TEF Expression Orale & Expression Écrite: Section-by-Section Guide with Sample Topics
Everything you need to prepare for TEF Canada’s speaking (Expression Orale) and writing (Expression Écrite) sections — official formats, 36 sample topics, model frameworks, the criteria examiners actually score, and a 7-day practice plan.
TEF Speaking & Writing at a Glance
Expression Orale and Expression Écrite are the two production sections of the TEF Canada exam — the ones where you generate French rather than just recognize it. Together they carry a lot of weight toward your CLB 7 target for Express Entry, the Quebec Selection Certificate, or citizenship, so knowing the exact shape of each section before exam day matters as much as your grammar does.
| Section | Task | Time | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orale — A | Obtenir des renseignements (ask for information in a role-play) | ~5 minutes | Ask relevant, well-sequenced questions |
| Orale — B | Argumenter pour convaincre (persuade someone in a role-play) | ~10 minutes | Build a case, respond to pushback |
| Écrite — A | La suite d’un article (continue a short article) | ~25 minutes | Minimum 80 words |
| Écrite — B | Exprimer un point de vue (argue a position) | ~35 minutes | Minimum 200 words |
Formats are occasionally revised by France Éducation international. Treat the numbers above as your planning baseline and always confirm current details on the official TEF Canada site before booking.
TEF Expression Orale (Speaking) — Section by Section
Expression Orale is a live, face-to-face exchange with an examiner, and it’s recorded for double assessment. There are two distinct tasks, and they test opposite skills — Section A rewards curiosity and structure, Section B rewards persuasion and resilience under pushback.
Section A — Obtenir des renseignements (Asking for Information)
You’re given a short scenario — an ad, a notice, a service — and you call or approach someone to find out more. The skill being tested isn’t your vocabulary alone; it’s whether you can build a natural, logically ordered line of questioning (general → specific) and react to the answers instead of reading off a mental checklist.
Framework: greet and state your reason for contacting them → ask 2-3 broad questions (what, when, how much) → follow up on specific details based on their answers → confirm next steps and close politely.
10 sample topics for TEF Expression Orale Section A — practice asking questions for each:
Section B — Argumenter pour convaincre (Persuading Someone)
Here you take the opposite role: you’re presenting something — an idea, an activity, a change — to a friend or colleague who starts skeptical. You need at least two or three distinct arguments, each backed by a concrete reason or example, and you must keep the conversation going when the examiner (playing your friend) raises an objection.
Framework: introduce what you’re proposing and why you’re excited about it → give your strongest argument with a specific example → address a likely objection before it’s raised → give a second argument tailored to what matters to them → close with a low-pressure next step.
10 sample topics for TEF Expression Orale Section B — practice persuading a skeptical listener:
5 Common Expression Orale Mistakes
- ✕Reciting a memorized script — examiners notice when answers stop reacting to what was actually said and start sounding rehearsed. React to the specific answer you’re given.
- ✕Asking questions in a random order in Section A — jumping from price to schedule back to price signals you didn’t plan the exchange. Go broad, then narrow.
- ✕Giving up when the examiner objects in Section B — the objection is part of the test. A second, different argument scores far better than repeating the first one louder.
- ✕Long silences while searching for a word — a close paraphrase (“the place where you learn to swim” instead of “piscine”) keeps the exchange flowing and still shows real communicative ability.
- ✕Speaking only in short, disconnected sentences — connectors like donc, par contre, c’est pourquoi signal higher-level organization to the assessor.
TEF Expression Écrite (Writing) — Section by Section
Expression Écrite is scored by two independent assessors on task achievement, vocabulary, grammar, and organization — and meeting the minimum word count is necessary but not sufficient on its own. A well-structured 85-word response usually outperforms a rambling 150-word one that drifts off-topic.
Section A — La suite d’un article (Continuing an Article)
You’re given the opening lines of a short news-style article and must continue it in a way that stays consistent with the people, place, and event already introduced — you’re extending a story, not starting a new one.
Framework: re-read the opening for who/where/what → continue with one or two new developments that follow logically → keep verb tenses consistent with the opening → close with a short, natural-sounding wrap-up line.
8 sample prompts for TEF Expression Écrite Section A — practice continuing each opening in your own words:
Section B — Exprimer un point de vue (Expressing a Viewpoint)
You’re given a statement or question and must take a clear position, then defend it with developed reasoning and specific examples — not just list pros and cons without committing to a side.
Framework: state your position in the first 1-2 sentences → give your strongest reason with a concrete example → give a second reason, ideally addressing an opposing view → conclude by restating your position in different words.
8 sample topics for TEF Expression Écrite Section B — practice arguing a clear position on each:
5 Common Expression Écrite Mistakes
- ✕Padding to hit the word count with repeated ideas — assessors read for development, and repetition reads as weaker control, not stronger.
- ✕Listing both sides without taking a position in Section B — “on the one hand… on the other hand…” with no conclusion loses points on task achievement.
- ✕Switching tense or perspective mid-continuation in Section A — if the article opens in the past tense with a named character, stay there.
- ✕Leaving no time to reread — save the last 3-4 minutes of each section to check verb agreement and article/gender errors, the most common accuracy deductions.
- ✕Using only simple sentences — mixing in bien que, dès que, ce qui constructions demonstrates the range examiners look for at CLB 7+.
What Examiners Are Actually Scoring (CLB 7 Benchmark)
Both Expression Orale and Expression Écrite are marked against a common set of criteria rather than a single “correct answer.” At the CLB 7 benchmark, assessors expect you to move beyond simple description into explanation and justification.
| Criterion | What “CLB 7+” looks like |
|---|---|
| Task achievement | You do exactly what was asked (ask questions / persuade / continue / argue) — not a related but different task. |
| Coherence & organization | Ideas follow a logical order with visible connectors, not a list of disconnected sentences. |
| Vocabulary range | You paraphrase instead of freezing when a precise word is missing, and vary word choice rather than repeating the same terms. |
| Grammatical accuracy | Consistent tense and agreement; occasional small errors are expected and don’t sink a strong response. |
| Interaction (Orale only) | You react naturally to what the examiner actually says, including unplanned objections or clarifying questions. |
7-Day Speaking & Writing Practice Plan
A focused week beats a scattered month. Check off each day as you go — the tracker below is just for this session, so keep a written copy if you want a permanent record.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is TEF Expression Orale scored?
What is the minimum word count for TEF Expression Écrite?
Can I bring notes into the TEF Expression Orale exam?
How much time do I get for each TEF writing section?
How can I practice TEF Expression Orale without a study partner?
Is TEF Expression Orale harder than TCF’s speaking section?
Want Feedback on Your Actual Answers?
Reading a framework is one thing — getting corrected by a real tutor before exam day is another. Learn French Enligne’s TEF/TCF coaching includes live speaking practice and writing correction against the exact criteria above.
Related reading: Prepare for TEF Canada Exam · Learn French for TEF/TCF Canada