In short: the TCF IRN writing section (expression écrite) lasts 30 minutes and has 3 tasks: describe (30 to 60 words), tell about activities (40 to 90 words) and give your opinion (40 to 90 words). If you do not respect the number of words, if you copy the question or if you recite a text you learned, the task can receive « A1 non atteint » (A1 not reached). The rules matter as much as the grammar.
Many candidates think that a text that is too short only loses a few points. This is wrong: it can get « A1 non atteint » for the task. Here are the official rules for the writing section, the 7 mistakes to avoid, and a corrected example.
Parcours Civique is an independent practice website, not linked to France Éducation international. The topics and texts on this page were created by us as examples: they are not questions from the test.
The 3 tasks in one table
| Task | What you are asked to do | Number of words | Suggested time (our advice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | Describe | 30 to 60 words | 7 to 8 minutes |
| Task 2 | Talk about everyday activities | 40 to 90 words | 9 to 10 minutes |
| Task 3 | Give your opinion | 40 to 90 words | 11 to 12 minutes |
| Total | 3 texts | 30 minutes |
The 30 minutes are for the 3 tasks together. The suggested time is our advice, not a rule: keep 2 or 3 minutes at the end to read your work again.
The 7 mistakes that give « A1 non atteint »
France Éducation international and the candidate handbook list these cases. Each one can give « A1 non atteint » for the task:
- Unreadable handwriting. If the marker cannot read you, they cannot mark you.
- Not respecting the number of words. Too short or too long: stay between 30 and 60 words (task 1) and between 40 and 90 words (tasks 2 and 3).
- An off-topic text. You write about something other than what the instructions ask.
- A task not done. A task forgotten or left empty.
- Sentences copied from the question. Repeating the sentences of the instructions does not count as your text.
- A text learned by heart. A text prepared in advance and recited is not accepted. It is also a risk of being treated as cheating.
- A text written on the rough paper. On paper, the rough paper (brouillon) is destroyed and not marked. Write your final text in the test booklet.
What to remember: these mistakes do not lose you « a little ». They can make you fail the whole task.
How to count your words
The number of words is the easiest rule to follow, and the easiest to forget under stress.
- Practise « feeling » the length. Write texts of 40, 60 and 90 words by hand. See how many lines they take with your handwriting.
- Aim for the middle. For a task of 40 to 90 words, aim for 60 to 75 words. You have a margin in both directions.
- Count once, at the end. Count the words on each line, then add them up.
Task by task: our tips
Task 1: describe (30 to 60 words)
Write simple, complete sentences. Give 3 or 4 precise pieces of information: where, who, how, when. Use adjectives (grand, calme, agréable: big, quiet, pleasant).
Task 2: tell about activities (40 to 90 words)
Describe everyday activities in order. Use time words: d’abord, ensuite, après, le soir, enfin (first, then, after, in the evening, finally). Be careful with past tenses if the instructions talk about a moment in the past: passé composé with « être » or « avoir ».
Task 3: give your opinion (40 to 90 words)
Follow a simple plan:
- Your opinion: « À mon avis… » (In my opinion…), « Je pense que… » (I think that…)
- Two reasons: « D’abord… Ensuite… » (First… Then…)
- An example: « Par exemple, dans ma ville… » (For example, in my town…)
- A conclusion: « Donc… » (So…), « Pour conclure… » (To conclude…)
A corrected example (task 3)
Be careful: this topic and this text were created as an example by Parcours Civique. This is not a TCF question. Do not learn it by heart: a recited text can give « A1 non atteint ».
Topic created as an example: « Dans certaines villes, les voitures sont interdites dans le centre-ville. Qu’en pensez-vous ? Donnez votre opinion. (40 à 90 mots) » (In some cities, cars are banned in the city centre. What do you think? Give your opinion. 40 to 90 words.)
A candidate’s text (created as an example, 67 words):
À mon avis, c’est une bonne idée de interdire les voitures dans le centre-ville. D’abord, il y a moins de pollution et l’air est plus propre. Ensuite, les enfants peuvent marcher sans danger. Mais pour les personnes âgées, c’est difficile, il faut plus de bus. Par exemple, dans ma ville, le bus passe chaque 30 minutes. Donc je suis pour, si il y a plus de transports.
Correction, as in our app:
| What works well | What needs correcting |
|---|---|
| The number of words is respected (67 words) | « de interdire »: the correct form is « d’interdire » |
| The plan is clear: opinion, reasons, example, conclusion | « chaque 30 minutes »: the correct phrase is « toutes les 30 minutes » |
| Linking words are used well | « si il y a »: the correct form is « s’il y a » |
| The opinion is nuanced (elderly people) | The conditional would express the idea more accurately (« il y aurait ») |
Level estimated by our correction: A2 to B1. This is a practice estimate, not an official mark.
Improved version (71 words):
À mon avis, c’est une bonne idée d’interdire les voitures dans le centre-ville. D’abord, il y aurait moins de pollution et l’air serait plus propre. Ensuite, les enfants pourraient marcher sans danger. Cependant, pour les personnes âgées, ce serait difficile : il faudrait plus de bus. Par exemple, dans ma ville, le bus passe seulement toutes les 30 minutes. Donc je suis pour, s’il y a plus de transports en commun.
What changed: the conditional (aurait, serait, pourraient, faudrait), a more precise linking word (« cependant », meaning « however »), and the 3 mistakes corrected.
On paper or on a computer
You take the test on paper or on a computer, depending on the centre.
- On paper: write clearly, in the test booklet. The rough paper is not marked.
- On a computer: you type your text. Practise typing accents on a French keyboard. The first marking may be done with FIDELIA, an artificial intelligence tool that helps markers. The second marking is always done by a human.
See our comparison TCF IRN on a computer or on paper.
How the writing section is marked
Your writing gets a mark out of 20. It is marked twice, by two independent markers. If their marks are very different, a third marking takes place. Re-marking on request (recorrection) has been suspended since the sessions of 1 September 2026 (expected to restart in autumn 2027): it is better to get it right the first time.
To find out which mark matches which level, read TCF IRN: how to know if you have level A2, B1 or B2. For the full test format, see The 4 sections of the TCF IRN.
Practise your writing
In the Writing section of our TCF IRN preparation, you write on topics in the TCF IRN format. An artificial intelligence corrects your text in under a minute: number of words, estimated level, mistakes explained in your language, improved version. This is an estimate: in the real test, the writing is marked by humans, sometimes with the help of FIDELIA on a computer.
Start with our free TCF level test, then see the plans and prices: TCF 1 month at €24.90, 3 months at €44.90, 6 months at €59.90, one-time payment, no subscription. No preparation can guarantee a level.
Frequently asked questions
How many words do I need to write in the TCF IRN?
30 to 60 words for task 1, and 40 to 90 words for tasks 2 and 3.
What happens if my text is too short?
The task can receive « A1 non atteint » (A1 not reached). You do not just lose a few points.
Can I learn texts by heart?
No. A text learned by heart can give « A1 non atteint ». Instead, learn linking words and sentence structures, then adapt them to the topic.
Is the rough paper marked?
No. On paper, the rough paper is destroyed. Only the text written in the test booklet is marked.
How much time for each task?
30 minutes for the 3 tasks together. You organise your own time. Our advice: about 8, 10 and 12 minutes.
Sources
- 3 tasks in 30 minutes, 30 to 60 and 40 to 90 words, cases of « A1 non atteint »: France Éducation international, TCF IRN page (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/tcf-irn?langue=fr
- Rough paper destroyed and not marked, cases of « A1 non atteint »: France Éducation international, how the test is conducted (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/deroulement-passation-tcf?langue=fr
- Double marking, FIDELIA, re-marking suspended: France Éducation international, assessment of the sections (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/article/evaluation-epreuves-tcf?langue=fr
- Official sample tests (TCF IRN writing PDF): France Éducation international, sample tests (accessed 30/09/2026): https://www.france-education-international.fr/test/exemples-epreuves-tcf?langue=fr
- Full list of the 7 cases of « A1 non atteint », marks out of 20, FIDELIA: TCF candidate handbook (Manuel du candidat TCF), France Éducation international, September 2026 version, p. 20 to 22 and 37 (PDF document)