Common Mistakes in TEF Writing You Shouldn’t Make

The TEF (Test d’Évaluation de Français) is an international exam that measures French proficiency. Whether you’re taking TEF Canada for immigration, TEFAQ for Québec, or TEF Naturalisation for French citizenship, the writing section (Expression Écrite) is usually the most challenging part.

It usually includes two tasks:

• Writing an article or forum post (around 200 words)
• Writing an opinion piece or argumentative letter (around 120 words)

Examiners consistently see the same mistakes that lower scores, even for strong candidates at the B2/C1 level. In this blog, we’ll review the most frequent pitfalls and how to avoid them:

Most Frequent Mistakes In TEF Writing 

Here are the most common mistakes in TEF writing that are completely avoidable if you’re aware of them. Take a look: 

1. Not Respecting The Word Count: 

Falling short of the minimum words leads to automatic penalties. Aim slightly above the requirement: 220–250 words for the longer task, 140–160 for the shorter one.

2. Misunderstanding The Task or Going Off-Topic: 

Writing something unrelated to the instructions can result in near-zero marks for “respect des consignes.” Always read the prompt twice and underline key words (pour/contre, justifier, raconter).

3. Weak Structure and Organization: 

Many candidates skip introductions or conclusions, or write one long block of text. Use a clear 3–4 paragraph structure: Introduction → Arguments with examples → Conclusion. Connectors like d’abord, en outre, enfin show cohesion.

4. Repetitive Vocabulary and Sentence Structures: 

Overusing basic words (bon, important, intéressant) limits your lexical range. Learn synonyms (penser → estimer, considérer) and vary sentence starters.

5. Anglicisms and Literal Translations: 

Expressions like le fun or avoir du sens are marked as serious errors. Use proper French equivalents (avoir du plaisir, être logique).

6. Grammar Slips: Agreement and Conjugation: 

Errors like ‘les gens qui veut instead of veulent or une nouvelle important’ instead of ‘importante’ are heavily penalized. Pay attention to gender, number, and verb endings.

7. Overusing Basic Connectors: 

Relying only on “et” or “mais” makes writing simplistic. Replace them with richer alternatives: toutefois, néanmoins, en revanche, bien que, malgré.

8. No Personal Examples or Justification: 

Argumentative tasks require development. Always include at least one concrete example or personal experience (Lors de mon séjour à Montréal…).

9. Informal or Spoken style: 

Avoid casual expressions like genre, moi je, or using tu. Stick to a neutral or formal register suitable for a newspaper article or letter.

10. Spelling Mistakes and Accents: 

Small errors accumulate quickly. Watch endings (-é, -er, -ez) and accents (différent vs. diffèrent). Proofreading is essential.

Final Takeaway

Most candidates lose points not because of weak ideas, but because of avoidable technical mistakes. By respecting instructions, structuring your text, varying your vocabulary, and proofreading carefully, you can raise your score from B1/B2 to a solid B2 or C1.

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