Last updated: 24 juin 2026
TEF Speaking: 5 Common Mistakes That Cost You CLB 7
TEF Speaking: 5 Common Mistakes That Cost You CLB 7
Total Word Count: 1,800+ words
You practiced your French for months. Your vocabulary is good. Your grammar is decent. But you walk out of the exam with a CLB 5. Why?
The TEF Speaking Exam (Expression Orale) is not just a language test; it's a format test. Candidates fail because they make strategic errors, not just linguistic ones.
Here are the 5 Mistakes you must avoid to secure CLB 7+.
Mistake 1: Ignoring the Register (Tu vs Vous)
The Rule:
- Task A (Formal): Call a stranger (Agency, Store, Boss). Always use VOUS.
- Task B (Informal): Talk to a friend. Always use TU.
Candidates switch back and forth or use the wrong one.
Mistake 2: Being a "Yes/No" Robot
The Process: The examiner asks a question. The Candidate: "Oui." (Silence). The Examiner: (Waits). The Candidate: (Stares).
Why it fails: You are graded on your ability to develop and elaborate. A one-word answer gives the examiner nothing to grade.
The technique. Always add a detail.
Mistake 3: The "Monologue" in Task A
Task A objective: Ask questions. The Error: The candidate talks about themselves instead of asking questions.
- Candidate: "Je m'appelle Paul. Je cherche un appartement. J'ai deux chiens. J'aime les grands espaces. J'ai de l'argent..."
- Examiner thinking: "ASK A QUESTION!"
Introduce yourself in 10 seconds, then .
Mistake 4: Giving Up When You Don't Know a Word
The Scenario: You want to say "Dishwasher" (Lave-vaisselle) but you forget the word. The Error: You freeze. You switch to English ("The... dishwasher?"). Or you stop talking.
The Fix: Circumlocution (Describe the object).
- "Tu sais, la machine pour laver les assiettes et les verres dans la cuisine."
Mistake 5: Failing the "Convince" Part of Task B
Task B objective: Convince a friend consistently. The Error: The candidate accepts the friend's refusal too easily.
- Examiner: "Non, je ne veux pas y aller, c'est trop cher."
- Candidate warning: "Ah, d'accord. Tant pis."
You failed the task. You are supposed to .
Bonus Mistake: Rushing Through
Speaking fast ≠ Fluency. Speaking fast = Mistakes + pronunciation errors.
The Fix: Slow down. Use fillers correctly.
- "Euh..." -> "Eh bien..." / "Voyons..." / "C'est une bonne question..." Give yourself time to think while sounding French.
Aiming for CLB 7+?
Conclusion
To get CLB 7:
- Stick to the register (Tu/Vous).
- Expand every answer.
- Focus on Questions (Task A) vs Arguments (Task B).
- Describe words you forget.
- Never give up the argument.