TCF Canada writing · task 3
Paper books or e-books: the task 3 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)
Le livre papier ou le livre numérique ?
Document 1. Depuis plusieurs années, de nombreux lecteurs ont choisi d’opter pour les livres numériques plutôt que les bibliothèques traditionnelles. Selon eux, cet outil est avant tout économique : il permet de réduire la consommation de papier et son coût est généralement inférieur à celui des livres imprimés. De plus, les livres numériques offrent des options qui facilitent l’accès à la lecture, notamment pour les personnes malvoyantes grâce à l’ajustement de la taille du texte.
Document 2. Le livre papier sera-t-il remplacé par son équivalent numérique ? Pour la majorité des lecteurs, la réponse est non. Le format papier possède un charme particulier : le plaisir de tourner les pages, l’odeur du livre, qu’il soit neuf ou ancien, et la possibilité d’écrire une dédicace lorsqu’on l’offre à quelqu’un. En revanche, le livre numérique peut sembler impersonnel et demande certaines compétences informatiques, ce qui peut constituer un frein pour certains.
Translation
Paper book or e-book?
Document 1. For several years now, many readers have chosen e-books over traditional libraries. In their view, this tool is above all economical: it reduces paper consumption and generally costs less than printed books. In addition, e-books offer options that make reading easier, especially for visually impaired people, thanks to adjustable text size.
Document 2. Will the paper book be replaced by its digital equivalent? For most readers, the answer is no. The paper format has a special charm: the pleasure of turning the pages, the smell of the book, whether new or old, and the possibility of writing a dedication when you give it to someone. On the other hand, the e-book can seem impersonal and requires some computer skills, which can be an obstacle for some people.
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
- Present the first document: the e-book, economical (less paper, lower cost) and more accessible to visually impaired people.
- Present the second: the charm of paper (the pages, the smell, the dedication), and a digital format seen as impersonal and hard for some.
- Take a position, even if you read in both formats: say when you choose one or the other.
- Add an argument the documents do not give: travel, studying, eye strain, the price of e-readers.
Who you are writing to. The prompt names no addressee: an argued text in a neutral tone, without « tu ». « À mon avis » or « pour ma part » make your position clear.
A plan in six steps
About 155 words, for a range of 120 to 180. The numbers for each step are guides; the word range itself is part of the instructions, and every point asked for must be covered. Suggested split: about 40 to 60 words to present the two documents, 80 to 120 for your opinion.
- Document 1. Cost, ecology, accessibility. about 25 words
- Document 2. The charm of paper and the limits of digital. about 30 words
- Your position. A clear preference, or a precise division. about 15 words
- Your argument. A real use, a personal example. about 40 words
- The concession. What the other format does better. about 30 words
- Conclude. A sentence on the future of both. about 15 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- un livre numériquean e-book
- une liseusean e-reader
- un livre imprimé, un livre papiera printed book, a paper book
- feuilleter un livreto leaf through a book
- écrire une dédicaceto write a dedication
- agrandir les caractèresto enlarge the text
- les personnes malvoyantesvisually impaired people
- la fatigue visuelleeye strain
- les compétences numériquesdigital skills
- être attaché àto be attached to
- constituer un freinto be an obstacle
- les deux supports coexistentboth formats coexist
- l’un n’empêche pas l’autreone does not rule out the other
Three pitfalls on this topic
« Économique » without saying how
The first document says digital is economical for two reasons: less paper and a lower price. Keeping only one of them weakens your summary.
« Je préfère » with no arguments
A preference is not an argued opinion. Base it on a use: reading while travelling, studying, giving a book as a gift.
Hiding behind « both are fine »
Saying both formats coexist is fair, but you still have to decide: in which cases one is better than the other, and why.
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.
- Le premier document présente le livre numérique comme une solution économique, qui permet en outre aux personnes malvoyantes d’agrandir les caractères.The first document presents the e-book as an economical solution that also lets visually impaired people enlarge the text.
- Le second, au contraire, défend le charme du livre imprimé, que l’on feuillette, que l’on offre et sur lequel on écrit une dédicace.The second, on the contrary, defends the charm of the printed book, which you leaf through, give as a gift and write a dedication in.
- Personnellement, je lis sur liseuse en voyage, mais je continue d’acheter en papier les livres que je veux garder ou offrir.Personally, I read on an e-reader when I travel, but I still buy the books I want to keep or give in paper.
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