The writing paper asks for one or two pieces and the type depends on the level. Both types have a shape the examiner is looking for, and using it is most of the mark.
At A2 and B1: the letter or message. An email to a friend, a letter of complaint, a message explaining why you cannot attend.
- Open correctly. *Cher Paul* / *Chère Madame* for a person you know; *Madame, Monsieur* for an institution. Getting this wrong is visible from across the room.
- Say why you are writing in the first sentence. *Je vous écris au sujet de…*
- The body, in short paragraphs. Do the things the instructions asked for — and there are usually three, so count them and tick them off.
- Close correctly. *Amicalement* / *À bientôt* to a friend; the formal close to an institution — one of the long polite formulas. Learn ONE and use it every time.
At B2: the argued text. An article, a letter to a newspaper, a contribution to a forum, taking a position.
- Introduction — situate the subject, state your position.
- Two or three developed arguments, each with an example. One per paragraph.
- A conceded counter-argument — *Certes… mais…* This is expected at B2 and its absence is noticed.
- Conclusion — restate and open out.
Respect the word count. It is stated and it is marked. Know by feel what 160 or 250 words looks like in your handwriting.
Connectives are scored as coherence. *D'abord, ensuite, enfin. D'une part, d'autre part. En effet. Par ailleurs. En revanche. En conclusion.* Use them at the front of paragraphs, plainly.
Write what you can write correctly. An ambitious sentence you cannot control costs more than a simple one that is right. The marks are for accuracy and range together, and a piece full of correct simple structures with three well-placed complex ones scores above a piece attempting complexity throughout.
Leave five minutes for the check, and check in this order: verb endings, agreement (adjectives and past participles), articles and genders, accents. Those four are where nearly all the correctable errors are.