Publié le 1 April 2021

Prepare yourself for the oral expression test of the TEF

If you are taking the TEF and would like to know everything to prepare for the oral expression part of the test, this article is for you!

What does the oral expression test consist of?

The oral expression test consists of a face-to-face exchange with an examiner and is made up of two sections: section A (5 minutes) and section B (10 minutes).

During each section, you will be asked to participate in a role play on a given topic. This topic can be related to an advertisement, an advertisement in a newspaper or a job offer. 

For section A, you have to be curious. Your objective is to obtain as much information as possible about an advertisement or an activity you will have to discuss about. To do so, you will have to ask your examiner questions or rephrase his or her answers in order to obtain more information.

For section B, you have to be convincing. Your objective is to present an activity to your interlocutor and persuade him/her to participate. You will have to give your opinion and use examples to illustrate what you are saying.  

For information, these sections are systematically recorded to allow a double evaluation.

How can I work on my oral expression?

The oral expression test consists of a dialogue between you and your examiner, which can seem scary at first sight.

Here are some tips to help you on the exam day: 

• Before the exam, practice speaking, especially if you are not very comfortable with it. At home, feel free to practice out loud by imagining yourself interacting with the examiner.
• Also, don’t forget to time yourself, this will help you find the right rhythm on the test day.
• Most importantly, assimilate the French language by listening to the radio or watching films and series. All of this will help you reinforce what you have learned and will give you more confidence on the day of the test.

Finally, to prepare yourself for the test format, you can consult the tutorial, the preparation video and some subjects examples dedicated to the oral expression test.

In which TEF can I find the oral expression test?

You will have to take the oral expression test whether you are taking the TEF Canada, the TEFAQ, or the TEF IRN. However, in some exams,  only section B is required:

You can also consult our articles on the TEF test (in French):

– Prepare section A of the written expression test of the TEF

– Prepare section B of the written expression test of the TEF 

– Prepare for the oral comprehension test of the TEF

– Prepare for the written comprehension test of the TEF

– Prepare for the vocabulary and syntax test of the TEF

Don’t forget to consult our TEF preparation workshops here.

If you have further questions about the test preparation, email us at francais@cci-paris-idf.fr or join our Facebook group.