fide test: the Parler (speaking) part, from A1 to B1

How the fide test speaking part works

A short chat opens the talk. It is not assessed. Then you do the A2 tasks. After that, the examiners suggest that you continue with A1 or B1 tasks. They explain what this means. You decide. The two examiners agree on the final assessment.

What matters most: do what the task asks, and make yourself understood. Even at B1, nobody expects French without mistakes. Words and phrases used in French-speaking Switzerland are not marked down.

Level A2: picture, phone, talk

• Part 1, a picture. The examiner gives you a topic. You describe what you see: the people, the place, what is happening.
• Part 2, a simulated phone call. You make, move or cancel an appointment and give a reason. See the phrases for the appointment by phone.
• Part 3, a talk. Your habits and likes, an experience or an event, a process or a way of acting.

Level A1: series of pictures and dialogue

At A1, you describe a series of four pictures that show a sequence of actions: who, where, what, what is happening. Then you answer the person shown in the pictures, in a short dialogue.

Level B1: choose a topic

At B1, you talk about two topics that you choose: an experience, a process or procedure, the good and bad sides of a situation, or your view on an imagined situation. Give your opinion, a reason and an example.

Useful phrases

Learn the start of sentences, not whole texts.

• Describe: Sur l'image, je vois… (In the picture, I see…) · Au premier plan, il y a… (In the front, there is…) · Je pense qu'ils sont… (I think they are…)
• Give a reason: Je préfère… parce que… (I prefer… because…) · Pour moi, c'est important, car… (For me, it is important, because…)
• Tell a story: Le week-end dernier, je suis allé(e)… (Last weekend, I went…) · Au début… ensuite… à la fin… (At the start… then… at the end…)
• B1 opinion: À mon avis… (In my opinion…) · D'un côté… de l'autre côté… (On one hand… on the other hand…) · Si c'était moi, je… (If it were me, I would…)
• Ask again: Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you repeat, please?) · Je n'ai pas bien compris la question. (I did not understand the question well.)

How to practise

Speak out loud for 10 minutes a day and record yourself. Describe a picture on your phone. Tell the story of your week. The free speaking test lets you do the A2 part with an AI examiner in 4 minutes, with no sign-up, and gives an estimated level. For all the speaking tasks in the fide order, see the practice page. After speaking, move on to Comprendre (listening).

fide exam is an independent practice service. It is not linked to the SEM or the fide secretariat. Cantons may ask for higher levels: check with your canton.

Sources

• fide test handbook (fide secretariat)
• fide: the fide test, prices, centres and results