TCF Canada writing task 2: a prompt and B2 model

FrenchExaminer · Published 2026-11-02 · 5 min read · AI-drafted, reviewed by a second AI pass, not yet reviewed by a human

TCF Canada writing task 2 asks for an article, letter or note that reports an experience in 120 to 150 words, according to France Éducation international. Below you get an original prompt, a commented B2 model text, and a method to build your own answer in the time you have.

What does TCF Canada writing task 2 actually ask for?

According to France Éducation international, the written expression test has three tasks in 60 minutes. Task 2 is an article, letter or note in which you report an experience, and the length is 120 to 150 words.

The task is not a free essay. You report something that happened, and you are judged on how clearly you tell it, how well you link ideas, and how accurate and varied your French is.

This article covers task 2 only. For the other tasks and the full test, see the writing test overview and the TCF Canada guide.

What does an original practice prompt for task 2 look like?

The prompt below is original and written for practice only; it is not taken from any official test. Use it under real conditions: set a timer and write 120 to 150 words by hand or on a plain editor.

Votre association d'étudiants publie un bulletin. On vous demande d'écrire un court article sur une activité bénévole à laquelle vous avez participé. Racontez ce que vous avez fait, ce que vous avez appris et ce que vous en retenez. (120 à 150 mots)

Before reading the model, write your own version. Comparison only helps if you have produced something to compare.

What does a B2 model article look like?

Here is a model answer to the prompt above. It is a model of the level aimed at, not an official sample; the word count is within the 120 to 150 range.

Une matinée utile au jardin partagé

Le mois dernier, j'ai participé à une journée de bénévolat dans le jardin partagé de mon quartier. Nous étions une quinzaine de volontaires, et l'objectif était de préparer les parcelles avant l'hiver.

Dès mon arrivée, une responsable m'a expliqué les consignes. J'ai d'abord désherbé, puis j'ai aidé un voisin à construire un petit composteur. Bien que le travail soit fatigant, l'ambiance était chaleureuse et chacun partageait ses conseils.

Cette expérience m'a appris plusieurs choses : on peut produire des légumes même en ville, et le travail en équipe rend les tâches plus légères. J'ai aussi pu pratiquer mon français avec des personnes très différentes. Je compte y retourner chaque mois, car c'est une façon simple d'être utile et de mieux connaître mon quartier.

Why does this model work at B2?

The table points out the features of the model that you can reuse. Each row names a technique, shows where it appears, and says why it counts for the assessment.

Feature	Where in the model	Why it helps
Clear time frame and context	"Le mois dernier", "une journée de bénévolat"	The reader knows what, when and where at once
Logical connectors	"Dès mon arrivée", "d'abord", "puis", "bien que"	Ideas are ordered and a concession shows range
Subjunctive after a conjunction	"bien que le travail soit fatigant"	Shows control of a structure expected at this level
Past tenses used correctly	passé composé for events, imparfait for the setting	Reports the experience accurately
Personal reflection and closing	"Cette expérience m'a appris", "Je compte y retourner"	Meets the instruction to say what you learned

Notice that the vocabulary is precise but not rare: the model succeeds through clarity and variety, not through difficult words.

How can I build my own answer in the time allowed?

Follow these steps; they fit the 60 minutes shared across the whole written test, so keep task 2 short and controlled.

Read the prompt twice and list its three requirements (what you did, what you learned, what you keep from it).
Plan three paragraphs: context, the experience itself, and the lesson with a closing.
Write simple, correct sentences first, then add one or two connectors and one more complex structure.
Count your words and aim for the middle of the 120 to 150 range, so a small edit does not push you out of it.
Reread for verbs and agreements: tense, gender, plural and accents are the most common avoidable losses.

Avoid memorising a full template. Examiners read many texts, and a ready-made answer that does not fit the prompt is easy to spot.

How does task 2 connect to my NCLC level?

Speaking and writing in TCF Canada are scored from 0 to 20, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada converts the result to an NCLC level. A score of 10 to 11 corresponds to NCLC 7, and 12 to 13 to NCLC 8.

NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities matters for Express Entry French points and for the French-language proficiency category, as IRCC states. You can estimate your own result with the NCLC calculator and see how those levels translate into points on the CRS French points page.

Draw dates, sizes and cut-offs change, so read them on the official IRCC rounds page and not from a blog. For context, see Express Entry French draws.

How can I get feedback on my own task 2 text?

Self-checking has limits, because you tend to read what you meant to write. A criterion-by-criterion correction shows which part of your text cost you the most: task fulfilment, coherence, vocabulary, or grammar.

FrenchExaminer offers writing correction by criterion; see the writing feature and how scoring works. Estimates are not official results, so treat them as a guide to what to practise next. You can also work under exam-like conditions with the free TCF Canada practice test.

To see where you stand before choosing what to work on, take the free instant level test at the instant test, which uses a short text or 30 seconds of speech.

Questions candidates ask

How many words should TCF Canada writing task 2 have?

According to France Éducation international, TCF Canada writing task 2 asks for 120 to 150 words. Staying inside that range matters, so count your words while you write and leave a small margin for last-minute edits.

What type of text is expected in TCF Canada task 2?

TCF Canada task 2 expects an article, letter or note that reports an experience. You tell what happened, in order, with enough detail and your own reflection. It is different from task 3, where you compare two documents and defend an opinion.

Can I use the model article as a template in the exam?

No. The model article shows the level and techniques to aim for, but a memorised template rarely fits a new prompt. Learn the connectors and structures it uses, then write a fresh answer that responds directly to the actual instructions.

How long should I spend on writing task 2?

The written expression test has three tasks in 60 minutes in total, according to France Éducation international. The test does not fix a time per task, so plan your own split and keep task 2 short, leaving time to reread it.

What score do I need on writing for NCLC 7?

For TCF Canada writing, scored from 0 to 20, a score of 10 to 11 corresponds to NCLC 7, according to the IRCC equivalence table. NCLC 7 in all four abilities is the threshold mentioned for the Express Entry French-language category.

Is TEF Canada writing different from TCF Canada writing?

Yes. TEF Canada written expression has two tasks in 60 minutes and is scored from 0 to 450, while TCF Canada has three tasks scored from 0 to 20. The skills overlap, but the format and scoring differ, so practise the test you register for.

Where can I practise more TCF Canada writing prompts for free?

You can try the free TCF Canada practice test page to practise in exam-like conditions, and the free instant level test for a quick estimate from a short text. Both help you decide what to work on before a full attempt.