Alors
What each one asks for, and where marks actually go missing.
TEF Canada writing has two tasks; TCF Canada has three. Every one of them is graded first on whether you did what was asked — the right kind of text, for the right reader, at the right length — and only then on your French.
Most avoidable loss happens before a single grammar point is considered.
A short factual news item, roughly 80–120 words, written from supplied material. Neutral, reported tone. No opinion, no flourish.
The trap is treating it as a story. It is a news-in-brief: who, what, where, when, what followed. Candidates who write an atmospheric opening paragraph burn a third of their word count before reaching the facts.
A letter to a newspaper's editor stating and justifying a position. 200 words minimum, no upper limit. Formal register throughout — vous, proper opening and closing formulas, and no colloquial French anywhere.
This is the piece that carries the most weight, and register is where it is most often lost. Dropping the ne in negation — writing c'est pas normal instead of ce n'est pas normal — is unremarkable in speech and conspicuous in a formal letter. So is addressing the editor as tu, even once.
Around 60–120 words. A practical message: an invitation, a request, a description. The register follows the recipient, so read who you are writing to before you choose it.
Around 120–150 words. Usually an account or a report of something, with more development than Task 1 and a clearer structure.
Around 120–180 words, and the closest TCF gets to TEF's Section B. You take a position and support it. The word ceiling matters here: TCF gives you an upper limit where TEF does not, so an argument that needs 250 words to land will not fit and must be planned tighter.
Four things get looked at in any serious assessment of writing at this level:
That is our model, not an official rubric. Neither exam board publishes its exact criteria or their weightings. We put task fulfilment first and weight it heaviest because published research finds automated raters over-weight grammar and vocabulary while human raters prioritise whether the task was answered. Treat any precise breakdown you read anywhere — including ours — as a hypothesis.
Mixing connector series. Opening with D'abord and continuing with Deuxièmement mixes two different sequences. Pick one — D'abord, ensuite, enfin or Premièrement, deuxièmement, troisièmement — and hold it.
Missing the subjunctive after fixed triggers. Il faut que always takes it: il faut que la mairie réfléchisse, never réfléchit. These are memorisable in an afternoon and are noticed every time.
Under-length. Falling short of the minimum is the one error with no upside and no ambiguity. Know your own words-per-paragraph before the day.
Confirm the mechanics before you rely on them. Task formats, word counts and timings are set by the exam boards and do change. Check CCIP Paris Île-de-France (TEF) and France Éducation International (TCF) before booking.
Not immigration advice. Alors teaches French and converts exam scores. It does not provide immigration advice, assess eligibility, or recommend a programme. For advice about your own case, consult a lawyer, a Quebec notary, or a CICC-licensed consultant, or read IRCC directly.
Not affiliated with CCIP Paris Île-de-France (TEF Canada) or France Éducation International (TCF).