MockoTEF Expression écrite Section B asks you to write a response of around 200 words arguing a position. It is one of the longer writing tasks on the exam, and candidates who arrive without a plan often run out of ideas halfway through or produce a text that changes direction. This lesson focuses on one skill: how to plan and organise a clear argumentative response in the three minutes before you start writing. With a solid structure, 200 words is manageable at B1 level.
What you’ll learn
- Understand what Section B requires in terms of length and content
- Plan a two-argument letter structure in under three minutes
- Write a clear opening that states your position immediately
- Develop each argument with a reason and a brief example
- Close with a recommendation or call to action that completes the response
What Section B looks like
Section B gives you a short written prompt: typically a statement, a proposal, or a situation, followed by an instruction to give your opinion or write a letter. The target length is around 200 words. The prompt usually specifies a format (a letter to an organisation, a message to a forum, a reply to a friend) and a topic. You choose your position freely unless the prompt asks you to take a specific side.
Marking criteria for Section B
- Task completion: did you address all parts of the prompt?
- Organisation: is the text logically structured with visible paragraphs?
- Vocabulary: do you use precise and varied B1-level words?
- Grammar: are tenses correct and sentences coherent?
- Connectors: do you link ideas with appropriate linking language?
The four-paragraph plan
A reliable four-paragraph plan gives you a clear skeleton before you write. You can adapt it to almost any prompt.
- 1Paragraph 1 (30 to 40 words): opening formula if it is a letter, then one sentence stating your position clearly
- 2Paragraph 2 (50 to 60 words): first argument with a specific reason and one brief example or supporting fact
- 3Paragraph 3 (50 to 60 words): second argument with a specific reason and one brief example or supporting fact
- 4Paragraph 4 (25 to 35 words): a brief acknowledgement of the other side (optional but strong) and a final recommendation or call to action
Madame la Directrice, Je me permets de vous écrire au sujet du projet de semaine de quatre jours. Je soutiens pleinement cette initiative et je souhaite vous en expliquer les raisons. Tout d'abord, réduire le temps de travail améliore le bien-être des employés. Des études menées en Islande et en Finlande montrent que les salariés qui travaillent quatre jours par semaine sont moins stressés et plus motivés. De plus, une semaine plus courte encourage la productivité. En effet, les employés concentrent leurs efforts sur les tâches essentielles et perdent moins de temps en réunions inutiles. Par exemple, plusieurs entreprises françaises ayant testé ce modèle ont constaté une hausse de leur efficacité. Certes, ce système peut poser des problèmes dans certains secteurs comme la santé ou les services à la clientèle. Cependant, des horaires adaptés permettent de trouver des solutions. C'est pourquoi je vous encourage vivement à lancer un projet pilote de trois mois pour évaluer les résultats. Dans l'attente de votre réponse, veuillez agréer, Madame, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.
Dear Director, I am writing to you regarding the four-day working week project. I fully support this initiative and wish to explain my reasons. Firstly, reducing working time improves employee well-being. Studies in Iceland and Finland show that employees who work four days a week are less stressed and more motivated. Furthermore, a shorter week encourages productivity. Employees focus on essential tasks and waste less time in unnecessary meetings. For example, several French companies that tested this model reported an increase in efficiency. Admittedly, this system can cause problems in some sectors such as healthcare or customer services. However, adapted schedules allow solutions to be found. This is why I strongly encourage you to launch a three-month pilot to evaluate the results. Yours faithfully.
Planning your three minutes
The biggest mistake in Section B is starting to write immediately. Three minutes of planning prevents rambling and topic drift. Here is how to use those three minutes.
- 1Read the prompt and note the topic, the required position or format, and the audience
- 2Write your position in one key phrase (e.g. "pour la semaine de 4 jours")
- 3Note two reasons: just key words, not sentences (e.g. "bien-être / stress", "productivité / efficacité")
- 4For each reason, note one fact or example (a country, a study, a number, an experience)
- 5Note your closing recommendation in two or three words (e.g. "essai pilote")
Planning shortcut
- Write your plan as a tiny numbered list on your scratch paper.
- It should take 90 seconds to write and 90 seconds to review.
- If you cannot think of an example for a reason, choose a different reason: a reason with no supporting detail is a weak paragraph.
Vocabulary for building an argument
A limited but precise vocabulary for argumentation is enough at B1 level. Focus on these patterns.
- Stating your position: "Je pense que...", "Je suis convaincu(e) que...", "Je soutiens..."
- First argument: "Tout d'abord,", "En premier lieu,", "Premièrement,"
- Second argument: "De plus,", "En outre,", "Par ailleurs,"
- Giving an example: "Par exemple,", "C'est le cas de...", "Comme en témoigne..."
- Introducing a nuance: "Certes,", "Il est vrai que...", "On peut comprendre que..."
- Closing: "C'est pourquoi je vous encourage à...", "Pour toutes ces raisons,"
Length and timing
Section B carries significant marks, so do not rush it. Budget your time across both writing sections before you begin. A typical strategy is to spend the first five minutes reading both prompts, planning in three minutes for Section B, then allocating around 25 minutes to write the Section B response and 15 minutes for Section A.
Length pitfalls
- Under 150 words: task is considered incomplete, significant mark deduction
- 200 to 230 words: ideal range, gives you room for both arguments and a closing
- Over 280 words: no extra marks, just extra risk of grammar errors
How to practise this
Weekly practice plan
- Once a week, pick a civic topic from any French news source and write a 200-word letter using the four-paragraph plan.
- Time yourself: 3 minutes planning, 25 minutes writing, 5 minutes checking.
- After writing, highlight every connector you used. If you have fewer than five, your text lacks cohesion.
- Check for at least one example in each argument paragraph. If missing, replace the paragraph.
Key takeaways
- Section B targets about 200 words: aim for 200 to 230 and never go below 150.
- Plan first: position, two reasons with brief examples, and a closing recommendation.
- Use the four-paragraph structure: opening with position, argument 1, argument 2, closing.
- Connect paragraphs with visible connectors ("Tout d'abord,", "De plus,", "C'est pourquoi").
- Match your register to the audience: formal letter closings are required when writing to officials.
