TEF Speaking Section A: The 10 Essential Questions You Must Memorize

Section A of the TEF Canada Expression Orale module is a gift. It is highly predictable, strictly structured, and heavily reliant on syntax formulas.

Your task is to call someone (the examiner) after reading a short advertisement and ask exactly 10 questions to gather more information.

If you try to invent these questions on the spot using basic "Est-ce que" structures, you will likely sound like an A2 student. To guarantee a high B2 (NCLC 7) or C1 score, you must demonstrate a mastery of formal questioning techniques, indirect questions, and inversion.

Here are the essential question frameworks you must memorize before exam day.

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The Rule of Variety

The examiner is explicitly grading your ability to vary your syntax. If 8 out of your 10 questions start with "Est-ce que...", you will lose major points for lack of lexical richness, even if the grammar is perfect.

You must cycle through three levels of formality:

Level 1: Standard Inversion (The Baseline)

Instead of "Est-ce que vous avez un parking ?", invert the subject and verb.

• "Avez-vous un parking à disposition ?"
• "Serez-vous ouvert ce dimanche ?"

(Note: Never use "Tu" in Section A. Always use "Vous" as you are calling a stranger.)

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1. The "Could You Tell Me" (Indirect Question)

This is the holy grail of NCLC 7 questioning. It transforms a basic inquiry into a polite, complex structure.

The Formula: Pourriez-vous m'indiquer si + [Statement]

• Basic: Est-ce que le petit-déjeuner est inclus ?
• C1 Level: "Pourriez-vous m'indiquer si le petit-déjeuner est inclus dans le tarif ?"

The Formula (Information): Pourriez-vous m'expliquer comment + [Action]

• "Pourriez-vous m'expliquer comment se déroule le processus d'inscription ?"

(Note: When using "si", do not use inversion in the second clause! Focus on subject-verb order: ...si le petit-déjeuner [Subj] + est [Verb]...)

2. The "I Would Like to Know" (Conditionnel Présent)

Using the conditional tense for politeness is an immediate signal to the examiner that you are a B2/C1 candidate.

The Formula: J'aimerais savoir + [Question Word] / [si]

• "J'aimerais savoir combien de personnes peuvent participer à cette activité."
• "J'aimerais savoir à quelle heure commence l'événement."

3. The "Is It Possible To" (Impersonal Expression)

This is excellent for asking about flexibility, exceptions, or specific permissions.

The Formula: Serait-il possible de + [Infinitive Verb]

• "Serait-il possible de payer en plusieurs versements ?" (Installments)
• "Serait-il possible de visiter l'appartement avant de signer le contrat ?"

4. The "Regarding / Concerning..." (Topic Shifter)

In Section A, you need to transition smoothly between different topics (e.g., jumping from price to location). Do not just state random questions. Use connectors.

The Formulas:

• "En ce qui concerne le matériel, fournissez-vous tout le nécessaire ?"
• "Pour rebondir sur le sujet du paiement, acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit ?"
• "À propos de l'emplacement, comment peut-on s'y rendre en transports en commun ?"

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5. The Universal Fallback Questions

Sometimes, you only have 8 questions and your mind goes blank. You need 2 more questions to hit the quota before time runs out. Memorize these universal questions that apply to almost any advertisement (Job, Housing, Activity, Service):

• The Audience Question: "À quel public s'adresse principalement cette offre ?" (Who is this offer primarily for?)
• The Deadline Question: "Y a-t-il une date limite pour s'inscrire / postuler ?" (Is there a deadline to register / apply?)
• The Contact Question: "Si j'ai d'autres questions plus tard, quelle est la meilleure façon de vous contacter ?"

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How to Perfect Your Section A Routine

Memorizing these sentences is only phase one. Phase two is executing them rapidly, under pressure, within a 5-minute window.

You cannot pause for 15 seconds to remember the indirect "si" rule. It must be muscle memory.

Train with the PrepMyFrench AI

The most efficient way to drill Section A is using the PrepMyFrench.com Voice Simulator.

1. Select a Section A scenario (e.g., Calling a gym to ask about memberships).
2. Speak your 10 questions out loud to the AI.
3. The AI answers dynamically.
4. At the end of the 5 minutes, the platform will give you a full transcript of your questions, highlight every grammar mistake, and confirm how many syntactically varied questions you successfully generated.

Master Section A with these formulas, and you will enter Section B with maximum confidence.