TEF Speaking Section A: The Ultimate Guide to Asking the Right Questions

Target: 1,800+ words

The TEF Canada Speaking Test (Expression Orale) strikes fear into the hearts of many candidates. It requires you to think on your feet, roleplay with an examiner, and maintain a natural conversation.

Section A is the shorter of the two tasks (5 minutes). Your objective is simple: look at an advertisement and ask the examiner 10 to 12 questions to get more information. If you master the structure, this section is a guaranteed high score.

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Part 1: Understanding the Task

In Section A, you are given a short document. It might be:

• A classified ad for a used car.
• A poster for a language school.
• A brochure for a vacation package.
• An announcement for a dance class.

You call the person (the examiner plays this role) to get more details. You must ask questions. You are NOT trying to persuade them (that's Section B). You are just gathering information.

Part 2: The Structure of the Call

Do not just start firing questions. Treat it like a real phone call.

1. The Introduction (1 minute)

• Greet: "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur."
• Context: Explain why you are calling based on the prompt.

Part 3: How to Formulate Perfect Questions

The biggest mistake candidates make is asking basic, repetitive questions: "Combien ca coute ?" "Ou c'est ?" "A quelle heure ?"

To get a B2 or C1 (NCLC 7+), you must vary your question structures.

Structure 1: Direct Inversion (Formal)

Instead of "Ou est le cours ?", use:

Part 4: Categories of Questions to Memorize

Since you don't know the topic in advance, memorize generic question templates that apply to almost anything.

Category: Price and Payment

1. "Quels sont vos tarifs exacts ?"
2. "Acceptez-vous les paiements par carte bancaire ou uniquement en especes ?"
3. "J'aimerais savoir s'il y a des frais supplementaires non mentionnes."

Category: Schedule and Timing

4. "Pourriez-vous m'indiquer vos horaires d'ouverture ?"

Part 5: The Art of Stalling and Reacting

Examiners will sometimes give short answers to force you to keep talking. If you run out of questions at minute 3, panic sets in. The secret is to react to their answers before asking the next question. This eats up time naturally and sounds fluent.

The Bad Way:

• You: "Combien ca coute ?"
• Examiner: "C'est 50 euros."

Conclusion

TEF Speaking Section A is a predictable game. You greet formal, use "vous", ask 10 varied questions using indirect structures ("Pourriez-vous m'indiquer..."), react to the examiner's answers, and sign off politely. Memorize your templates for price, time, and location today, and you will never freeze in the exam room.