MockoTCF IRN Expression écrite Task 3 asks you to write a short opinion text of 40 to 90 words on a topic drawn from everyday life. You are given a situation or a question and you must express a clear point of view, explain it, and support it with at least one reason or example. Unlike the standard TCF Task 3, there are no source texts to compare: the opinion must come entirely from you.
What you’ll learn
- State a clear opinion in the opening sentence
- Support the opinion with at least one reason and one example or explanation
- Write a coherent 40 to 90 word opinion paragraph with a logical structure
- Use opinion and justification phrases naturally at B1 level
What Task 3 asks of you
The IRN Task 3 prompt describes a situation and asks for your opinion on it. The topic is always everyday and concrete: working from home, using public transport, living near a park, spending time with family. You do not need specialist knowledge. You need a position, a reason, and a short explanation.
« Dans votre ville, une nouvelle piste cyclable va être créée. Certains habitants sont favorables, d'autres sont contre. Donnez votre opinion sur ce projet en expliquant pourquoi. »
"In your town, a new cycle path is going to be created. Some residents are for it, others are against. Give your opinion on this project and explain why." A clear invitation to take a position and justify it.
The word count reality
- Forty words is about four sentences. That is enough for an opinion plus one reason.
- Ninety words gives you space for a position, two reasons, and a brief example.
- Aim for 65 to 80 words: long enough to be complete, short enough to stay accurate.
A simple structure: Position, Reason, Example, Closing
Opinion texts at B1 do not need a complex essay structure. A four-part frame covers everything the examiner is looking for and keeps you on track in a short word count.
- 1Position (1 sentence): state your opinion clearly. Do not start with a long introduction.
- 2Reason (1 to 2 sentences): explain why you hold this view. Use "parce que", "car", or "en effet".
- 3Example or illustration (1 sentence): give a concrete detail from everyday life that supports your reason.
- 4Closing (1 sentence): restate your position briefly, or suggest a consequence.
Je suis tout à fait favorable à la création d'une nouvelle piste cyclable dans notre ville. En effet, cela permettrait à de nombreux habitants de se déplacer plus facilement sans voiture. Par exemple, je fais cinq kilomètres en vélo chaque matin pour aller travailler, mais le trajet est dangereux sans piste séparée. Ce type d'aménagement rendrait la ville plus sûre et plus agréable pour tout le monde.
Position (in favour), reason (easier travel without car), personal example (5km commute, dangerous without separate lane), closing (safer, more pleasant city). About 75 words. Clean four-part structure.
Opinion phrases that work at B1
The examiner expects to see opinion vocabulary, not just "je pense que oui" or "c'est bien". Use a small set of varied phrases and you will immediately look more fluent.
- Stating an opinion: "À mon avis…", "Pour ma part…", "Je suis convaincu(e) que…", "Je trouve que…"
- Agreeing or being in favour: "Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec…", "Je suis favorable à…", "Je soutiens cette idée car…"
- Disagreeing or being against: "Je ne suis pas d'accord avec…", "Je suis opposé(e) à…", "À mon sens, ce n'est pas une bonne idée parce que…"
- Justifying: "parce que", "car", "en effet", "c'est pourquoi", "grâce à", "à cause de"
- Giving an example: "Par exemple…", "Personnellement…", "Dans ma vie quotidienne…", "Comme…"
Common weaknesses in IRN Task 3
- Sitting on the fence. The prompt asks for your opinion, not a list of pros and cons. Pick a side.
- Stating a position with no reason: "Je pense que c'est bien." Full stop. That is one point, not an argued opinion.
- Using the same phrase twice: "je pense que" at the start and "je pense que" again two sentences later. Vary your vocabulary.
- Writing too little. Forty words is the floor, not a target. At 40 words you can barely cover two required elements.
Using personal experience as evidence
One of the easiest ways to support an opinion in a short text is to refer to your own experience or situation. You do not need statistics or complex arguments. Something specific from your daily life is more convincing than a vague generalisation.
Vague: « Beaucoup de personnes utilisent le vélo. C'est une bonne chose. » Spécifique: « Dans mon quartier, plusieurs familles n'ont pas de voiture et comptent sur les pistes cyclables pour emmener leurs enfants à l'école en toute sécurité. »
Vague: "Many people use the bicycle. It is a good thing." Specific: "In my neighbourhood, several families have no car and rely on cycle paths to take their children to school safely." The specific version gives a real reason grounded in everyday life.
How to practise this
Practice routine for IRN Task 3
- Pick a simple everyday topic (urban gardens, longer school days, home delivery services). Write a 65 to 75 word opinion paragraph using the four-part frame.
- Force yourself to include a personal or concrete example. This is the element most often missing in exam answers.
- Vary your opening phrase each time you practise: "À mon avis" one day, "Pour ma part" the next, "Je suis convaincu(e) que" the day after.
- After writing, check: is there a position, a reason, and an example? If any of those is missing, add it.
Key takeaways
- IRN Task 3 requires a clear position in the first sentence, at least one reason, and a concrete example or illustration.
- Aim for 65 to 80 words: the 40 word minimum is not enough to argue a full point.
- Use varied opinion phrases and at least one justification connector ("parce que", "car", "en effet").
- Personal experience is strong evidence in a short opinion text. Make it specific, not vague.
- Pick a side. Listing both pros and cons without committing to a view does not answer the task.
