MockoThe TEFAQ writing task requires you to give your opinion on a topic and back it up with reasons and examples. Cohesion is one of the main assessment criteria: the examiner checks whether your ideas connect logically and whether the text feels like a well-organised whole rather than a list of separate points. At B1 level, getting your structure right and linking your ideas explicitly is just as important as the quality of your arguments. This lesson gives you the tools to do both.
What you’ll learn
- Structure a B1 opinion text with a clear opening, two body paragraphs, and a closing
- Use cohesion devices to connect sentences and paragraphs
- Support each reason with one concrete example or personal detail
- Vary your opinion vocabulary beyond "je pense que"
- Check your text for cohesion in the final two minutes
What TEFAQ writing assesses
The TEFAQ is used primarily for Quebec immigration. The writing task mirrors the TEF Canada format but is assessed with particular attention to coherence and the ability to communicate clearly at B1 level. Examiners are experienced readers looking for texts where the logic is easy to follow, the vocabulary is appropriately varied, and the structure is recognisable.
Four things the examiner checks
- Task completion: did you address the question and cover all parts of the prompt?
- Organisation: is the text structured in recognisable paragraphs with clear roles?
- Cohesion: do ideas connect through pronouns, connectors, and reference words?
- Language accuracy: are verbs in the correct tense and are agreements correct?
Organising your text
A clean four-part structure is recognisable to the examiner immediately and gives you a framework to work from. Do not invent a new structure for every prompt: use this one reliably.
- 1Opening (30 to 40 words): introduce the topic briefly, then state your position clearly
- 2First argument (50 to 60 words): one reason + explanation + one brief example
- 3Second argument (50 to 60 words): second reason + explanation + one brief example or detail
- 4Closing (25 to 35 words): restate your position in different words + a brief recommendation
Selon moi, apprendre une deuxième langue est l'une des meilleures décisions que l'on puisse prendre, tant sur le plan personnel que professionnel. Tout d'abord, maîtriser une langue étrangère ouvre de nombreuses portes sur le marché du travail. Les employeurs recherchent de plus en plus des candidats bilingues, car ces derniers peuvent communiquer avec des partenaires internationaux. Par exemple, une personne qui parle français et anglais peut postuler à des postes dans les deux marchés francophones et anglophones. De plus, l'apprentissage d'une langue enrichit la vision du monde. En accédant directement à une culture par sa langue, on comprend mieux ses valeurs, son humour et sa manière de penser. C'est notamment ce que j'ai vécu lors d'un séjour linguistique : la langue m'a permis de créer des liens authentiques avec les habitants. Pour toutes ces raisons, je suis convaincu(e) qu'investir du temps dans l'apprentissage d'une deuxième langue est un choix que l'on ne regrette jamais.
In my opinion, learning a second language is one of the best decisions one can make, both personally and professionally. First of all, mastering a foreign language opens many doors in the job market. Employers are increasingly looking for bilingual candidates who can communicate with international partners. For example, a person who speaks French and English can apply for positions in both francophone and anglophone markets. Furthermore, learning a language enriches one's world view. By accessing a culture directly through its language, one better understands its values, humour, and ways of thinking. This is notably what I experienced during a language stay: the language allowed me to build authentic connections with the locals. For all these reasons, I am convinced that investing time in learning a second language is a choice one never regrets.
Cohesion: connecting your sentences
Cohesion is not just about connectors at the start of paragraphs. It also comes from using pronouns to refer back to nouns, and from repeating key words in varied forms. Here are the three main cohesion tools.
- Reference words: use "ces derniers", "celui-ci", "elle", "ils" instead of repeating the noun every time
- Paragraph connectors: "Tout d'abord,", "De plus,", "Enfin,", "C'est pourquoi,"
- Sentence connectors: "En effet,", "Car", "Ainsi,", "Par conséquent,"
Les employeurs recherchent des candidats bilingues. Ces derniers peuvent en effet communiquer avec des partenaires internationaux. C'est ainsi qu'ils représentent un avantage compétitif pour l'entreprise.
Employers are looking for bilingual candidates. These individuals can indeed communicate with international partners. This is how they represent a competitive advantage for the company.
Cohesion mistakes to avoid
- Repeating the same noun three times in two sentences: use a pronoun or a reference word after the first mention.
- Starting every sentence with "Je pense que": use varied markers ("À mon avis,", "Selon moi,", "Je suis convaincu(e) que...").
- Using "et" as your only connector: replace some "et" with "ainsi," or "ce qui permet de...".
Vocabulary variety for opinion writing
Using the same phrase to express opinion five times in a short text reads as repetitive. Here is a set of alternatives that work at B1 level.
- "Selon moi," (In my view,)
- "À mon sens," (To my mind,)
- "Il me semble que..." (It seems to me that...)
- "Je suis persuadé(e) que..." (I am persuaded that...)
- "Je considère que..." (I consider that...)
- "De mon point de vue," (From my point of view,)
The final two-minute check
Before you submit, spend two minutes reading your text from start to finish with one specific question in mind: does each sentence connect logically to the one before it? If you find a sentence that seems to float without connection, add a short linking phrase at the start.
- 1Read the opening: does it state your position clearly?
- 2Read each body paragraph: does the first sentence of the paragraph introduce the argument? Does it end with an example?
- 3Check for at least one reference word (pronoun or demonstrative): "ces derniers", "cela", "ce phénomène"
- 4Read the closing: does it restate the position in different words?
Practice approach
- Write a 200-word opinion text on any topic, then rewrite it deliberately removing all connectors.
- Compare the two versions: the difference shows you exactly how much value connectors add.
- This exercise takes 20 minutes and teaches cohesion faster than any grammar drill.
How to practise this
Cohesion-focused practice drill
- Write a 200-word opinion text in 20 minutes on a clear topic (working from home, public transport, screen time for children).
- Highlight every connector and every reference word (pronoun or demonstrative).
- If you find fewer than five highlighted items, your text lacks cohesion: go back and add them.
- Practise this once a week to build the habit of cohesive writing.
Key takeaways
- Use the four-part structure consistently: opening with position, two argument paragraphs, closing.
- Cohesion comes from connectors, reference words, and sentence-level links like "En effet," and "Ainsi,".
- Vary your opinion markers: move beyond "je pense que" to "à mon sens," "je suis persuadé(e) que...".
- Each argument paragraph needs a reason, a brief explanation, and one concrete example.
- Spend the last two minutes checking that each sentence connects logically to the one before it.
