Bonjour!
Most FIDE preparation focuses on the oral exam, but the written part — "Lire et Écrire" — carries just as much weight for permit renewals and Swiss naturalisation, and it has its own logic that's worth understanding properly before exam day.
This guide covers which level you need depending on your situation, the scoring system, every task type, and three worked examples — a reply email, a formal letter, and an informal email.
At French via Skype, we help students prepare for every part of the FIDE test with one-to-one lessons tailored to your level and your exam date.
Which FIDE Level Do You Need — and Which Module Should You Choose?
- Permit B (residence permit): A1 oral only — no written part required.
- Permit C, regular (after 10 years): A2 oral, A1 written.
- Permit C, accelerated (after 5 years): B1 oral, A1 written.
- Naturalisation: B1 oral, A2 written.
Once you know your target written level, here's how to choose the right module:
- If A1 is enough for you, register for the A1–A2 module.
- If you need B1 written (rare, but required by some cantons for naturalisation), you must register for the A2–B1 module, since the A1–A2 module can't certify above A2.
- If your target is exactly A2, you can reach it through either module — but the bar differs: through the A1–A2 module, A2 requires 76% of the available points, while through the A2–B1 module, it only requires 39%. In other words, if A2 is genuinely your ceiling, the A2–B1 module is statistically the easier route to that same certification.
FIDE Written Test: The Exact Scoring System
FIDE A1–A2 Module: Tasks and Points
(48 points total)
- Task 1 — copy information from a text into an SMS reply (8 points)
- Task 2 — fill out a form with personal details (5 points)
- Task 3 — find and underline information in a text (5 points)
- Task 4 — fill out a form and add your own questions or remarks (11 points)
- Task 5 — find information across two texts and complete a list (5 points)
- Task 6 — reply to an email, covering the required points (14 points)
A1 threshold: 18.5 points (≈39%). A2 threshold: 36.5 points (≈76%).
FIDE A2–B1 Module: Tasks and Points
(59 points total)
- Task 7 — find information across two texts and complete a list (5 points)
- Task 8 — reply to an email, covering the required points (14 points)
- Task 9 — choose the correct summary of a text, twice (6 points)
- Task 10 — write a formal letter, covering the required points (9 points)
- Task 11 — choose the correct statement among three options, for four short texts (8 points)
- Task 12 — write an informal email, covering the required points (17 points)
A2 threshold: 23 points (≈39%). B1 threshold: 43 points (≈73%).
Notice how much weight sits on the last three writing tasks — together they're worth more than a third of the entire module.
FIDE Written Test: Three Fully Worked Examples
Example 1 — Replying to an Email (Task 8 Type, 14 Points)
Situation: You'd booked a meeting room at a hotel for a small work seminar. You receive a confirmation email from the hotel confirming the date, time, and number of guests. You need to reply, and your message must: explain that you need to postpone the seminar, ask the hotel for alternative dates the following month, and indicate the best way for them to reach you.
Bonjour Madame Roux,
Je vous remercie pour votre message de confirmation. Je suis cependant au regret de vous informer que je dois reporter notre séminaire, en raison d'un changement dans le planning de mon équipe.
Seriez-vous disponible pour me proposer d'autres dates le mois prochain, idéalement en semaine ? Je reste flexible sur les horaires.
Vous pouvez me joindre par e-mail ou au 079 123 45 67 si vous avez besoin de précisions.
Je vous remercie pour votre compréhension et reste à votre disposition.
Cordialement,
Karim Aydın
All three required elements appear clearly, the register matches a business exchange, and it opens and closes properly. Examiners check off each required element individually — a beautifully written reply that forgets the contact details still loses those points.
Example 2 — A Formal Letter (Task 10 Type, 9 Points)
Situation: You worked for a company that closed six months ago, and you still haven't received your final salary certificate (attestation de salaire), which you now need for an administrative procedure. You write to the company's former HR contact. Your letter must: give your name, date of birth and AVS number, state when you worked there and in what role, and explain why you need the document urgently.
Lausanne, le 14 mai 2026
Madame,
Je me permets de vous écrire car je n'ai toujours pas reçu mon attestation de salaire.
Je m'appelle Elena Petrova, née le 3 mars 1990, numéro AVS 756.1234.5678.90. J'ai travaillé au sein de votre entreprise de janvier 2022 à novembre 2025, en tant qu'assistante administrative.
J'ai besoin de ce document rapidement, car il m'est demandé pour finaliser une démarche auprès de l'office du chômage. Je vous serais très reconnaissante de bien vouloir me le transmettre dans les prochains jours.
Dans l'attente de votre réponse, je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, mes salutations distinguées.
Elena Petrova
The format matters as much as the content: date in the corner, formal greeting, clear paragraphs, and a proper closing formula with a signature.
Example 3 — An Informal Email (Task 12 Type, 17 Points — the Highest-Value Task)
Situation: A friend is choosing between two French courses and asks for your advice. Your email must: say why you're writing, give your own opinion on what makes a good French course, and recommend one option with a reason.
Salut Inès,
Je t'écris parce que tu m'as demandé un conseil pour ton cours de français, et j'ai bien réfléchi à ta question !
Pour moi, ce qui compte le plus dans un cours, c'est de pouvoir parler souvent, pas seulement faire de la grammaire sur papier. Apprendre une langue, ça se fait surtout en la pratiquant à l'oral.
Je te conseillerais le cours en petit groupe plutôt que le cours en ligne : tu pourras vraiment t'exprimer et poser des questions directement, et ça t'aidera plus vite pour tes études.
Dis-moi ce que tu en penses !
Bises,
Camille
Even at the informal register, the same logic applies: every required point is present, the tone stays consistently casual, and it opens and closes the way a real text between friends would.
What Costs You Points
Missing one required element costs points even when the French is excellent. Mixing formal and informal register within the same letter looks inconsistent to examiners. And running out of time on task 12 — worth more than tasks 9 and 11 combined — because too much time was spent perfecting an earlier, lower-value task, is one of the most common and most avoidable mistakes.
The Grammar Behind the FIDE Written Test
FIDE doesn't publish a grammar syllabus as such — like the rest of the test, it's built around CEFR levels and everyday situations, not isolated grammar rules. But certain structures come up again and again across the task types, and being solid on them makes a real difference.
For the A1–A2 module:
- The present tense of regular verbs and the most common irregulars (être, avoir, aller, faire)
- Simple negation (ne... pas)
- Possessives and articles
- Le futur proche (aller + infinitive) for talking about plans
- The imperative for simple instructions
- Basic connectors: et, mais, parce que, d'abord, ensuite
For the A2–B1 module, add:
- Le passé composé for narrating what happened
- The conditional of politeness (je voudrais, pourriez-vous, je vous serais reconnaissant) — essential for the formal letter task
- A wider range of connectors: cependant, de plus, c'est pourquoi, enfin
- Basic hypothesis structures (si + présent + futur)
Look back at the three worked examples above: the conditional politeness forms appear in both the hotel reply and the formal letter, and connectors carry the structure of all three.
FIDE Test Update for 2025–2026
Since January 1, 2025, it's no longer possible to convert another recognised certificate (DELF, Goethe, TCF) into the Swiss language passport. The FIDE test itself is now the only route, which makes targeted preparation worthwhile even for candidates who already hold another French qualification.
Practice with the Official FIDE Written Mock Exam
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) publishes an official mock written exam ("version blanche"), available free on the fide-service.ch attestations page. It's the best way to time yourself under real conditions before booking the actual test.
How We Help You Prepare for the FIDE Written Test
Our FIDE preparation is built entirely around your situation — your target permit, your current level, and how much time you have before your exam date.
Lessons are one-to-one and take place online, with flexible scheduling, and every writing task you complete is corrected in detail, the same way a real examiner would assess it
We also work on the B1 speaking part and the A2 oral test, so your oral and written preparation move forward together.
"In just three weeks of focused one-to-one lessons, Laure provided useful resources and worked through past FIDE exams to guide my preparation. She listened carefully to my needs, explained everything with great patience, and showed me exactly what to focus on. Thanks to her support, I passed the FIDE B1 speaking. She is now helping me prepare for my Swiss naturalisation interview."
William McMillan — FIDE B1, Lausanne
"I undertook 3 months of lessons to prepare for my FIDE test with Laure and was amazed by how much my French improved. From A1 level that I had more or less acquired with an app, I had to reach B1 for the test. Even after the test, I am continuing my lessons — I enjoy them so much, and I am so delighted to now be able to get by in French in any daily situation."
Roxana T. — Supply Chain Officer, Geneva
FIDE Written Test FAQ
Is the written part easier than the oral part?
Many candidates find it more predictable, since task types are fixed — but the three highest-value tasks (8, 10, 12) still require real preparation and account for over half the available points.
Can I retake just the written part?
Yes — oral and written are validated separately, so you only need to retake whichever part you didn't pass.
Do I need the written part for naturalisation?
Yes — A2 level in reading and writing, alongside B1 in speaking and listening.
Can I use a certificate I already have instead of taking the FIDE test?
No, not since January 2025 — DELF, Goethe and TCF certificates can no longer be converted into the FIDE language passport.
Where can I find a real FIDE written mock exam?
The SEM publishes official mock exams free of charge: the A1–A2 written mock exam and the A2–B1 written mock exam with full solutions. These are the closest thing to the real test you'll find anywhere.
What happens if I register for A2–B1 but only reach A2?
You're still certified — if you don't reach the higher level in your chosen module but you do reach the lower one, you receive the language passport for that lower level. Nothing is lost by aiming higher.
Who grades the written part?
It isn't graded on the spot by the same person who oversees your session. Written answers are assessed afterwards by trained evaluators at regional evaluation centres, using the same official criteria nationwide.
How much does the written part cost on its own?
CHF 120 if you only register for "Lire et écrire." The full test (oral and written) is CHF 250.
How long does it take to get my results?
Around four weeks by post. For exams taken between mid-December and mid-January, it can take up to six weeks.
Ready to Start Your FIDE Written Test Preparation?
The written part of the FIDE test is predictable once you know its structure — which makes it one of the most preparable parts of the exam. Practise with the official mock exam, learn a few reusable phrases, and focus your energy on the tasks worth the most points.
If you'd like personalised feedback on your own writing, get in touch — we're happy to help.
More FIDE Test Resources
