How do you write TCF Canada writing task 3?

FrenchExaminer · Published 2026-11-04 · 5 min read · AI-drafted, reviewed by a second AI pass, not yet reviewed by a human

TCF Canada written expression task 3 gives you two documents and asks you to restate the two viewpoints, then defend your own opinion in 120 to 180 words. The writing test has three tasks in 60 minutes, scored 0-20. Task 3 rewards a clear plan, accurate restating and a justified position.

What exactly does task 3 ask you to do?

According to France Éducation international, the TCF Canada written expression test has three tasks completed in 60 minutes in total. Task 3 is the last one: you are given two documents that express different points of view, you compare them, and you defend an opinion in 120 to 180 words.

The task therefore contains two separate jobs: restating what each document says, and arguing your own position. Candidates who only do the first job produce a summary; candidates who only do the second ignore the documents. Both parts must be visible in your text.

The table below shows where task 3 sits in the full writing test, so you can plan your time.

Task	What you write	Length
Task 1	A message to a friend or relative	60-120 words
Task 2	An article, letter or note reporting an experience	120-150 words
Task 3	Compare two documents and defend an opinion	120-180 words

For a wider view of the paper, see the TCF Canada writing test overview and the general TCF Canada guide.

How should you structure a 120-180 word answer?

With so few words, a fixed frame saves you from rambling. A four-part frame works well for this task: a one-sentence introduction, a sentence for each viewpoint, your opinion with reasons, and a short conclusion.

Introduction (1 sentence): name the topic and say that two opinions exist.
Viewpoint A (1-2 sentences): restate the first document in your own words.
Viewpoint B (1-2 sentences): restate the second document the same way.
Your opinion (3-5 sentences): say which side you support, or what nuance you add, with two reasons and one example.
Conclusion (1 sentence): close with a firm summary of your position.

Keep a visible balance: if the restating takes more than half of your text, your opinion will look thin. As a rule of thumb, aim for roughly one third on the two viewpoints and two thirds on your own argument.

How do you restate two viewpoints without copying them?

Restating means reformulating the idea, not lifting sentences. Change the structure of the sentence, replace key words with synonyms, and attribute the idea clearly to each author.

Useful reporting verbs and frames, with a generic example topic (remote work), are listed below.

Le premier auteur estime que le télétravail améliore la qualité de vie.
Selon le second document, il affaiblit le lien entre collègues.
Le premier texte défend l'idée que… alors que le second soutient que…
Ces deux points de vue s'opposent sur la question de…

Notice that each sentence names whose opinion it is. This attribution is what separates restating from stating your own view, and it prevents confusion for the reader.

How do you defend your own opinion convincingly?

A defended opinion has three ingredients: a clear position, a reason, and a concrete example. Say early which side you take, even if you add a nuance, so the reader never has to guess.

Here is a concrete step-by-step method for the opinion paragraph.

State your position in one sentence: Pour ma part, je suis plutôt favorable à…
Give a first reason with a connector: En effet, … / D'une part, …
Add a second reason or an example from daily life: Par exemple, …
Acknowledge the other side briefly: Certes, … mais …
Close firmly: En conclusion, je pense que…

The concession in step 4 shows you understood the opposing document and makes your argument more credible. Use simple, correct sentences rather than complex ones you cannot control.

Which linking words and language level should you aim for?

The writing test is scored from 0 to 20, and IRCC maps these scores to NCLC levels. Per the IRCC equivalence table, a writing score of 10-11 corresponds to NCLC 7, 12-13 to NCLC 8, and 14-15 to NCLC 9. NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities is also what the Express Entry French-language category requires, so accuracy and variety in task 3 count.

The table lists connectors by function; pick two or three per function rather than memorising dozens.

Function	Examples
Add	de plus, en outre, par ailleurs
Contrast	cependant, pourtant, alors que
Cause	car, parce que, en effet
Consequence	donc, par conséquent, c'est pourquoi
Conclude	en conclusion, pour finir, somme toute

Use them correctly and sparingly: a connector in every sentence reads as artificial. To see how your level converts, try the NCLC calculator.

What mistakes lose the most points in task 3?

Knowing the usual mistakes lets you check your draft in the last minutes of the test.

Ignoring one document: restating only one viewpoint leaves the comparison incomplete.
No clear opinion: a text that stays neutral never completes the second half of the task.
Wrong length: the task asks for 120 to 180 words, so count your words before the end.
Copying the documents: pasted sentences do not show your own French.
Mixing your view with the authors': always mark whose idea is whose.
No re-reading: keep two or three minutes to fix agreements, verb endings and accents.

Remember that three tasks share 60 minutes, so task 3 gets only part of that time. Practise with a timer so the frame becomes automatic. A writing correction by criterion shows which of these mistakes you repeat, and the scoring method explains how estimates are produced (they are not official results).

How can you practise task 3 before the real test?

Practise in short, repeatable cycles. Write one answer per session under time, then correct it against the frame above: two viewpoints restated, one clear opinion, two reasons, one example, a conclusion, and a word count between 120 and 180.

Invent your own two-viewpoint prompts on everyday themes (transport, education, technology, work); never reuse questions from official tests or other sites. Rewrite your weakest paragraph a second time.

If you do not know your starting point, take the free instant level test to get a first estimate, then work through the free TCF Canada practice test. Passes on FrenchExaminer are one-time payments, not subscriptions; see pricing for details.

Questions candidates ask

How many words should TCF Canada writing task 3 be?

According to France Éducation international, TCF Canada written expression task 3 must be between 120 and 180 words. Stay inside this range and count your words before you finish, so that your restating of the two viewpoints and your defended opinion both fit in the space the task allows.

Do I have to give my own opinion in task 3?

Yes. TCF Canada task 3 presents two documents to compare and an opinion to defend. A text that only summarises the two viewpoints without taking a position completes only half of the task, so state your position clearly early on and support it with reasons and one example.

How much time do I have for the whole TCF Canada writing test?

The TCF Canada written expression test lasts 60 minutes for three tasks, according to France Éducation international. You share that time across the three tasks yourself, so practise with a timer to keep enough minutes for task 3, which is the longest, and for a final re-reading.

What score do I need in writing for NCLC 7?

Per the IRCC equivalence table for TCF Canada, a writing score of 10-11 out of 20 corresponds to NCLC 7. NCLC 8 is 12-13 and NCLC 9 is 14-15. NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities is also what the Express Entry French-language category requires.

Can I reuse the same structure for every task 3 topic?

Yes, a fixed structure is a practical way to write task 3: an introduction, one sentence per viewpoint, your opinion with reasons and an example, then a conclusion. The content changes with each topic, but the frame stays stable and saves planning time during the exam.

Is task 3 the same in TEF Canada writing?

No. According to the TEF Canada description, its written expression test has two tasks in 60 minutes, scored 0-450, whereas TCF Canada has three tasks scored 0-20. The skills overlap, but the task formats and score scales differ, so prepare for the exam you will sit.

How long are TCF Canada results valid?

According to France Éducation international, TCF Canada results are valid for two years. Keep this in mind when you choose your test date, and confirm the current requirements for your application on the official IRCC pages before you book, since rules can change over time.