Bonjour!
If you’re preparing for the French FIDE test in Switzerland, the B1 speaking part (parler) is one of the most important sections of the exam. This part evaluates your ability to speak clearly and naturally about everyday situations — describing experiences, expressing opinions, and reacting appropriately to different scenarios.
The B1 speaking test is structured as a series of questions.
You will choose between two topics, and you must answer with clear, structured, and fluent speech. Your answers should show a good command of vocabulary, grammar, and communication strategies.
What Are the Goals of the B1 Speaking Test?
At the B1 level, you are expected to be able to:
- Describe an experience
- Describe a process or a procedure
- Discuss the positive and negative aspects of a situation
- Express and defend your opinion on a hypothetical situation
Let’s take a closer look at what each of these tasks involves — and the types of questions you might encounter in the FIDE B1 speaking test.
1. Describe an experience
These questions invite you to talk about your personal experiences.
You’ll need to use past tense passé composé and imparfait to describe what you did and how it went.
Example questions:
- Quelles expériences de travail avez-vous faites ?
- Avez-vous déjà suivi un cours de formation continue ? Racontez-nous comment c’était !
- Quelle a été la dernière fête à laquelle vous avez participé ? C’était à quelle occasion ?
Tip: When you describe an experience, start by saying when it happened, then explain what you did, and finish by giving your opinion or feelings. Use time markers like d’abord, ensuite, puis, à la fin.
2. Describe a process or a procedure
In this part, you’ll explain what steps you took in a process — for example, administrative procedures when you arrived in Switzerland.
Example questions:
- Qu’avez-vous dû faire lorsque vous êtes arrivé(e) dans votre commune ?
- Quelles démarches faut-il faire pour s’inscrire à la commune ?
Grammar focus: Use passé composé for specific completed actions (J’ai dû remplir un formulaire, j’ai présenté mes papiers d’identité), and imparfait for background information (il y avait beaucoup de monde à la mairie).
3. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of a situation
Here, you must discuss both sides of a topic — the advantages and disadvantages. You’ll need to use logical connectors such as d’un côté… de l’autre, cependant, en revanche, tandis que, par contre.
Example questions:
- Qu’est-ce que vous aimez et que vous n’aimez pas dans votre commune ?
- Quels sont les avantages et les désavantages des petites et des grandes communes ?
- Quels sont les avantages et les désavantages du monde du travail en Suisse ?
- À votre avis, quels sont les points positifs et négatifs d’une fête avec beaucoup d’invités ?
- À votre avis, quels sont les côtés positifs et négatifs de suivre une formation en plus de son travail ?
Tip: You can organize your answer like this:
D’un côté, c’est pratique parce que… mais de l’autre, c’est parfois difficile parce que…
Grammar focus: Use comparatives to compare ideas — plus calme que, moins cher que, aussi intéressant que.
4. Express your opinion on a hypothetical situation
This section evaluates your ability to express opinions using le conditionnel présent and the hypothesis structure (Si + imparfait + conditionnel présent).
Example questions:
- Si vous étiez maire / syndic / président de commune, qu’est-ce que vous changeriez dans votre commune ?
- Est-ce que vous feriez un bon / une bonne chef ? Pourquoi ?
- Pourriez-vous envisager d’apprendre un nouveau métier ? Pourquoi ? Pourquoi pas ?
- Quelle fête ou tradition de votre pays aimeriez-vous voir exister aussi en Suisse, et pourquoi ?
Tip: Start your sentences with Si j’étais… je ferais… or J’aimerais que…. Show that you can imagine and explain reasons clearly.
Grammar focus:
Master these structures:
- Si j’étais maire, je changerais…
- J’aimerais apprendre un nouveau métier parce que…
- Je voudrais que cette tradition existe aussi en Suisse.
Grammar and Vocabulary to Master
For the FIDE B1 speaking test, it’s essential to have a solid command of the following grammar and vocabulary areas:
- Past tenses (passé composé and imparfait) – to describe past experiences clearly and accurately
- Comparatives and superlatives – to express similarities and differences between people, places, or situations
- Logical connectors – such as on one hand / on the other hand, however, in contrast to structure your arguments
- Conditional tense and hypothetical clauses – using if + imperfect + conditional present to discuss imagined situations
- Opinion expressions – such as I think that, I believe that, in my opinion, according to me to express and justify your views
- Daily life and Swiss workplace vocabulary – to communicate naturally about everyday routines, community life, and work-related topics in Switzerland
Prepare effectively with French via Skype
At French via Skype, our experienced native French tutor helps students prepare for the FIDE B1 speaking test with personalized online lessons.
You will learn how to:
- Improve pronunciation, grammar, and fluency
- Strengthen your listening and speaking for everyday communication
- Express yourself confidently about Swiss French culture
- Practise real FIDE B1 speaking questions and mock exams
Each lesson is tailored to your level, pace, and goals, ensuring steady progress and confidence on exam day.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re planning to take the FIDE B1 test and want to feel confident when speaking French, we’d be happy to help.
You can book an introductory session to discuss your goals and start preparing effectively.
Learn more about our FIDE preparation courses here:
https://frenchviaskype.com/skype/fide
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Consultant - Geneva
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Supply chain officer - Geneva
At French via Skype, we specialize in preparing students for the French FIDE test, helping you certify your language level with confidence and the right skills to succeed.
If you’d like to discuss your goals, we’d be happy to create a personalized study plan tailored to your needs.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or to sign up for lessons.
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