispensable, which is why it is necessary to implement parental controls to regulate children's online time and choose websites appropriate for their age. …etc.”

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 1 corrected example:

“Subject : Your cousin has invited you to his wedding. You are writing him an email to confirm your attendance and to inquire about the guests and what gift to give him.”

Suggested correction (C2 level):

Dear Philippe,

Thank you, Marie, for the invitation, and congratulations! Of course, I'll be there on the big day! Have you invited many people? Do you know if Magalie will be back from Australia to attend this wonderful day? I'm definitely planning to give you a lovely gift!

What would make you happy?

If you've made a wedding registry, please tell me where I can find it!

See you very soon!

Julian

Word count: 79

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 2 corrected example:

“Subject : You are contributing to the website of your city's town hall, which is committed to environmental protection. You are writing an article to give your opinion on the increase in the number of green spaces. You will give your opinion on this initiative, discussing its advantages and/or disadvantages.”

Suggested correction (C2 level):

Exceptional well-being

Our beautiful city has just acquired a new park near the city center. Nakata now boasts no fewer than five parks. For a small city of 15,000 inhabitants, this is quite exceptional! Personally, I am very proud to live in one of the greenest cities in Japan! It's a real privilege to live in a place with so much green space. All these trees surrounding us allow us to enjoy unparalleled air quality. Furthermore, it's wonderful to be able to stroll through the parks in our free time. My children especially love Rose Park, in the north of the city. The playgrounds designed for them are truly superb. In short, I wanted to once again congratulate the mayor and his team for implementing such a policy in favor of the environment and the well-being of the citizens.

Hiroki Kaïsa

Word count: 149

TCF Canada Written Expression Task 3 corrected example:

Suggested correction (C2 level):

The issue of doping in sport

For or against doping, that is the question being asked in the world of sport. While some defend its legalization, arguing that athletes, like musicians and writers, also have the right to dope to improve their performance, others believe that doping harms the fundamental values ​​of sport, and in particular fairness.

In this debate, it is essential to remember that the use of performance-enhancing drugs can have irreversible consequences on health. A single injection might help a professional or amateur athlete win a medal, but it can also lead to their early death. Many cyclists, like Marco Pantani for example, paid for their exploits with their lives. This is why it is suicidal to want to legalize doping in sports. On the contrary, we must persevere in the fight against doping by increasing testing and strengthening sanctions against cheaters.

Word count: 156

Tips for succeeding in the written expression exam

Essential tips for success in the TCF Canada written expression exam:

To succeed in this test, it is important to follow the instructions carefully, write legibly, manage your time effectively, and complete the tasks in order. Read the questions carefully, as the answer will be found within the prompt. For example, if you are writing to a friend, you will not use the same tone or vocabulary as if you were writing to your boss.

Consider the use of personal pronouns:

"Tu" will be perfectly suitable for a close friend or colleague, while "Vous" will be preferred when communicating with your manager, a stranger, a shopkeeper, etc. The person's status will be specified in the statement; it's up to you to identify it and adhere to it.

Don't lose sight of the objective of what you need to write:

For the first task, you will need to communicate a message clearly and provide the requested information. For task 2, in the example above, the focus is more on describing, narrating, and explaining. In the example above, you must explain what makes the moment enjoyable, so you need to make readers want to attend this event. Use enthusiastic vocabulary, describe your experience, and so on. In task 3, however, you are expected to rephrase the arguments presented in your own words, comparing the points of view, and then, in a second paragraph, take a position and provide supporting arguments. Each objective has its own specific vocabulary and sentence structures; it's up to you to master and use them.

Remember to respect the word count expected by the examiner:

If the required number of words is not reached, the task will automatically be marked "A1 not achieved". The same applies if the writing is illegible, the work is off-topic, or a task is not completed.

New topics for written expressionSucceeding in Written Expression