If you are preparing for TEF Canada expression orale, it helps to know that the test is a short role-play, not a lecture. You are not asked to give a perfect speech: you are asked to talk naturally, keep the conversation going and react to what the other person says. This guide explains both sections, gives you a structure to rehearse and lists the habits that make a safe NCLC 7 performance. It is general guidance in our own words, not official exam content.
How the TEF Canada speaking test works
Expression orale is one of the four TEF Canada sections, alongside compréhension orale, compréhension écrite and expression écrite. It is a one-to-one conversation with an examiner who plays the person described in the task, and it is usually recorded so that evaluators can mark it. In total it lasts roughly 15 minutes, with a shorter first task and a longer second task.
- Two sections: Section A is a role-play to get information; Section B is a role-play to persuade.
- You prepare briefly: you read the situation, then speak. You do not get long to plan, so you need habits you can use automatically.
- It is a dialogue: the examiner answers you, hesitates, objects and changes the direction. Listening matters as much as speaking.
Exact timings and instructions can be changed by the organisers. Check the current format with the CCI Paris Île-de-France or your test centre before you book.
Section A: ask questions about an ad
In Section A you read a short advertisement or notice (for example a course, a service, an event or something for sale) and you contact the person behind it to find out more. The goal is to get information, so most of what you say should be questions.
- Greet and explain why you are calling. One short sentence: you saw the ad and you are interested.
- Prepare more questions than you need. Think of price, dates, place, conditions, what is included and how to register.
- Vary your question forms. Mix est-ce que…, inversion (Pouvez-vous…) and simple intonation so you do not repeat one pattern.
- React to the answers. Say d'accord, je vois, then ask a follow-up. This shows you understand.
- Check the register. Use vous if you are speaking to a stranger or a business. Follow the situation in the task.
Section B: convince someone
In Section B you meet a friend or acquaintance who is hesitant about something, such as joining an activity, taking a course or going on a trip. Your job is to persuade them. This is the longer and more demanding section, so it is where your score is most often decided.
- Start by understanding the objection. Ask why they hesitate before you argue. It makes your answers more relevant.
- Give reasons, not just opinions. Ça va te plaire is weak; ça te permettra de rencontrer des gens et de pratiquer le français is an argument.
- Answer objections one by one. If the examiner says it is too expensive or too far, respond to that point directly.
- Keep talking. Long silences are costly. If you lack a word, explain it with simpler words instead of stopping.
- Close politely. End with a suggestion or a plan, such as proposing a date or offering to go together.
Follow the register the task gives you. Between friends the tone is usually informal, but keep your French clear and correct even when it is relaxed.
A simple structure for each section
| Section | Stage | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A | Open | Greet, say which ad you saw, say you want some information |
| A | Middle | Ask 8–10 varied questions (price, timing, place, conditions), reacting to each answer |
| A | Close | Summarise what you understood, thank the person, say what you will do next |
| B | Open | Introduce your idea in one or two sentences and ask what the other person thinks |
| B | Middle | Give two or three strong reasons with examples; answer each objection |
| B | Close | Propose a concrete next step and ask for a decision |
What speaking level do you need?
- Express Entry French bonus: the usual target is NCLC 7 in all four skills, speaking included.
- C16 Francophone Mobility work permit: generally NCLC 5 in oral skills (listening and speaking), so expression orale is the skill that matters most for that permit.
Your TEF speaking score is converted to an NCLC level using an official IRCC chart. We do not reproduce score bands here because they can change; check the current table on the IRCC website. For the bigger picture, see our TEF Canada guide, our C16 work permit guide and our NCLC 7 guide.
Mistakes that cost points
- Speaking too little. One-word answers and long pauses leave evaluators with little to mark. Develop each answer with a reason or an example.
- Reading the situation wrongly. Using tu with a stranger, or vous with a close friend when the task says otherwise, signals a register error.
- Memorised speeches. A learned text sounds unnatural and falls apart when the examiner interrupts. Learn phrases, not paragraphs.
- Ignoring the examiner. If you do not answer their objection, the conversation stalls. Listen, then respond to what was actually said.
- Freezing on a missing word. Describe it another way (c'est une chose qui sert à…) and keep going.
- Repeating one connector. Using only et and mais sounds basic. Add a few others such as donc, parce que and en plus.
- Rushing. Speak at a steady pace so your pronunciation stays clear.
Get comfortable speaking French on demand
FrenchPathway gives you TCF & TEF-style practice you can try for free, so exam conditions feel familiar on test day.
Try 3 free questions → No card. No email. Start in 10 seconds.A weekly practice routine
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Section A: pick any real ad in French, write 10 questions, then ask them aloud as if on the phone | 15 min |
| Wed | Section B: choose an activity and argue for it aloud for 5 minutes, recording yourself | 20 min |
| Fri | Full simulation: both sections back to back with a partner or teacher playing the examiner | 20 min |
| Weekend | Review: listen to your recording, note your three most frequent mistakes, redo one answer | 20 min |
No partner? Record yourself, answer your own objections out loud and listen back. Fixing one recurring mistake per week improves your score faster than simply talking more.
Useful phrases
- Opening a call: Bonjour, je vous appelle au sujet de votre annonce.
- Asking for information: Pourriez-vous me préciser…, Est-ce que…, Quel est le tarif ?
- Checking you understood: Si je comprends bien…, Donc, c'est…
- Starting to persuade: Je pense que tu devrais…, Tu ne le regretteras pas.
- Giving reasons: d'abord, en plus, de cette façon, c'est pourquoi
- Answering an objection: Je comprends, mais…, Justement, c'est l'occasion de…
- Buying time: Comment dire…, Disons que…, C'est-à-dire que…
- Closing: Alors, on essaie ?, Merci beaucoup, bonne journée.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the TEF Canada speaking test?
Expression orale lasts roughly 15 minutes in total, split between a shorter Section A and a longer Section B. Timings can change, so confirm the current format with the CCI Paris Île-de-France or your test centre.
What is the difference between Section A and Section B?
In Section A you ask questions to get information about an advertisement. In Section B you try to convince a friend or acquaintance to do something, answering their objections. Section B is longer and more demanding.
Is TEF Canada expression orale a conversation with a real person?
Yes. An examiner plays the role described in the task and responds to you, and the exchange is assessed by trained evaluators. Practise reacting to what someone says, not only delivering prepared sentences.
What speaking level do I need for Express Entry?
For the French bonus points the key target is NCLC 7 in every skill, including speaking. The C16 Francophone Mobility work permit generally needs NCLC 5 in oral skills. Always confirm current thresholds on the official IRCC website.
Should I use tu or vous in the TEF Canada oral test?
Follow the situation in the task. With a stranger or a business, use vous. With a friend, the informal tu is natural. Whichever you choose, stay consistent throughout the section.
How can I practise TEF Canada speaking alone?
Record yourself answering a real French ad with questions, then arguing for an activity for five minutes. Listen back, note repeated mistakes and redo the weakest answer. A teacher or exchange partner playing the examiner makes practice more realistic.
General information as of October 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Test formats, thresholds and score equivalencies change; verify current requirements on the official IRCC website. No practice method guarantees a score. FrenchPathway is an independent exam-prep service, not affiliated with IRCC, France Éducation international, or the CCI Paris.
