TCF Canada Writing Task 2: How to Write a Formal Letter or Article

What Is TCF Canada Writing Task 2?

The TCF Canada written production component has two tasks. Task 2 requires you to write a longer structured text — typically a formal letter, article, or opinion piece of at least 120 words. You are graded on task completion, text organisation, lexical range, and grammatical control. A well-structured response can score significantly higher than a longer but disorganised one.

Step 1: Identify the Text Type in 30 Seconds

Read the prompt carefully. It will specify the format. Common formats include:

• A letter to an editor reacting to a published article
• A formal complaint letter to a company or institution
• An article for a community newsletter on a given topic
• A report or proposal for a local association

The Universal Structure That Works for All Formats

• Opening (2–3 sentences): Identify yourself, state your purpose, and reference the context if applicable.
• Body — Point 1 (3–4 sentences): Your first argument or main point with a specific example.
• Body — Point 2 (3–4 sentences): Your second argument or a nuanced counterpoint. Use a connector: "Cependant," / "De plus,"
• Closing (2 sentences): Summarise your point, state your desired outcome, and close formally.

Essential Opening Formulas

• Formal letter: Madame, Monsieur, Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de...
• Complaint letter: Je tiens à vous faire part de mon mécontentement concernant...
• Article: De nos jours, la question de [topic] est au cœur des débats. En effet,...
• Response to article: Suite à l'article paru dans votre revue du [date], je souhaite réagir à...

Essential Closing Formulas

• Formal letter: Dans l'attente de votre réponse, je vous adresse mes cordiales salutations.
• Strong close: Je reste à votre disposition pour tout renseignement complémentaire.
• Article close: En somme, il apparaît que... Pour conclure, il convient de...

The 5 Most Common Mistakes

• Writing in the wrong register (using "tu" instead of "vous" in formal letters)
• Forgetting the opening salutation and closing formula (costs points for task completion)
• Writing only one long paragraph with no structure
• Ignoring the word count — writing fewer than 120 words is heavily penalised
• Starting every sentence with "Je" — vary your sentence structure