In TEF Canada writing Section A, you write a short news story, a fait divers, about something that happened. You're given the start of the story and you continue it: say what happened, to whom, where and when, how it ended, and how people reacted. A strong answer is clear, told in the right past tenses, linked with good connectors and written in a neutral, newspaper-style register. This guide shows you the structure, gives you a model text to study, and lists the mistakes that cost the most.
Key Takeaways
- A fait divers is a short, factual news story about a recent event. Section A asks you to continue one in a journalistic style.
- Use a clear structure: what happened, the details, how it ended, reactions or consequences.
- The passé composé moves the story forward; the imparfait sets the scene. Getting this right is one of the clearest signs of control.
- Stay neutral and factual. Section A tells a story; Section B is where you argue an opinion.
- The time limit, word count and instructions can change, so check the official TEF Canada website for the current format before you practise.
What is a fait divers?
A fait divers is the kind of short article you find in a local newspaper: a dog rescued from a frozen lake, a bus that broke down on the highway, a neighbour who found a lost wallet and returned it. It reports a real-life event, usually local and unexpected, in a neutral voice.
For the exam, that means three things:
- It's a story, not an opinion. You report what happened. You don't argue or give advice.
- It's in the third person. You're the journalist, not the person it happened to.
- It's in the past. The event already happened, so most of your verbs are in past tenses.
If you want the bigger picture of the exam first, our TEF Canada page covers all four skills, and our TEF vs TCF Canada comparison explains how the two writing sections differ.
A simple structure for your fait divers
Examiners want a story they can follow easily. This four-part plan works for almost any prompt:
- The event. Continue from the given start and say clearly what happened. Answer the basic questions: qui, quoi, où, quand.
- The details. Describe the situation and the order of events. This is where the imparfait (background) and passé composé (actions) work together.
- The outcome. Say how it ended: someone was rescued, the police arrived, the traffic started moving again.
- Reactions or consequences. Add a witness's words, an official's comment or what happens next. A short quote in reported speech is an easy way to show range.
Before you write, spend a minute jotting down your answers to qui, quoi, où, quand, comment, pourquoi. That small plan keeps your story coherent all the way to the end.
Model fait divers (example)
Here's an example you can study. The prompt gives the opening line, and the answer continues from it.
Start of the story (given): Hier matin, un chien a été retrouvé sur la glace du lac Saint-Louis.
Example answer
Hier matin, un chien a été retrouvé sur la glace du lac Saint-Louis. Vers 8 heures, une promeneuse qui longeait la rive a entendu des aboiements. Elle s'est approchée et a aperçu l'animal, immobilisé à une vingtaine de mètres du bord. La glace était fine à cet endroit et le chien semblait épuisé.
La promeneuse a aussitôt appelé les pompiers. Une équipe spécialisée est arrivée sur les lieux quelques minutes plus tard. Comme la glace risquait de céder, un sauveteur s'est avancé à plat ventre, attaché à une corde, puis il a réussi à attraper le chien.
L'animal, qui portait un collier, a été examiné par un vétérinaire. Il était fatigué mais en bonne santé. Selon les pompiers, il s'était échappé de chez son maître la veille au soir.
Le propriétaire, très ému, a remercié les secouristes. « Je l'ai cherché toute la nuit. Je ne pensais pas le revoir », a-t-il confié. Les pompiers rappellent aux habitants qu'il est dangereux de marcher sur les lacs en ce début d'hiver.
Why this example works
- Paragraph 1, the event: it continues the given sentence and sets the scene with the imparfait (La glace était fine, le chien semblait épuisé).
- Paragraph 2, the details: a clear chain of actions in the passé composé (a appelé, est arrivée, s'est avancé, a réussi), linked by aussitôt, quelques minutes plus tard, puis.
- Paragraph 3, the outcome: it resolves the story and uses the plus-que-parfait (il s'était échappé) for something that happened before the main event.
- Paragraph 4, reactions: a direct quote and a closing message from officials, a typical newspaper ending.
Notice what it doesn't do: no personal opinion, no "I", no lesson about pet ownership. It stays a news story.
The past tenses you need
You don't need every tense, but you do need these three working together. Our French tenses guide covers each one in detail.
- Passé composé for completed actions that move the story forward: Les pompiers sont arrivés. Il a attrapé le chien.
- Imparfait for background, descriptions and ongoing situations: Il faisait froid. La route était glissante.
- Plus-que-parfait for something that happened before another past event: Le conducteur avait oublié ses lunettes.
A quick check: if you could ask "and then what happened?", use the passé composé. If you're describing what things were like, use the imparfait.
Two other structures fit the newspaper style well:
- The passive voice: Le chien a été retrouvé. Deux personnes ont été blessées.
- Reported speech: Le maire a déclaré que la route serait rouverte le lendemain.
Useful connectors
Connectors show the examiner that your story is organised. Pick a few and practise them until they come naturally.
| Purpose | Connectors | |---|---| | Setting the time | hier matin, ce samedi, vers 18 heures, la veille | | Sequencing | d'abord, ensuite, puis, quelques minutes plus tard, finalement | | Sudden events | soudain, tout à coup, aussitôt | | Cause | parce que, comme, en raison de, à cause de | | Consequence | donc, c'est pourquoi, si bien que, par conséquent | | Contrast | pourtant, cependant, malgré | | Reporting | selon, d'après, a déclaré que, a expliqué que |
Use them where they add meaning. Five well-placed connectors read better than fifteen forced ones.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up passé composé and imparfait. Il a fait froid et il a neigé reads like a list of events. Il faisait froid et il neigeait sets the scene.
- Forgetting agreement with être. Elle est arrivée, Ils se sont approchés. Check every verb that uses être.
- Writing an opinion piece. Section A is a story. Keep arguments for Section B.
- Switching to "I". Unless the prompt asks for it, write as a journalist in the third person.
- Ignoring the given start. Your text should continue the story you're given, with the same people, place and situation.
- Stopping without an ending. A story that just stops feels unfinished. Always say how it ended and how people reacted.
- Using informal French. Avoid ouais, trop, super and dropped ne. Keep a neutral, written register.
- Not leaving time to reread. A short final check catches agreement and accent errors that are easy to fix.
How to practise Section A
- Read real faits divers. Read short local news stories in French and notice how they open and close.
- Write to a timer. Check the official TEF Canada website for the current time and length guidance, then practise under the same conditions.
- Reuse a structure. Use the four-part plan above every time until it becomes automatic.
- Correct one thing at a time. After each text, check only your past tenses, then only your agreements. Focused review sticks better.
- Build your news vocabulary. Words like témoin, secours, blessé, se produire, les lieux come up often. Our vocabulary section is a good place to build these sets.
If you're planning your preparation week by week, our 90-day TEF study plan shows where writing practice fits.
FAQ
Do I have to continue the story exactly from the given start?
Yes. Your text should follow on naturally from the opening you're given, using the same situation and characters. Read the instructions carefully on exam day, and check the official TEF Canada website for the current task description.
How long should my fait divers be?
The required length can change, so check the official TEF Canada website for the current word guidance. In practice, aim to meet the requirement comfortably without padding. A complete, well-organised story matters more than extra sentences.
Can I include my opinion?
Not as the main focus. A fait divers reports facts. You can include a witness's or official's reaction, but keep your own views out of it.
Which tense matters most?
The passé composé and imparfait together. Using each in the right place is what makes your story clear. Add the plus-que-parfait when you need to go further back in time.
Ready to put this into practice? Try a timed writing task in exam prep and use the model above as your checklist.