TEF Speaking Section A: The Art of Asking 10 Distinct Questions

Introduction: The Information Quest

In the Section A of the TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) Speaking subtest, you are given a short advertisement (usually for a job, a service, or an event) and you must call the "advertiser" (your examiner) to ask for more information.

You have 5 minutes to ask questions. Most candidates run out of things to say after 2 minutes. They repeat themselves or ask "basic" questions like "What is the price?"

To score an NCLC 9 or 10, you must show off your ability to use Varied Question Structures (Les structures interrogatives). You aren't just looking for info; you are looking for a C1 score.

Section 1: The Anatomy of a High-Scoring Call

The first thing the examiner checks is your "Aisance" (Fluency) and your "Niveau de Langue" (Register).

The Three Registers of Questions

1. Soutenu (Formal): Inversion (Pourriez-vous me dire...)
2. Courant (Standard): Est-ce que...
3. Familier (Informal): Intonation (Vous travaillez le week-end ?) - USE THIS SPARINGLY.

: For Section A, stay in the and registers. Inversion is your "Golden Ticket."

Section 2: The "10-Question Drill" for Section A

We teach our students the "Categorized Question List" to ensure they never run out of ideas:

Category 1: Logistics and Schedule

• Quels sont vos horaires d'ouverture ?
• Pourrait-on envisager un rendez-vous en soirée ?

Section 3: The "Indirect Question" Multiplier

If you want to move from B2 to C1, you must stop using Est-ce que for every question. Use Indirect Questions to sound more sophisticated:

• Instead of: Est-ce que c'est gratuit ?

Section 4: Handling the Examiner’s Response

In Section A, the examiner will give you an answer. If you just say "D'accord" and move to the next question, you lose points for Interaction.

The Strategy: Use Follow-Up Connectors.

• "Ah, c'est très intéressant ! Dans ce cas, pourriez-vous me préciser..."

Section 5: How PrepMyFrench Automates Section A

At prepmyfrench.com, we have developed a Speaking Simulator that is specifically designed to handle these "Information Seeking" calls.

AI-Driven Question Analysis

When you record your Section A practice call on our platform, our AI analyzes your questions. It tells you:

Conclusion: From Interviewer to Communicator

Section A is a test of your ability to get what you want in French. Be curious, be polite, and use the structure of the language to show that you are a C1 speaker.

Ready to start asking? Head over to PrepMyFrench and try our Section A Speaking Simulations today!