TCF / TEF Writing & Speaking | Common themes
Dear students,
This is a very important part of your preparation.
Good news:
The exam does NOT use random topics.
It uses repeated and predictable themes.
If you prepare these themes well, you will feel confident and ready on exam day.
1. Daily life (La vie quotidienne)
Topics:
- Your routine
- Your hobbies
- Your family
- Your free time
Possible questions:
- Décrivez votre journée
- Parlez de vos loisirs
- Votre famille est-elle importante ?
What you need:
- Use the present tense
- Use time expressions (toujours, souvent…)
- Use simple connectors (et, parce que)
2. Education (L’éducation)
Topics:
- School system
- Studies
- Online learning
- Exams
Questions:
- L’école est-elle importante ?
- Préférez-vous étudier seul ou en groupe ?
What you need:
- Give your opinion
- Use:
- à mon avis
- parce que
- il faut
3. Work (Le travail)
Topics:
- Jobs
- Working conditions
- Telework
- Career
Questions:
- Le travail est-il important ?
- Télétravail : avantage ou inconvénient ?
What you need:
- Explain advantages / disadvantages
- Compare ideas
4. Technology (La technologie / Internet)
Topics:
- Social media
- Internet
- Smartphones
Questions:
- Les réseaux sociaux sont-ils utiles ?
- Internet : avantage ou danger ?
What you need:
- Give your opinion
- Give examples
5. Environment (Environnement)
Topics:
- Pollution
- Climate change
- Ecology
Questions:
- Comment protéger l’environnement ?
- La pollution est-elle un problème ?
What you need:
- Explain a problem
- Give solutions
6. Society (La société)
Topics:
- Lifestyle
- Culture
- Rules
- Equality
Questions:
- Ville ou campagne ?
- Les règles sont-elles importantes ?
7. Health (La santé)
Topics:
- Food
- Sport
- Lifestyle
Questions:
- Le sport est-il important ?
- Comment rester en bonne santé ?
8. Travel (Les voyages)
Topics:
- Tourism
- Transport
- Experiences
Questions:
- Racontez un voyage
- Voyager est-il important ?
9. Services (Situations réelles)
Topics:
- Hotel
- Restaurant
- Complaint
- Request
Tasks:
- Write an email
- Make a complaint
10. Opinion & debate
Topics:
- Agree / disagree
- Advantages / disadvantages
Questions:
- Êtes-vous d’accord avec… ?
- Quels sont les avantages… ?
Most important themes
Focus on these 5 themes:
- Education
- Work
- Technology
- Environment
- Society
How you should answer any topic
No matter the topic, always follow this method:
- Give your opinion
- Give a reason
- Give an example
- Give a conclusion
Essential words you must know
Use these in every text:
- parce que
- donc
- mais
- cependant
- à mon avis
- je pense que
Fianl strategy
You do NOT need to know everything
You need to know HOW to answer
If you can:
- structure your ideas
- use connectors
- use simple vocabulary
You can answer ANY topic
The exam is NOT testing your knowledge.
It is testing your ability to:
- express your ideas
- organize your thoughts
- communicate clearly
If you follow this method, you will succeed in TCF / TEF.