TEF Canada writing tips: score higher on Sections A and B

The writing section rewards preparation more directly than any other part of TEF Canada: the two tasks follow known formats, the marking rewards visible structure, and both can be templated. These tips assume you know the basics — Section A is an ~80-word fait divers continuation, Section B an ~200-word argument — and focus on what moves the score.

Manage the hour deliberately

• •Split roughly 20 minutes for Section A and 40 for Section B — and write Section A first while you're fresh; its format is more mechanical.
• •Budget 3–4 minutes at the end of each task for a self-check pass (see below). An unchecked text donates easy points to the examiner's red pen.
• •Count words approximately by lines, not one by one — know how many words your handwriting or typing puts on a line.

Make the structure visible

• •Paragraph breaks are scoring signals: 4–5 paragraphs in Section B, clear moves in Section A.
• •Open paragraphs with connectors — d'abord, ensuite, cependant, en conclusion — the examiner should see your plan at a glance.
• •Include one concession in Section B (« certes… mais ») — it's the single strongest structure-signal available.
• •Vary sentence openings; five sentences starting with 'Je pense que' cancel out good grammar.

The 60-second self-check

• •Verb endings: every plural subject has a plural verb.
• •Agreements: adjectives and past participles match gender and number.
• •Tense discipline: past narration in Section A, present argumentation with measured subjunctive in Section B.
• •Register: no spoken-French fillers (ben, du coup) in either task.
• •Length: near the target — 80 and 200 words — not double it.

The fast improvement loop

Write one timed task daily, alternating sections. After each, audit three numbers: connectors used, paragraphs, and words. Then compare against a model answer for the same prompt and steal exactly one structure for tomorrow. Instant connector and vocabulary feedback — like our writing module's analysis — compresses this loop from weeks to days, because you see what's missing while the attempt is still fresh.