TCF Canada · Expression écrite · Tâche 2
TCF Canada Tâche 2: how to write the article or letter
Tâche 2 asks for 120–150 words for several readers: a blog post, an article or a letter. Most prompts want two things at once — tell an experience and say what you think of it. Here is how to fit both into the narrowest word range of the exam.
- Words: 120–150
- Time: ~20 min
- Level: B1–B2
- Format: Article or letter
What the task asks
You write for several readers — those of a blog, a local newspaper, a website or an organisation. The prompt usually asks you to relate an experience or event and to comment on it. The examiner looks for a clear narrative in the past, a stated opinion with reasons, and a text organised in paragraphs.
What prompts look like
- Tell readers about an event, trip or experience, and give your opinion of it.
- Write to a newspaper, website or organisation to react to a situation or decision.
- Recommend (or warn against) a place, service or activity.
- Share your view on a change in your city, workplace or school.
A structure that works
- Title and introduction — An article gets a short title; a letter opens with a greeting. Then one or two sentences to set the scene: what, when, where.
- The experience, in the past — Tell what happened with concrete details. Use the passé composé for events and the imparfait for background and description.
- Your opinion, with reasons — State your view clearly ("À mon avis…") and support it with two reasons, or one reason and an example.
- A closing line — End with a recommendation, a call to action or a question to the readers. One sentence is enough.
Model answer
Written by Écrivance for the prompt below. Read the prompt first, then see how the answer covers it.
Prompt
Vous avez participé à une journée de bénévolat dans votre quartier. Vous écrivez un article pour le blog de votre ville : racontez cette expérience et donnez votre avis sur l'engagement bénévole. (120 à 150 mots)
Model answer · 139 words
Une journée qui change le regard
Samedi dernier, j'ai participé pour la première fois à la grande journée de nettoyage de notre quartier. Avec une trentaine de voisins, nous avons ramassé les déchets dans le parc et le long de la rivière, puis nous avons partagé un repas offert par la boulangerie du coin.
Au départ, j'y allais surtout par curiosité. Pourtant, j'ai été surpris par l'ambiance : des retraités, des étudiants et des familles travaillaient ensemble et discutaient comme de vieux amis.
À mon avis, le bénévolat est bien plus qu'un simple service rendu. Il crée des liens entre des personnes qui ne se seraient jamais rencontrées et il donne à chacun le sentiment d'être utile. C'est pourquoi j'encourage tous les habitants à participer à la prochaine édition, le 12 novembre : quelques heures suffisent pour faire une vraie différence.
Why it works
- A title and three paragraphs make the text read like a real blog article: the experience, the reaction, the opinion.
- The first paragraph narrates in the passé composé with concrete details — who, where, what.
- The imparfait ("j'y allais", "travaillaient") sets the scene, which shows control of past tenses.
- The opinion is explicit ("À mon avis"), backed by two reasons, and the call to action gives the article an ending.
Useful phrases
Ready-made French expressions you can reuse on exam day. Master a few rather than skim them all.
- Je souhaite vous faire part de…
- Samedi dernier, j'ai eu l'occasion de…
- Au départ… Pourtant… Finalement…
- Ce qui m'a le plus marqué, c'est…
- À mon avis, / Selon moi,
- C'est pourquoi je recommande…
- Je vous encourage à…
Mistakes that cost points
- Telling the story but never giving an opinion — the prompt asks for both.
- Writing the whole story in the passé composé. Background and descriptions belong in the imparfait.
- One long block of text with no paragraphs.
- Forgetting who you are writing for: an article speaks to many readers, a letter follows letter conventions.
- Going past 150 words. Cut a detail rather than squeeze in one more idea.
The other writing tasks
Full writing section guide · TCF Canada → NCLC conversion
Frequently asked questions
How many words is Tâche 2?
Between 120 and 150 words — the narrowest range of the three tasks, so plan your paragraphs before you start writing.
Is Tâche 2 an article or a letter?
Either: the prompt tells you (a blog post, an article for a newspaper or website, a letter to an organisation). Adapt the format — a title for an article, a greeting and a closing formula for a letter.
Do I have to give my opinion in Tâche 2?
When the prompt asks for it — and most do — yes. A text that only tells the story leaves part of the task undone.
Which tenses should I use in Tâche 2?
The passé composé for events, the imparfait for descriptions and background, and the present for your opinion. Using them correctly together is one of the clearest signs of a B1–B2 level.