Writing

Building Confidence Through Clear Expression.

Writing helps learners organize ideas, share information clearly, and communicate with confidence in real-world situations. It supports meaningful language development by strengthening sentence structure, vocabulary, accuracy, and written communication skills needed for everyday life, education, and work. Through practical and learner-focused writing activities, learners can express themselves more effectively and build independence at every stage of their language journey.

Writing Skills

Skills for Success defines Writing as the ability to share information using written words, symbols, and images.

Topics

See how SFS Writing relates to CLB Writing 

Skills for Success (SFS) is a national framework that identifies nine key skills Canadians need for work, learning and life. The Language for Success framework uses the SFS definitions and levels as conceptualized by the Government of Canada. The number of levels varies by skill. SFS Writing is organized into five proficiency levels.

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) describe communicative ability in English as a Second Language (ESL). The CLB organize 12 benchmarks into three stages of ability: Stage I (Basic), Stage II (Intermediate) and Stage III (Advanced).

The shading in the table shows how the SFS Writing levels relate to the CLB Writing benchmarks. Pre-SFS refers to benchmarks that fall below SFS Writing Level 1. The relationship was first established through a study led by the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks in 2005.

Explore what a person can do at each Writing benchmark

CLB 1-3 relates to Pre-SFS

CLB 1

Write a few common, everyday words.

For example, at work:

  • Sign a card for a co-worker’s birthday or retirement.

  • Copy a name and phone number from a business card to a contact list.

  • Fill out own name and address on a simplified form.

CLB 2

Write simple phrases and some very short, simple sentences about something very familiar.

For example, at work:

  • Copy a company name, address and representative contact information from a website.

  • Copy information from a work schedule into a planner or personal calendar.

  • Write a very short simple list of work tasks to be done.

 

CLB 3

Write short, simple sentences about something familiar.

CLB 4-5 relates to SFS Level 1

CLB 4

Write a few simple sentences about a personal experience or a routine task.

For example, at work:

  • Write a list of tasks for a co-worker to carry out on the next shift.

  • Write notes to record work tasks completed during a shift using a handheld computer.

  • Write an email agreeing to a meeting request and giving your availability.

CLB 5

Write short messages or a paragraph with a main idea and some supporting details.

CLB 6-7 relates to SFS Level 2

CLB 6

Write short messages and texts with clearly expressed ideas and supporting details, using some complex sentence structures.

CLB 7

Write messages or short well-organized texts about familiar, concrete topics, using some complex sentence structures to connect ideas.

CLB 8 relates to SFS Level 3

CLB 8

Express ideas and opinions about familiar or abstract topics using clearly expressed paragraphs and some complex sentence structures to connect ideas.

CLB 9 relates to SFS Level 4

CLB 9

Write formal and informal texts of some complexity for an adequate range of purposes and tasks in routine situations that may require tact, diplomacy and precision.

CLB 10-12 relates to SFS Level 5

CLB 10

Write complex formal and informal texts for a broadening range of purposes and tasks in mostly routine situations that may require tact, diplomacy and precision.

CLB 11

Write complex formal and informal texts for a wide range of purposes and tasks in non-routine situations that may require tact, diplomacy and precision.

CLB 12

Write complex formal and informal texts for a full range of purposes, intentions and objectives related to non-routine, situations that may require tact, diplomacy and precision.