TEF Canada Writing Section B: structure an argument that scores

Section B carries the weight of your writing score: around 200 words of structured argument on an everyday social question — remote work, city life, technology, education. The examiner is not grading your opinion; they're grading whether you can organise one. Structure, connectors, and register earn the points, and all three can be prepared in advance.

The five-paragraph skeleton

• •Introduction (2–3 sentences): reformulate the question in your own words and announce your position.
• •Argument 1 (with connector + example): « D'abord, … Par exemple, … »
• •Argument 2 (different angle): « Ensuite, … En effet, … »
• •Concession + rebuttal: « Certes, … Cependant, … » — this paragraph is where strong copies separate from average ones.
• •Conclusion (1–2 sentences): « En conclusion, … » restate the position, open a perspective.

The connector toolkit

Examiners scan for logical articulation. Have these ready by function:

• •Sequencing: d'abord, ensuite, enfin, par ailleurs
• •Cause: car, en effet, puisque, grâce à, en raison de
• •Contrast/concession: cependant, néanmoins, certes… mais, en revanche, malgré
• •Consequence: donc, ainsi, c'est pourquoi, par conséquent
• •Opinion (measured): à mon avis, il me semble que, je suis convaincu(e) que

Register and tone

Formal but natural: no slang, no contractions of thought, full sentences. Use varied sentence openings — a copy where every sentence starts with 'Je pense que' reads as B1 regardless of grammar. Rhetorical questions and a well-placed subjunctive (« il est essentiel que chacun puisse… ») quietly signal level.

The mistakes that cost points

• •No visible structure — one long block with no paragraphs and no connectors.
• •Only one argument, repeated with new adjectives.
• •Skipping the concession — dealing with the opposite view is the strongest B2 signal available.
• •Ignoring the word count in either direction: 120 words is underdeveloped; 350 invites errors.

How to practise

One timed Section B every other day beats three on Sunday. After each, run an honest audit: count your connectors, check the five paragraphs exist, verify a concession appears. Then read the model answer for that exact prompt and note one structure to steal for next time. Instant feedback on connectors and vocabulary variety — like our writing module provides — shortens this loop dramatically.