You passed the DELF A2. You are now looking at B1, and you have probably heard that the oral exam is the part that makes candidates most anxious. This is where many students get stuck.
At A2, the speaking test was relatively straightforward. You introduced yourself, answered simple questions about your daily life and handled a short role-play. The examiner wanted to see if you could communicate basic information.
At B1, the game changes. The examiner wants to know whether you can express yourself more independently, give your opinion, describe experiences and justify your ideas with examples. They test your ability to organise your thoughts into a coherent structure and to interact in less predictable situations—not just your ability to produce correct sentences. The speaking test is worth 25 points out of 100, and a score below 5 out of 25 in this section is eliminatory, regardless of your other scores.
The good news? The oral exam follows a predictable structure, even though the topics and follow-up questions vary. You know exactly how it is structured, what the examiner expects and how you will be assessed. In this guide, you will learn:
the structure, timing and marking of the DELF B1 speaking test;
what changes from A2 to B1;
a step-by-step strategy for each of the three parts;
how to prepare independently without a teacher;
key phrases and connectors to use on exam day.
1. What Changes from A2 to B1?
Let us look at the specific differences in what examiners expect at each level.
| Criterion | At A2 | At B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Guided Interview | Introduce yourself; answer simple questions. | Give more detailed responses; provide reasons and explanations; handle interruptions with follow-up questions. |
| Part 2: Interactive Exercise | Simple role-play (shopping, ordering food). | More complex scenarios involving conflicts, negotiation or problem-solving; no preparation time. |
| Part 3: Expressing an Opinion | Not present at A2. | Present and defend a point of view based on a short document; 10 minutes of preparation. |
| Structure | Basic sentences. | Clear organisation with introduction, arguments, examples and conclusion. |
| Connectors | Basic: et, mais, parce que. | Wider range: cependant, en revanche, par conséquent, en effet. |
| Interaction | Respond to questions. | Handle interruptions, disagreement and follow-up questions from the examiner. |
| Duration | 5-7 minutes. | 10-15 minutes. |
The Most Important Difference: At A2, you describe. At B1, you justify. Instead of simply saying “I like my city,” you must say “I like my city because it offers many cultural activities. For example, there are several museums and theatres that I visit regularly.”
2. The Structure of DELF B1 Production Orale
The oral test lasts 10 to 15 minutes, preceded by 10 minutes of preparation time that is reserved for the third part only. You do not prepare for the first two parts—they begin immediately when you enter the room.
Critical Note: The speaking test is worth one quarter of your total score. To pass the DELF B1, you need at least 50 out of 100 overall and a minimum of 5 out of 25 in each section. A score below 5 in the oral test is eliminatory, even if your other scores are excellent
The test is divided into three parts:
| Part | Name | Duration | Preparation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guided Interview (Entretien dirigé) | 2-3 minutes | None | 3 |
| 2 | Interactive Exercise (Exercice en interaction) | 3-4 minutes | None | 5 |
| 3 | Expressing an Opinion (Expression d’un point de vue) | 5-7 minutes | 10 minutes | 5 |
| Linguistic Skills | Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation | Assessed across all parts | – | 12 |
| Total | 10-15 minutes | 25 |
3. Part 1: The Guided Interview (Entretien dirigé)
What Happens
This part lasts 2 to 3 minutes and has no preparation time. The examiner invites you to talk about yourself: your studies, work, hobbies, family, past experiences and future plans. The examiner usually begins with a question like: “Bonjour, pouvez-vous vous présenter, s’il vous plaît ?”
The Difference from A2: At B1, the examiner may interrupt your prepared presentation to ask follow-up questions about something you just mentioned. For example, if you mention that you enjoy travelling, the examiner might ask: “À quel moment de l’année préférez-vous prendre vos vacances ? Pourquoi ?” You must pause, answer the question and then continue.
What the Examiner Is Assessing
Can you speak about yourself with confidence, giving information, reasons and explanations related to your interests, projects and actions? (2 points)
Can you engage in an unprepared exchange on a familiar topic? (1 point)
The Strategy: Prepare Your “Life Story” in Modules
Do not memorise a single script. The examiner may interrupt you, so you need flexibility. Prepare short modules of content that you can rearrange:
Module 1: Who you are
Name, age, nationality, where you live, what you do (student or work).
Module 2: Your family
Family members, what they do, where they live.
Module 3: Your studies or work
What you are studying or what your job involves, how long you have been doing it, what you like about it.
Module 4: Your hobbies
What you do in your free time, how often, why you enjoy it.
Module 5: Your past experiences
Recent holidays, a memorable experience, an important event.
Module 6: Your future plans
Plans for next holidays, professional ambitions, personal projects.
Key Verbs to Master: être, avoir, faire, aller, vouloir, aimer, habiter, travailler, étudier, passer (des vacances).
Key Tenses to Control: Present, passé composé, imparfait, near future (futur proche), simple future (futur simple).
Example of a Developed Answer:
A2 level: “J’aime le cinéma.”
B1 level: “J’aime beaucoup le cinéma, surtout les films dramatiques. Par exemple, j’ai vu récemment un film français qui m’a beaucoup touché parce qu’il parlait de sujets importants comme la famille et la liberté.”
What to Do If You Do Not Understand
If you do not understand a question, do not panic. You can say:
“Pardon monsieur/madame, est-ce que vous pouvez répéter la question ?”
“Je ne comprends pas très bien. Pourriez-vous m’expliquer un petit peu ?”
4. Part 2: The Interactive Exercise (Exercice en interaction)
What Happens
This part lasts 3 to 4 minutes and has no preparation time. You draw two topics at random and choose one. The topic describes a situation from everyday life that you must resolve through a role-play with the examiner. The examiner plays the other character.
The Difference from A2: At A2, the scenarios were simple (buying something, asking for directions). At B1, the situations are more complex and often involve conflict, negotiation or problem-solving.
Example Topic: “Vous êtes en vacances au Québec. Dans la résidence où vous logez, votre voisin écoute la radio jusqu’à 23h, le soir, et le volume est trop fort. Vous allez lui parler et essayer de le convaincre d’arrêter d’écouter la musique si tard et si fort. L’examinateur joue le rôle du voisin.”
What the Examiner Is Assessing
Can you handle unprepared situations, even somewhat unusual ones, in everyday life? (1 point)
Can you adapt your speech acts to the situation? (2 points)
Can you respond to the interlocutor’s prompts—verify and confirm information, comment on another person’s point of view? (2 points)
The Strategy: Know Your Role
Identify the relationship: Are you talking to a friend? A neighbour? A shopkeeper? This determines whether you use tu or vous.
Know your goal: What must you achieve? (Get a refund? Resolve a noise complaint? Convince someone to help you?)
Stay in character: The examiner may act annoyed or uncooperative. Do not take it personally. It is a test of your ability to negotiate.
Aim for a resolution: Try to move the conversation towards a solution. This shows you can manage conflict.
Key Phrases for This Section:
“Je comprends votre point de vue, mais…” (I understand your point of view, but…)
“Est-ce que vous pourriez…” (Could you…)
“Je vous propose de…” (I propose that we…)
“D’accord, mais à condition que…” (Agreed, on the condition that…)
“Je suis désolé, mais ce n’est pas possible parce que…” (I’m sorry, but that’s not possible because…)
5. Part 3: Expressing an Opinion (Expression d’un point de vue)
What Happens
This is the only part you can prepare. It lasts 5 to 7 minutes and is preceded by 10 minutes of preparation time.
You draw two short documents (100-150 words—usually press articles or website excerpts) and choose one. During your preparation time, you must analyse the document, identify the main theme and prepare a structured presentation of your opinion.
The presentation itself lasts about 3 minutes. After you finish, the examiner asks follow-up questions to challenge or deepen your position.
What the Examiner Is Assessing
Can you present the topic in a simple and direct way? (1 point)
Can you present and explain the main points of a personal reflection with reasonable precision? (2.5 points)
Can you link a series of elements into a discourse clear enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time? (1.5 point)
The Strategy: Structure Your Presentation
Do not improvise. Use the following structure, which you can practise during your preparation time:
Step 1: Present the Document
“Alors, le document dont je vais parler aujourd’hui s’intitule…” (The document I’m going to talk about today is called…)
“C’est un document qui a été publié sur le site…” (It’s a document published on the website…)
“Il s’agit d’un article de presse sur…” (It’s a press article about…)
Step 2: Identify the Theme
“Ce texte aborde la question de…” (This text addresses the question of…)
“Le thème de ce document, c’est donc…” (The theme of this document is therefore…)
Step 3: Present the Author’s Idea
“L’idée défendue par l’auteur est que…” (The author’s idea is that…)
Step 4: Give Your Opinion
“Pour ma part, je pense que…” (For my part, I think that…)
“À mon avis, je suis d’accord avec l’auteur parce que…” (In my opinion, I agree with the author because…)
“Contrairement à l’auteur, je crois que…” (Unlike the author, I believe…)
Step 5: Present Arguments with Examples
Use the P-D-E structure (Point, Development, Example).
“Tout d’abord, un avantage de… c’est que…” (First, an advantage of… is that…)
“Par exemple…” (For example…)
Step 6: Present a Counter-Argument or Nuance
“Cependant, il y a aussi quelques inconvénients…” (However, there are also some disadvantages…)
“Il est vrai que certains pensent que…” (It’s true that some people think…)
Step 7: Conclude
“En conclusion, je dirais que…” (In conclusion, I would say that…)
“Pour conclure, je terminerai en disant que…” (To conclude, I will finish by saying…)
Step 8: Invite Questions
“Voilà, j’ai terminé. Si vous avez des questions, je serais heureux d’y répondre.” (That’s it, I’ve finished. If you have questions, I would be happy to answer.)
The “Keyword-Only Notes” Method
During your 10 minutes of preparation, write keywords only—not full sentences. Your notes are there to trigger your memory, not to serve as a script to read. If you write full sentences, you will be tempted to read, which reduces your spontaneity and can cost you points.
Instead of writing:
“Dans la société moderne, les réseaux sociaux jouent un rôle important dans la communication entre les jeunes…”
Write:
“Réseaux sociaux — communication — jeunes — important”
Your brain will naturally produce the full sentences when you speak. This is what examiners want to hear: natural, spontaneous speech, not a recited text.
6. The Connector Toolkit for B1 Oral
Examiners reward candidates who can link their ideas logically. Here is your toolkit for B1:
| Purpose | Phrases |
|---|---|
| To introduce / start | Tout d’abord, Pour commencer, D’abord, En premier lieu |
| To add information | De plus, En outre, Par ailleurs, Aussi |
| To contrast | Cependant, En revanche, Par contre, Pourtant, Au contraire |
| To give an example | Par exemple, Notamment, Ainsi |
| To explain cause | Parce que, Car, En effet, Étant donné que |
| To show consequence | Donc, Par conséquent, C’est pourquoi, Ainsi |
| To conclude | En conclusion, Pour conclure, En somme, Finalement |
7. How to Prepare Without a Teacher
You do not need a teacher to practise for the oral exam. Here is a weekly self-study plan:
Daily Habit: Speak Out Loud
Every day, speak French out loud for 5-10 minutes. Describe your morning routine, comment on a news article, give your opinion on a topic you have just read about. The fluency comes from oral practice, not from silent reading.
Day 1: Part 1 (Guided Interview)
Record yourself answering common guided interview questions. Listen back. Did you give developed answers with reasons and examples? Or did you give one-word answers? Practise until you can speak for 2 minutes without hesitation.
Day 2: Part 2 (Interactive Exercise)
Find a practice partner (a classmate, a friend, or even a tutor on italki). Create scenarios with conflict—a neighbour playing loud music, a shop refusing a refund, a friend cancelling plans. Practise negotiating a resolution. If you have no partner, write out both sides of a dialogue yourself and speak them aloud.
Day 3: Part 3 (Expressing an Opinion)
Find a short French news article (Le Monde, RFI, France Info). Read it. Give yourself 10 minutes to prepare notes using keywords only. Then record yourself presenting your opinion for 3 minutes. Listen back and evaluate your structure. Did you present the document? Identify the theme? Give your opinion? Provide examples? Conclude?
Day 4: The “Simulation” Day
Do a full mock test. Set a timer: 10 minutes of preparation for Part 3, then 10-15 minutes to complete all three parts. Record the entire session. Listen back and identify your weak points. Was it vocabulary? Grammar? Pronunciation? Structure? Work on these next week.
8. What to Do If You Freeze
The examiner expects candidates to be nervous. If you lose your train of thought or do not know how to continue, use these phrases to buy time:
“C’est une question très intéressante, laissez-moi réfléchir un instant…” (That’s a very interesting question, let me think for a moment…)
“Comment dire…” (How to say…)
“Pour être plus précis, je dirais que…” (To be more precise, I would say…)
If you truly do not understand the examiner’s question, ask for repetition or reformulation:
“Pardon, pourriez-vous répéter la question ?” (Sorry, could you repeat the question?)
“Pourriez-vous reformuler la question, s’il vous plaît ?” (Could you rephrase the question, please?) – “Je ne suis pas sûr d’avoir bien compris…” (I’m not sure I understood well…)
Build Your Language Before You Speak
Many candidates think speaking practice starts when they begin talking. In reality, fluent speaking starts much earlier. Before practising an oral topic, learn the key vocabulary, collocations and expressions related to that theme. Prepare examples from your own life and think about how you would justify your opinion. When the language is already familiar, you can focus on communicating confidently instead of searching for words.
This reinforces the distinction between learning the language and performing in the exam, which is a recurring strength of your French Exam Hub approach.
Your B1 Oral Cheat Sheet
| Goal | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Part 1: Guided Interview | Prepare modules on your life, studies, hobbies, past, future. Give developed answers with reasons and examples. Handle interruptions calmly. |
| Part 2: Interactive Exercise | Identify your role and goal. Negotiate towards a solution. Stay in character. Use vous unless the situation demands tu. |
| Part 3: Expressing an Opinion | Use the 8-step structure. Write keyword notes, not full sentences. Support opinions with examples. |
| Connectors | Vary your connectors. Avoid repeating the same ones. |
| Daily practice | Speak French out loud every day. Record yourself and listen back. |
| Simulate exam conditions | Do full mock tests with a timer. |
| If you freeze | Use phrases to buy time. Ask for repetition if needed. |
Final Thoughts
The DELF B1 oral exam is a conversation, not an interrogation. The examiner does not want to see a perfect candidate. They want to see a prepared one—someone who can speak about themselves, handle everyday situations, express and defend an opinion and interact naturally with the examiner.
If you prepare for each part strategically, use keyword notes for your preparation, practise speaking out loud every day and build your toolkit of connectors and phrases, the anxiety disappears. The examiner expects you to make mistakes. What they are looking for is your ability to keep communicating despite them.
You already proved you can handle A2. Now it is time to take the next step. And now—you know exactly how to do it.
