You have a copy of the DELF B1 speaking test topics in front of you. You know the structure: three parts, 10 to 15 minutes in total, with 10 minutes of preparation for the third part only. But now the question is: what themes do you actually need to prepare for?
Many candidates make the mistake of preparing for specific questions rather than understanding the broader themes. They memorise answers about stress at work, but when the examiner asks about working from home, they freeze. They prepare arguments about cooking, but when the topic is about eating habits in general, they panic.
This is where many candidates get stuck.
The DELF B1 speaking test is not about memorising answers. It is about demonstrating that you can discuss familiar themes, express your opinion and justify it with examples. The topics are predictable. Once you understand the main themes and the types of questions that fall under each one, you can prepare strategically rather than randomly.
In this guide, you will learn:
the main themes covered in the DELF B1 speaking test;
specific prompts from the sample topics you have;
additional prompts from past papers for each theme;
vocabulary and expressions you need for each theme;
key arguments you can prepare in advance.
1. The Structure of the Speaking Test
Before we look at the themes, let us quickly review the structure of the test.
| Part | Name | Duration | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guided Interview (Entretien dirigé) | 2-3 minutes | None |
| 2 | Interactive Exercise (Exercice en interaction) | 3-4 minutes | None |
| 3 | Expressing an Opinion (Expression d’un point de vue) | 5-7 minutes | 10 minutes |
What You Need to Know:
For Part 3, you will draw two documents and choose one. You have 10 minutes to prepare a short presentation (about 3 minutes) expressing your opinion on the theme.
The examiner will then ask follow-up questions to challenge or deepen your position.
The themes are always about familiar, everyday topics: society, work, education, health, technology, the environment and lifestyle.
2. THÈME 1 – SOCIÉTÉ, FAMILLE, QUALITÉ DE VIE & VIE QUOTIDIENNE
This theme includes questions about how we live together, education, aging, childhood, family dynamics and daily lifestyle. You might be asked whether young people should do summer jobs, whether senior housing should be encouraged or whether family relationships are changing.
The overall focus here is on the changing expectations and needs in modern life: aging populations, family dynamics, education and sustainable living. This theme tests your ability to discuss quality of life in social, cultural and personal terms.
Prompts from this theme:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Que pensez-vous des jobs d’été pour les jeunes ? L’âge légal est-il, selon vous, adapté ? | What do you think of summer jobs for young people? Is the legal age, in your opinion, appropriate? |
| Votre ami suisse veut inscrire son fils de 14 ans dans un programme d’échange international. Vous pensez que ce type d’expérience n’est pas faite pour tous les jeunes. | Your Swiss friend wants to enrol his 14-year-old son in an international exchange programme. You think this type of experience is not for all young people. |
| Votre enfant va bientôt passer un examen, mais il veut aller à une soirée chez un ami français. Vous pensez que ce n’est pas une bonne idée. | Your child is about to take an exam, but wants to go to a party at a French friend’s house. You think it’s not a good idea. |
| Un ami français veut dépenser beaucoup d’argent pour offrir un cadeau à votre enfant de 18 ans qui a obtenu son diplôme. Vous n’êtes pas d’accord. | A French friend wants to spend a lot of money on a gift for your 18-year-old child who has just graduated. You don’t agree. |
| Votre enfant va à l’école française. Le professeur principal trouve qu’il a trop d’activités extrascolaires. Vous pensez qu’elles sont indispensables. | Your child goes to French school. The head teacher thinks they have too many extracurricular activities. You think they are essential. |
| Faut-il fermer les centres-villes aux voitures ? | Should city centres be closed to cars? |
| La télévision n’est pas bonne pour les enfants. | Television is not good for children. |
| Les nouvelles technologies resserrent les liens familiaux. | New technologies strengthen family ties. |
Additional Prompts from Past Papers:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Faut-il encourager les résidences pour personnes âgées ? | Should senior housing be encouraged? |
| Doit-on apprendre toute la vie ? | Should we learn all our lives? |
| Les jeunes passent-ils trop de temps sur les écrans ? | Do young people spend too much time on screens? |
| Faut-il interdire les téléphones portables dans les écoles ? | Should mobile phones be banned in schools? |
| Les enfants devraient-ils aider aux tâches ménagères ? | Should children help with household chores? |
| La famille est-elle moins importante qu’avant ? | Is family less important than before? |
| Faut-il obliger les jeunes à faire du bénévolat ? | Should young people be forced to do voluntary work? |
| Les écoles devraient-elles enseigner l’éducation financière ? | Should schools teach financial education? |
Key Vocabulary for This Theme:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la famille | family |
| les enfants | children |
| les parents | parents |
| les grands-parents | grandparents |
| l’éducation | education |
| les études | studies |
| un examen | an exam |
| les activités extrascolaires | extracurricular activities |
| le bénévolat | voluntary work |
| les valeurs | values |
| la solidarité | solidarity |
| le respect | respect |
| l’égalité | equality |
| s’engager | to commit oneself |
| éduquer | to educate |
| grandir | to grow up |
| vieillir | to grow old |
| s’occuper de | to take care of |
| passer du temps avec | to spend time with |
Key Arguments You Can Prepare:
| Argument | Example |
|---|---|
| For summer jobs: | Summer jobs teach responsibility and independence. They help young people understand the value of money. |
| Against summer jobs: | Summer jobs can be exhausting and take time away from studies. Some jobs are not suitable for young people. |
| For extracurricular activities: | They help children develop social skills and discover new interests. They prevent children from spending too much time on screens. |
| Against extracurricular activities: | Too many activities can be stressful and leave no time for rest. Children need free time to be creative. |
| For family values: | The family provides support and stability. It is where children learn important values. |
| For screen limits: | Screens can harm sleep and concentration. Children need real-world interactions. |
| For new technologies: | They help families stay in touch. They provide access to information and education. |
Useful Expressions:
| French Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| À mon avis, les enfants devraient… | In my opinion, children should… |
| Je pense qu’il est important que les jeunes… | I think it’s important that young people… |
| C’est une bonne chose parce que… | It’s a good thing because… |
| Cependant, il ne faut pas oublier que… | However, we must not forget that… |
| D’un côté… de l’autre côté… | On one hand… on the other hand… |
| Il est vrai que… mais… | It’s true that… but… |
3. THÈME 2 – TRAVAIL, ÉTUDES & CARRIÈRE
This theme includes questions about work, studies, professional life and career choices. You might be asked whether working from home is a good idea, whether people should continue training throughout their lives or whether stress at work is a serious problem.
The overall focus here is on the balance between professional and personal life, career development and the changing nature of work. This theme tests your ability to discuss professional topics and express opinions about work-life balance.
Prompts from thisTopics:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Travailler chez soi, oui, c’est une situation qui semble très attractive, mais ce type d’activité est parfois plus difficile à exercer qu’il n’y paraît. | Working from home seems very attractive, but this type of activity is sometimes more difficult to do than it seems. |
| Le stress au travail est un problème sérieux. Peut-on parler de « bon stress » ? | Stress at work is a serious problem. Can we talk about “good stress”? |
| Vous faites un stage professionnel en France. Au bout d’une semaine, vous n’avez toujours pas fait de travail intéressant. Vous allez expliquer la situation. | You are doing a work placement in France. After a week, you still haven’t done any interesting work. You are going to explain the situation. |
| Vous voulez vous présenter à un poste de secrétaire mais vous n’avez pas d’expérience. Vous cherchez à convaincre l’employé de l’agence pour l’emploi. | You want to apply for a secretarial position but you have no experience. You are trying to convince the employment agency employee. |
| Vous avez fixé une date de réunion avec un client français. Il vous annonce 24 heures avant qu’il sera en congé et qu’il ne viendra pas. | You have scheduled a meeting with a French client. They announce 24 hours before that they will be on leave and will not come. |
| Vous avez raté un rendez-vous professionnel important. Vous contactez la personne pour vous excuser et tenter de la convaincre de vous accorder un autre rendez-vous. | You have missed an important professional appointment. You contact the person to apologise and try to convince them to give you another appointment. |
| Le télétravail permet de mieux concilier vie de famille et travail. Qu’en pensez-vous ? | Working from home allows you to better balance family and work life. What do you think? |
Additional Prompts from Past Papers:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Faut-il travailler plus longtemps avant la retraite ? | Should we work longer before retirement? |
| Le salaire est-il le plus important dans un travail ? | Is salary the most important thing in a job? |
| Faut-il obliger les employés à prendre des pauses ? | Should employees be forced to take breaks? |
| Les femmes et les hommes ont-ils les mêmes opportunités au travail ? | Do men and women have the same opportunities at work? |
| Faut-il travailler le week-end ? | Should we work on weekends? |
| Le travail à temps partiel est-il une bonne solution ? | Is part-time work a good solution? |
| Faut-il changer de travail plusieurs fois dans sa carrière ? | Should we change jobs several times in our career? |
| Les stages devraient-ils être obligatoires pour tous les étudiants ? | Should work placements be compulsory for all students? |
Key Vocabulary for This Theme:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le travail | work |
| un emploi | a job |
| un salarié | an employee |
| un employeur | an employer |
| une entreprise | a company |
| le chômage | unemployment |
| une carrière | a career |
| une promotion | a promotion |
| le stress | stress |
| la charge de travail | workload |
| les horaires | working hours |
| le télétravail | working from home |
| concilier | to balance |
| déménager | to move |
| embaucher | to hire |
| licencier | to fire |
| former | to train |
| une formation | training |
| un stage | a work placement |
| un CV | a CV/résumé |
Key Arguments You Can Prepare:
| Argument | Example |
|---|---|
| For working from home: | It saves time and money on commuting. It allows better work-life balance. |
| Against working from home: | It can be isolating. It is harder to separate work and personal life. |
| For work placements: | They provide practical experience. They help students understand what they want to do. |
| Against work placements: | They can be poorly organised. Some students do not get meaningful work. |
| For stress management: | Employers should provide support. Workers should take breaks and exercise. |
| For lifelong learning: | The job market changes quickly. People need to update their skills. |
Useful Expressions:
| French Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| À mon avis, le travail est important parce que… | In my opinion, work is important because… |
| Je pense que les employeurs devraient… | I think employers should… |
| Il est essentiel de trouver un équilibre entre… | It is essential to find a balance between… |
| Le stress peut avoir des conséquences sur… | Stress can have consequences on… |
| Une bonne formation est importante pour… | Good training is important for… |
| Je comprends votre point de vue, mais… | I understand your point of view, but… |
4. THÈME 3 – CONSOMMATION, LOISIRS & MODE DE VIE
This theme includes questions about how we spend our time, what we buy, how we relax and our lifestyle choices. You might be asked whether cooking is a pleasure or a necessity, whether people should buy prepared meals or whether we should pay to go to the beach.
The overall focus here is on consumer habits, leisure activities and lifestyle preferences. This theme tests your ability to discuss personal choices and express opinions about how we live our lives.
Prompts from this theme:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Les Français sont fous de cuisine. Et vous, pensez-vous qu’il est agréable de cuisiner ? | The French are crazy about cooking. And you, do you think it is pleasant to cook? |
| Les plats préparés existent en conserve, en surgelé, mais aussi au rayon frais. Même s’ils sont un peu chers, ils vous feront gagner un temps précieux ! | Prepared meals exist in tins, frozen and fresh. Even if they are a bit expensive, they will save you precious time! |
| Payer pour aller à la plage : préserver ce site naturel magnifique vaut bien quelques sacrifices, même si les plages appartiennent à tout le monde ! | Paying to go to the beach: preserving this magnificent natural site is worth a few sacrifices, even if the beaches belong to everyone! |
| Faites du sport pendant la pause déjeuner : vous pouvez organiser votre temps et votre énergie à « double effet ». | Do sport during your lunch break: you can organise your time and energy for “double effect”. |
| Décorer sa maison est-ce tomber dans une mode ou chercher à se sentir mieux ? | Is decorating your home following a trend or trying to feel better? |
| Le covoiturage : apporte-t-il une vraie solution au problème du transport ? | Carpooling: does it bring a real solution to the transport problem? |
Additional Prompts from Past Papers:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Faut-il manger moins de viande ? | Should we eat less meat? |
| Les Français dépensent-ils trop pour les vacances ? | Do the French spend too much on holidays? |
| Faut-il acheter des produits locaux ? | Should we buy local products? |
| Le sport devrait-il être obligatoire à l’école ? | Should sport be compulsory at school? |
| Faut-il interdire les sacs en plastique ? | Should plastic bags be banned? |
| Les magasins devraient-ils ouvrir le dimanche ? | Should shops open on Sundays? |
| Faut-il acheter en ligne ou en magasin ? | Should we buy online or in store? |
| Les loisirs sont-ils devenus trop chers ? | Have leisure activities become too expensive? |
Key Vocabulary for This Theme:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la consommation | consumption |
| un produit | a product |
| un magasin | a shop |
| un supermarché | a supermarket |
| un commerçant | a shopkeeper |
| un loisir | a leisure activity |
| un passe-temps | a hobby |
| le sport | sport |
| la cuisine | cooking |
| un repas | a meal |
| un plat préparé | a prepared meal |
| une recette | a recipe |
| un ingrédient | an ingredient |
| local | local |
| biologique | organic |
| le développement durable | sustainable development |
| la pollution | pollution |
| économiser | to save (money) |
| dépenser | to spend (money) |
| gagner du temps | to save time |
Key Arguments You Can Prepare:
| Argument | Example |
|---|---|
| For cooking: | Cooking is a pleasure. It allows you to eat healthier and save money. |
| For prepared meals: | They save time. They are convenient for busy people. |
| For local products: | They support local farmers. They are fresher and reduce pollution. |
| Against local products: | They can be more expensive. Not all products are available locally. |
| For paying to go to the beach: | It helps protect the environment. It reduces overcrowding. |
| Against paying to go to the beach: | Beaches belong to everyone. It is unfair to charge for nature. |
| For carpooling: | It reduces costs and pollution. It is good for the environment. |
| Against carpooling: | It is less flexible. You depend on other people’s schedules. |
Useful Expressions:
| French Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| À mon avis, il est important de… | In my opinion, it is important to… |
| Je pense que nous devrions… | I think we should… |
| C’est une bonne idée parce que… | It’s a good idea because… |
| Cependant, il y a aussi des inconvénients… | However, there are also disadvantages… |
| D’une part… d’autre part… | On one hand… on the other hand… |
| À mon avis, il faut trouver un équilibre entre… | In my opinion, we must find a balance between… |
5. THÈME 4 – ENVIRONNEMENT, TECHNOLOGIE & TRANSPORTS
This theme includes questions about environmental issues, new technologies and how we travel. You might be asked whether we should pay to go to the beach, whether new technologies strengthen family ties or whether we should close city centres to cars.
The overall focus here is on sustainability, innovation and how we move through the world. This theme tests your ability to discuss environmental concerns and technological change.
Prompts from this theme:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Le covoiturage : un nouveau moyen de se déplacer. Le covoiturage apporte-t-il une vraie solution au problème du transport ? | Carpooling: a new way to travel. Does carpooling bring a real solution to the transport problem? |
| Si vous aimez la nature, vivez en ville ! La ville est très pratique. Alors, vive la ville ! | If you like nature, live in the city! The city is very practical. So, long live the city! |
| Faut-il mettre une taxe sur la consommation de sacs plastique ? | Should we put a tax on the consumption of plastic bags? |
| Faut-il fermer les centres-villes aux voitures ? | Should city centres be closed to cars? |
| Les nouvelles technologies resserrent les liens familiaux. | New technologies strengthen family ties. |
| Vivre dans une maison intelligente : une vie de rêve ? | Living in a smart house: a dream life? |
Additional Prompts from Past Papers:
| French Prompt | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Faut-il interdire les voitures en centre-ville ? | Should cars be banned in city centres? |
| Les énergies renouvelables sont-elles l’avenir ? | Are renewable energies the future? |
| Faut-il voyager moins pour protéger l’environnement ? | Should we travel less to protect the environment? |
| Les réseaux sociaux sont-ils bons pour les relations familiales ? | Are social networks good for family relationships? |
| Faut-il réduire notre consommation d’énergie ? | Should we reduce our energy consumption? |
| Les voitures électriques sont-elles la solution ? | Are electric cars the solution? |
| Faut-il planter plus d’arbres dans les villes ? | Should we plant more trees in cities? |
| Internet est-il une source d’information fiable ? | Is the internet a reliable source of information? |
Key Vocabulary for This Theme:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| l’environnement | the environment |
| la pollution | pollution |
| le recyclage | recycling |
| les transports | transport |
| une voiture | a car |
| une moto | a motorbike |
| un vélo | a bike |
| un piéton | a pedestrian |
| un centre-ville | a city centre |
| la banlieue | the suburbs |
| la campagne | the countryside |
| les énergies renouvelables | renewable energies |
| le développement durable | sustainable development |
| la technologie | technology |
| un réseau social | a social network |
| un smartphone | a smartphone |
| une application | an app |
| protéger | to protect |
| polluer | to pollute |
| réduire | to reduce |
Key Arguments You Can Prepare:
| Argument | Example |
|---|---|
| For closing city centres to cars: | It reduces pollution and noise. It makes cities safer for pedestrians. |
| Against closing city centres to cars: | It could harm local businesses. It is difficult for people with reduced mobility. |
| For new technologies: | They connect families who live far apart. They provide access to information. |
| Against new technologies: | They can reduce face-to-face interaction. They can be addictive. |
| For paying to go to the beach: | It helps protect natural sites. It can fund environmental projects. |
| Against paying to go to the beach: | Beaches are public spaces. It is a matter of social equality. |
| For carpooling: | It reduces costs and pollution. It promotes social interaction. |
| Against carpooling: | It requires coordination. It is not always reliable. |
Useful Expressions:
| French Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Il est urgent d’agir parce que… | It is urgent to act because… |
| Nous devons protéger l’environnement pour… | We must protect the environment to… |
| Les nouvelles technologies ont changé… | New technologies have changed… |
| Il est important de trouver un équilibre entre… | It is important to find a balance between… |
| À mon avis, la solution idéale serait… | In my opinion, the ideal solution would be… |
| Je comprends les arguments contre, mais… | I understand the arguments against, but… |
Your Speaking Test Cheat Sheet
| Theme | Key Topics | Sample Prompts |
|---|---|---|
| Society, Family & Daily Life | Family, education, childhood, aging, values | Summer jobs, exchange programmes, screen time, family relationships |
| Work, Studies & Career | Employment, work-life balance, training | Working from home, stress at work, work placements, career choices |
| Consumption, Leisure & Lifestyle | Food, shopping, hobbies, holidays | Cooking, prepared meals, paying to go to the beach, decorating homes |
| Environment, Technology & Transport | Pollution, sustainability, technology, travel | Carpooling, city centres, plastic bags, smart homes |
Final Thoughts
The DELF B1 speaking test covers predictable themes. You will not be asked about politics, philosophy or technical subjects. You will be asked about everyday topics that affect everyone: family, work, leisure, the environment and technology.
Many candidates try to memorise one answer for one speaking topic. Unfortunately, the DELF B1 exam rarely asks exactly the same question twice. A better strategy is to prepare by theme. Build your vocabulary, learn arguments for and against common issues, and practise explaining your opinion using personal examples. Once you can discuss a theme confidently, you’ll be ready for dozens of different prompts.
If you prepare vocabulary and arguments for these themes, and you practise expressing your opinion with examples, the anxiety disappears. The examiner does not expect you to be an expert. They expect you to demonstrate that you can understand the topic, express a clear opinion and justify it with concrete examples.
Now, take a deep breath. Start with one theme. Prepare vocabulary, arguments and expressions for that theme. Then move to the next.
