Exam practice

Recommend a café in French: an A2 writing task

Compare two cafés for a study session. Use a fact table, useful comparative phrases and a complete French model to write your own recommendation.

In short

Name the purpose, recommend one option and give two reasons that matter to your friend. For a study session, try Je te recommande ce café : il est plus calme et les tables sont plus grandes.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two neighbouring French cafés, one quiet with spacious tables and a student reading a blank book, the other busier with closely spaced chairs; no menus or signs.
Recommend the café that is plus calme. Illustration: Atelier
Your notes for the message
FeatureCafé des TilleulsCafé du Pont
Noisecalmeanimé
Tablesgrandespetites
From the stationdix minutes à pieddeux minutes à pied
Coffee3 €3 €

What matters for this study session

A2 · Production écrite · practice taskNot an official exam paper

Votre amie Lina cherche un café pour travailler deux heures avec vous. À partir des notes, recommandez un des deux cafés. Comparez au moins deux détails utiles, mentionnez un avantage de l’autre café et demandez son avis.

(60 mots minimum)

Your friend Lina wants a café where you can study together for two hours. Use the notes to recommend one, compare at least two useful details, mention an advantage of the other café and ask what she thinks.

Your answer

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Read a model answer

Salut Lina !

Pour travailler deux heures, je te recommande le café des Tilleuls. Il est plus calme que le café du Pont et ses tables sont plus grandes. Nous aurons assez de place pour nos livres. Le café du Pont est plus proche de la gare, mais je préfère les Tilleuls pour étudier. Un café coûte trois euros dans les deux cafés. Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?

À bientôt,

Alex

Review your draft

Before you finish

A self-review aid, not an exam mark. Ticks are not saved.

Three comparisons you can reuse
PurposeFrench patternExample
Compare an adjectiveplus + adjective + queLes tables sont plus grandes que celles du café du Pont.
Compare a nounmoins de + noun + queIl y a moins de bruit aux Tilleuls qu’au café du Pont.
Compare an actionverb + mieuxOn peut mieux travailler dans un endroit calme.

The equal coffee price is useful background, but quietness and space decide this recommendation. For a quick meeting before a train, the station distance could lead to a different choice. Keep your reason close to your recommendation so Lina can follow it immediately.

Question 1No account needed
Which comparison matches the notes?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Les tables sont plus grandes aux Tilleuls.. The notes give larger tables to Les Tilleuls. The coffee price is the same in both cafés.

Question 2No account needed
Lina now has only fifteen minutes before her train. Which detail matters most?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Distance from the station. The short journey from Café du Pont to the station now fits her immediate need.