TCF Canada writing · task 1
Birthday dinner at a restaurant: the task 1 topic, and how to handle it
What it really asks, a plan, the vocabulary and the pitfalls, explained in English. No model answer to copy: you write the text yourself.
At a glance
The prompt, as candidates report it (in French, as on the exam)
Envoyez un courriel à vos amis pour les inviter à fêter votre anniversaire dans un restaurant. Incluez toutes les informations nécessaires comme le lieu, la date, le menu, les prix, et demandez-leur de confirmer leur présence.
Translation: Send an email to your friends inviting them to celebrate your birthday at a restaurant. Include all the necessary information, such as the place, the date, the menu and the prices, and ask them to confirm that they are coming.
Word counts: France Éducation international, the body that designs the TCF Canada. Reports: a public archive of topics reported by candidates since 2023, explained in the study of 642 topics.
What the prompt really asks
- The place: the name of the restaurant, and the address or a landmark.
- The date and the time.
- The menu: what is served, and whether there is a choice (vegetarian, for example).
- The prices: how much per person, what is included, who pays for what.
- Confirmation: ask them to reply by a given date, and say why.
Who you are writing to. You are writing to several friends: « vous », in a warm tone. An email among friends can open with « Bonjour à tous » or « Salut tout le monde ».
A plan in five steps
About 100 words, for a range of 60 to 120. The numbers for each step are guides; the word range itself is part of the instructions, and every point asked for must be covered.
- Announce. A greeting, then your birthday and the restaurant idea. about 15 words
- Where and when. The restaurant, the address, the day and the time. about 20 words
- The menu. One appetizing sentence, and the options. about 20 words
- The price. The amount per person and what it includes. about 20 words
- Confirm. The reply deadline, the reason for it, then a friendly sign-off. about 25 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- fêter son anniversaireto celebrate one’s birthday
- réserver une table pour douze personnesto book a table for twelve
- à deux pas dea stone’s throw from
- un menu à 35 dollars par personnea $35-per-person set menu
- boissons comprisesdrinks included
- une entrée, un plat et un desserta starter, a main course and a dessert
- un plat végétariena vegetarian dish
- chacun paiera sa parteveryone will pay their share
- c’est moi qui offre le gâteauthe cake is on me
- confirmer sa présenceto confirm one’s attendance
- avant le 5 avrilby April 5
- prévenir le restaurantto let the restaurant know
- avoir lieuto take place
Three pitfalls on this topic
Leaving out one of the five points
The prompt lists the place, the date, the menu, the prices and the confirmation. Tick them off before you hand in: the price is the one most often forgotten, and it counts like the others.
Talking about money clumsily
« Vous devez payer 35 dollars » sounds like a bill; « le menu est à 35 dollars par personne, boissons comprises » says the same thing politely. And careful with « je vous invite »: in French it often means you are paying. If everyone pays their share, say so.
Dates and times
« le samedi 12 avril à 20 h », with no « en » or « au » before the day, and the 24-hour clock: « à 20 h », never « à 8 h p.m. ». Days and months take no capital letter: « samedi », « avril ».
B2-level sentences to inspire you
Two or three sentences, not a full answer: borrow the idea, not the words, and write the rest yourself.
- Pour fêter mes trente-cinq ans, je vous propose un dîner le samedi 12 avril à 20 h, au restaurant Le Petit Jardin, rue Saint-Denis.To celebrate my thirty-fifth birthday, I suggest we have dinner on Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m., at Le Petit Jardin restaurant on rue Saint-Denis.
- Le restaurant propose un menu à 35 dollars par personne, boissons comprises, avec un choix de plats végétariens.The restaurant offers a $35-per-person set menu, drinks included, with a choice of vegetarian dishes.
- Pourriez-vous me confirmer votre présence avant le 5 avril ? Je dois donner le nombre exact d’invités au restaurant.Could you confirm whether you are coming by April 5? I have to give the restaurant the exact number of guests.
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