TCF Canada writing · task 1
Places to visit in your region: 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)
Votre ami(e) veut visiter la région où vous vivez. Écrivez-lui un message pour lui proposer quelques lieux intéressants à découvrir.
Translation: Your friend wants to visit the region where you live. Write them a message suggesting a few interesting places to discover.
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
- A few places: two or three, not a list of ten.
- For each one, why it is worth visiting, with your friend’s tastes in mind.
- A practical tip: the season, the travel time, the best time of day.
- A next step: go with them, host them, set a date.
Who you are writing to. You are writing to a friend: use « tu » and a warm tone. Decide who it is (Sophie, Marc) and make the agreements accordingly.
A plan in five steps
About 95 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.
- Welcome. Say how glad you are to have them visit. about 15 words
- First place. Its name, what you do there, why they will like it. about 25 words
- Second place. A different kind of place: town after nature, or the other way round. about 25 words
- A tip. The best season, the distance, a practical detail. about 15 words
- Suggest. Offer to go along, then a friendly sign-off. about 15 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- valoir le détourto be worth the trip
- un lieu incontournablea must-see place
- un village pittoresquea picturesque village
- la vieille villethe old town
- une randonnéea hike
- une vue sur la valléea view over the valley
- goûter les spécialités localesto taste local specialities
- le marché du samedithe Saturday market
- à une heure de routean hour’s drive away
- je te conseille de + infinitifI advise you to
- faire découvrir quelque chose à quelqu’unto show someone something new
- profiter deto make the most of
- la meilleure saison pourthe best season to
Three pitfalls on this topic
A list with no reasons
« Il y a le musée, le parc et le lac » suggests nothing: each place needs a « because ». Two places well argued beat five names.
« Visiter » or « rendre visite »
You « visiter » a place and « rendre visite à » a person. « Tu veux visiter ma région » is right; for a person, « tu viens me rendre visite ».
Agreements with « ami(e) »
Choose: « Chère Sophie, tu seras ravie » or « Cher Marc, tu seras ravi ». Then keep the same gender to the end.
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.
- Si tu aimes la nature, je te conseille la route des cascades : elle vaut vraiment le détour au printemps.If you like nature, I recommend the waterfall road: it is really worth the trip in spring.
- Samedi matin, on pourrait flâner au marché de la vieille ville et goûter quelques spécialités locales.On Saturday morning, we could wander around the old town market and taste a few local specialities.
- Le village de Saint-Paul est à une heure de route, mais la vue depuis les remparts mérite qu’on y passe une journée.The village of Saint-Paul is an hour’s drive away, but the view from the ramparts is worth spending a whole day there.
Write it, then read your report
On the platform, you write this topic and get a report: word count, register, linking words, opening and closing phrases, mistakes found. Never a score. Free account, no card: one new topic a week.
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