TEF Canada writing Section B: the opinion letter

What the official instructions say

The TEF Canada writing test, run by CCI Paris Île-de-France (Le français des affaires), has two separately timed parts: Section A (25 minutes) and Section B (35 minutes), 60 minutes in total.

In Section B you read a statement taken from a newspaper. You write a letter to the newspaper saying what you think of it, developing at least three arguments to defend your view.

• Time: 35 minutes for this section.
• Length: 200 words minimum. Only a minimum is set; there is no maximum.
• Content: at least three developed arguments.

Because you are writing to a newspaper, the situation calls for a formal letter: « vous », an opening salutation and a closing formula.

What the grader expects

At CCI Paris Île-de-France, each paper is marked independently by two language-teaching specialists, using a standardised grid that places the overall performance on the CEFR scale. The criteria set out in CCI’s sample tests fall into two groups:

• quality and effectiveness of the text: fit to the situation, overall structure, clarity of the argument, and the ability to develop, nuance and add detail (développer, nuancer, préciser);
• range and control of written French: vocabulary, syntax (sentences, tenses, moods), spelling.

In an article on preparing for Section B, published on 23 June 2020, CCI spells out what it looks for:

• one short opening sentence that states your position is enough;
• long, empty introductions and conclusions earn nothing;
• what counts is how you develop your arguments, with details and examples;
• the coherence of the text and the links between sentences;
• sentences and vocabulary that are varied, precise and relevant to the topic;
• spelling and punctuation.

Since 11 December 2023, TEF Canada writing has been scored out of 699, with its own NCLC conversion bands: NCLC 7, for example, runs from 428 to 471 points. Your results also show an « Équivalence ancien score » (old-scale equivalent: 310 to 348 for the same NCLC 7). IRCC’s Express Entry page, updated 16 October 2026, says this is the figure to enter in an Express Entry profile, because the new score is not compatible with the system. All the bands are in our NCLC score chart.

How to structure the letter

Both model letters below follow this plan:

1. « Madame, Monsieur, »: the standard salutation for a letter to a newspaper.
2. Your position, in one sentence. Pick up the statement and say whether you agree, disagree or agree with conditions.
3. Three arguments, one paragraph each. The idea, then a precise example (something you have lived through or seen), then what the example shows.
4. A nuance or concession. Acknowledging a limit (« Certes…, mais… ») shows you can nuance, one of CCI’s criteria.
5. A short conclusion: one or two sentences that sharpen your position, without repeating everything.
6. A full closing formula, then your name.

Length guide: about 20 words for the position, 45–60 words per argument, 30–50 words for the nuance and about 20 for the conclusion. That brings you to roughly 230–280 words, with no padding.

Managing the 35 minutes: 5 minutes to choose your position and note three arguments with an example each, 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of proofreading (word count, agreement, closing formula).

One statement, two letters: B1 then C1

This statement was written for this site, like all our practice prompts: it is not a real exam question.

Letter 1 — estimated B1 (216 words)

The letter does what is asked: a clear position in the second sentence, three arguments each with an example from the writer’s life, a concession and a correct closing formula. What keeps it at B1: basic linking words (d’abord, ensuite, enfin), simple sentences, a vague phrase (« c’est bon pour l’environnement », “it’s good for the environment”), « je pense » repeated, a one-line concession and a conclusion that only repeats the position. There is also a classic error: « Si le bus sera gratuit ». French uses no future after « si »: « Si le bus est gratuit ». Estimate: B1, roughly NCLC 6 if Section A is at the same level.

Letter 2 — estimated C1 (270 words)

Same starting position, but a very different letter:

Estimate: C1, roughly NCLC 9 if Section A is at the same level. Letter 2 is longer because each argument is developed, not because the introduction grows: it stays as short as in letter 1.

Useful French phrases

Vary your phrasing: varied, precise vocabulary is part of what CCI looks at. Our guide to French linking words has more.

To sign off, use a full formula that repeats the opening salutation:

• « Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées. »
• « Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués. »
• « Recevez, Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées. »

All three work like “Yours faithfully”. « Cordialement » is better kept for emails; for a letter to a newspaper, use a full formula.

Costly mistakes

• Fewer than three arguments. The instructions ask for at least three: two arguments, however good, leave the task incomplete.
• Arguments with no example. « La gratuité est bonne pour l’environnement. » is only a claim. CCI stresses development: a fact, a lived situation, a consequence.
• The wrong register. Using « tu » with the newspaper, writing « Salut », « super » or « Bisous », leaving out the closing formula: the situation calls for a formal letter.
• Under 200 words. That is the official minimum. Count your words before the final proofread, not after.
• A long introduction. Three sentences about « un débat qui divise notre société » before you give your view: CCI says this kind of introduction earns nothing.

Section B FAQ