FIDE Test French A2 / B1 Speaking Topic Preparation Suggestions
FIDE test – Prepare for the FIDE with sample papers
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When preparing for the oral section of the French FIDE test, it is essential to be comfortable discussing various everyday situations. The examiners want to see if you can describe, ask, answer, and react naturally in French.
My Linguistics FIDE preparation materials cover a wide range of practice topics. Because there are so many, we have selected the most useful ones for learners who may not have time to review them all.
The topics below highlight areas that have appeared often in past FIDE oral tests. While nothing can be guaranteed on your FIDE test day, practicing these scenarios provides a strong foundation. Remember: FIDE examiners are not testing the truth of your answers — they are checking your ability to keep a conversation going.
A2 FIDE Test Level – Suggested Topics
Test FIDE A2 – Model tests
Acheter – Demander des informations en magasin (Shopping – Asking for product information)
In this task, you will practice asking a shop assistant for details about a product (price, size, color, and availability) and responding politely. You will also practice describing the situation in a short narrative and answering simple questions about your shopping habits.
- Acheter – Demander des informations en magasin (meubles)
- Acheter – Demander des informations en magasin (téléphone mobile)
Logement – Demander un service à un voisin (Housing – Asking a neighbor for help)
Here, you will practice asking a neighbor politely for help, such as borrowing something, requesting support with a small task, or asking for a favor. You will also practice apologizing for the interruption, explaining your reasons, and discussing how you usually interact with neighbors.
- Logement – Demander un service à un voisin (Demander un service)
- Logement – Demander un service à un voisin (Proposer de l’aide)
Médias & Loisirs – Réagir à une invitation (Leisure – Responding to an invitation)
In this activity, you will learn how to accept or refuse an invitation from a friend, apologise for arriving late, explain your reasons, and suggest alternatives. You will also practice describing past experiences with friends and discussing your typical leisure activities.
- Médias & Loisirs – Réagir à une invitation (Réagir à une invitation)
- Médias & Loisirs – Réagir à une invitation (Proposer un rendez-vous)
Travail – Un entretien d’embauche (Work – A job interview)
This task simulates a simple job interview and the situations around it. You will practice introducing yourself, describing your skills, and answering basic questions from an employer. You will also practice accepting an interview by phone, apologising for a delay and rescheduling, explaining your past work experience, apologising if you don’t understand a question, and expressing your preferences for future jobs.
- Travail – Un entretien d’embauche (Préparer et participer à un entretien)
- Travail – Un entretien d’embauche (Réagir à une invitation à un entretien)
B1 Level FIDE test– Suggested Topics
FIDE exam – B1 – Model tests
At the B1 level, examiners ask more comprehensive questions. The goal is to demonstrate that you can clearly describe, explain, and express your opinion while adding relevant details and supporting reasons. This part of the exam feels much more like a general conversation in French.
The questions below will help you think about these themes, enabling you to engage in a natural conversation on the subject. On the exam day, the exact questions may vary, but if you are comfortable with the general topic, you will be prepared to respond confidently.
Santé – Médecine alternative (Health – Alternative medicine)
In this task, you will practice discussing various types of treatments. You may compare traditional and alternative medicine, explain which one you prefer, and give reasons. You will also practice describing a medical experience, sharing your opinion politely, and reacting to another person’s ideas about health.
Médias & Loisirs – La cuisine / Excursion de voyage / Sortie entre amis (Leisure – Cooking / Trip / Evening out with friends)
Here you will practice describing your hobbies and free time. You may be asked to discuss meals you enjoy preparing, an excursion or trip you have taken, or a quiet evening with friends. You will also practice explaining how you organized the activity, apologizing if you could not attend, and sharing your opinion about leisure in general.
Housing – Les voisins / Chercher et louer un appartement (Housing – Neighbors / Looking for and renting an apartment)
These activities prepare you to talk about housing situations. You will practice describing relationships with neighbors, explaining possible problems, and suggesting solutions. You will also practice asking questions about apartments, comparing offers, and giving your opinion on what is essential in a place to live.
Post – Envoyer un paquet à l’étranger (Post – Sending a package abroad)
In this task, you will practice asking about sending a package abroad, including price, delivery times, and necessary forms. You will also practice describing past experiences at the post office, apologising for a mistake, and comparing postal services with online deliveries.
CTA: Would you like more information on the FIDE test? Explore our articles to learn everything about the oral and written parts of the exam, how the FIDE test is structured, and how to prepare with confidence.
Would you like more information on the FIDE test?
Explore our articles to learn everything about the oral and written parts of the exam, how the FIDE test is structured, and how to prepare with confidence.
Remember: your answers do not need to be factually true. The Fide test assesses your ability to communicate in French. The goal is to show that you can describe, explain, and react naturally in French. If you receive a question on exam day that you don’t know much about, or don’t feel like answering truthfully, it is not a problem to invent a response — as long as it shows that you understand the topic and stays relevant to the question.
Final Note – Prioritising general Language skills
While these materials are especially relevant, remember that the FIDE speaking test can draw from a wide range of topics. The safest preparation strategy is to be ready for any everyday situation, but focusing on these commonly recurring themes will give you a strong foundation and greater confidence on exam day.
If you have the time, we strongly recommend exploring a broader range of topics. It can be handy to skim through the papers to spot any vocabulary or question formats that are new to you. The best approach is to make yourself familiar with as many topics as possible. This is not only useful for the exam itself, but also for your general French proficiency. All of these themes are connected to everyday life, and discussing them will strengthen your overall language skills.