TCF Canada · Writing (Expression écrite)

TCF Canada Writing Task 1: Email Structure

A clear 4-part structure, a model answer and the phrases you need to score well on the short message in Task 1 — 60 to 120 words in French.

What is Task 1?

The TCF Canada writing test has three tasks in 60 minutes. Task 1 is the shortest: you write a message or email of 60 to 120 words to a friend, a colleague or an organisation, following a situation described in the prompt (invite someone, ask for information, apologise, share news…).

It looks easy, and that is exactly why candidates lose points: they forget one instruction, mix "tu" and "vous", or write too little. The examiner checks that you do what the prompt asks, in a clear, well-organised text with correct French.

The 4-part email structure

Greeting — Salut Marc, (informal) or Bonjour Madame, (formal).
Reason for writing — one sentence that states why you are writing.
Body — answer every point of the prompt, one idea per short paragraph or 1–2 sentences.
Closing — a closing line and sign-off: À bientôt, / Cordialement, followed by your first name.

Underline every request in the prompt (date, place, question, favour…). Each one becomes a sentence in your body. Missing one is the most common way to lose points.

Formal or informal? Pick the right tone

	Informal (friend, colleague)	Formal (administration, landlord)
Pronoun	tu / ton / ta	vous / votre
Greeting	Salut / Coucou / Cher Marc,	Madame, Monsieur, / Bonjour Madame,
Request	Peux-tu m'envoyer… ?	Pourriez-vous m'indiquer… ?
Closing	À bientôt / Bises	Cordialement / Veuillez agréer…

Whatever you choose, stay consistent. Switching between "tu" and "vous" is a visible error.

Model answer (about 85 words)

Prompt: Your friend Marc wants to travel abroad. Write him a message to talk about your country and your culture (places to see, monuments…).

Model answer · informal Salut Marc,

J'ai bien reçu ton message et je suis ravi que tu penses à voyager ! Je vais te parler de mon pays.

D'abord, tu dois absolument visiter la capitale : les monuments historiques et les marchés sont magnifiques. Ensuite, tu peux découvrir les plages du sud, très calmes en septembre. Côté culture, la cuisine est un vrai plaisir : goûte les plats traditionnels !

Si tu veux, je peux te préparer un petit itinéraire et te présenter à ma famille. Dis-moi vite quand tu viens.

À très bientôt,
Karim

Why it works: it uses the four parts, addresses every idea in the prompt (places, monuments, culture), keeps "tu" throughout, uses simple connectors (d'abord, ensuite, côté culture) and stays within 60–120 words.

Useful phrases to keep in your head

Opening

Je t'écris pour te dire que… / Je me permets de vous écrire afin de…
J'ai bien reçu ton message et…

Asking and inviting

Est-ce que tu serais libre pour… ? / Pourriez-vous m'indiquer… ?
Ça te dirait de… ? / Je vous serais reconnaissant de…

Organising ideas

D'abord, / Ensuite, / Enfin, / De plus, / Par ailleurs,

Closing

Réponds-moi vite ! / Dans l'attente de votre réponse,
À bientôt, / Cordialement,

Common mistakes that cost points

Ignoring part of the prompt — check each request before you sign off.
Wrong length — under 60 words is incomplete; over 120 is wasted time.
Mixed register — never switch between tu and vous.
Copying the prompt word for word — rephrase in your own words.
No proofreading — leave 2 minutes to fix agreements, accents and verb endings.

A 10-minute method for exam day

1 min — read the prompt, identify the recipient and the points to cover.
1 min — jot 3–4 key words for your body.
6 min — write the message using the 4-part structure.
2 min — count the words roughly (a line is about 10–12 words) and proofread.

Once Task 1 feels automatic, keep your energy for Task 2 and Task 3, which are longer and weigh just as much. See our guide on sentence structure for TCF Canada writing to improve your grammar and vocabulary score.

Practise Task 1 under real exam conditions

Write timed messages, get corrections and track your progress with Pack Atlas.

See Pack Atlas

Frequently asked questions

How many words should I write in TCF Canada writing Task 1?

Task 1 asks for a short message of 60 to 120 words. Going far below 60 risks being marked as incomplete; going well over 120 wastes time you need for Tasks 2 and 3.

Is Task 1 a formal or an informal email?

It depends on the instruction. You are usually writing to a friend, a colleague or an organisation, so read who the recipient is and choose "tu" or "vous" accordingly, and keep that choice consistent from start to finish.

How long should I spend on Task 1?

The whole writing test lasts 60 minutes for three tasks. Plan roughly 10 minutes for Task 1, including a 1-minute planning step and a 2-minute proofread.

Do I have to write the subject line of the email?

Only if the instruction asks for a subject. Otherwise, start directly with the greeting and focus your words on answering every point of the prompt.

Where can I practise Task 1 prompts?

Our free page lists recent-style Task 1 prompts by session, and Pack Atlas lets you write under exam conditions and get feedback.

Keep going

Sentence structure for writing

Sentence patterns that raise your grammar and vocabulary score.

Task 2 guide

Tell an experience in 120–150 words.

Task 3 opinion text

Compare two documents and defend a view.

Free practice test

Try reading and listening sets under exam conditions.

Task 1 prompts (in French)

Recent-style writing prompts grouped by session.

Practice questions

See sample questions for all four skills.