Bonjour!
If you live or work in the French-speaking part of Switzerland — such as Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, or Fribourg — the FIDE test (Français, Italiano, Deutsch in Switzerland) is a mandatory requirement for many immigration procedures, including the renewal of your B permit, the application for a C permit, or even Swiss citizenship.
It’s designed to prove your ability to live, work, and interact confidently in your local community.
Let’s explore how to succeed in the FIDE A2 Oral Test, what grammar and vocabulary you’ll need, and how to practice effectively — with examples from everyday life in Suisse romande.
What is the FIDE A2 Oral Test?
The oral exam evaluates your ability to speak and understand French in real Swiss situations — at work, in shops, with neighbors, or when calling the commune (mairie).
You must show that you can:
- introduce yourself and talk about your daily life;
- ask for and give information;
- describe a picture or situation;
- react naturally in short dialogues.
Duration: about 15–20 minutes
Goal: communicate clearly and politely — not perfect grammar, but understandable, functional French.
FIDE A2 Oral Test— Structure and Examples
The A2 oral exam for the FIDE test evaluates your ability to speak and interact in everyday situations in Switzerland. It usually includes three main parts: describing a picture, a role play, and follow-up questions about your own experience.
1. Describe a picture
In the first part, you will be shown a picture and asked to describe what you see. You should explain what is happening, who is there, and where the scene takes place.
For example:
“Je vois un homme au marché de Vevey. Il achète des fruits.”
You don’t need to give long sentences, but try to use complete ideas with verbs and some details.
2. Role play
Next, you will participate in a short dialogue that represents a real-life situation in Switzerland. The examiner plays a role, and you must react naturally.
For example:
“Vous appelez la commune pour demander une attestation.”
You could answer:
“Bonjour, je voudrais une attestation de domicile, s’il vous plaît.”
This section checks if you can manage everyday communication, such as making a phone call, asking for information, or solving a small problem.
3. Follow-up questions
Finally, the examiner will ask you simple questions related to the topic or to your own life. You’ll need to speak about your habits or experiences.
For example:
Examiner: “Et vous, vous allez souvent au marché ?”
Candidate: “Oui, j’y vais chaque samedi. J’aime acheter des produits frais.”
Here’s another complete example of an interaction:
Examiner: “Que voyez-vous sur cette image ?”
Candidate: “Je vois une femme qui attend le bus à Lausanne. Il fait froid, elle porte un manteau.”
Examiner: “Et vous, comment allez-vous au travail ?”
Candidate: “J’y vais en métro, je prends le M2 chaque matin.”
This part tests your ability to connect the topic of the picture to your personal experience — a key skill for real-life communication in French-speaking Switzerland.
FIDE A2 Oral Test — Grammar You’re Expected to Know
The FIDE A2 Oral Test evaluates not only your communication skills but also your basic grammar control. You don’t need to be perfect — small mistakes are normal — but your grammar must allow you to speak clearly and logically.
Here’s what you should master:
1. Present Tense (le présent de l’indicatif)
Be able to conjugate common verbs correctly:
être, avoir, aller, faire, venir, habiter, vouloir, pouvoir, devoir, prendre, dire, mettre
Example:
- Je travaille à Lausanne.
- Nous habitons à Genève.
- Je vais à la poste.
2. Past Tense (le passé composé)
Used to describe completed actions in the past:
Example:
- Hier, j’ai pris le train pour Neuchâtel.
- J’ai acheté du pain à la boulangerie.
3. Near Future (le futur proche)
To express future plans or intentions:
Example:
- Je vais aller au travail demain à 8 heures.
- Nous allons partir en vacances en Valais.
4. Imperatives and Polite Requests
Used to give instructions or ask politely:
Example:
- Prenez la première rue à gauche, s’il vous plaît.
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
5. Questions and Negations
Be able to ask simple questions and say what you don’t do:
Example:
- Où est la gare, s’il vous plaît ?
- Je ne comprends pas bien.
- Est-ce que vous pouvez m’aider ?
6. Pronouns and Prepositions
Basic use of y and en and common prepositions (à, de, dans, sur, chez):
Example:
- J’y vais tous les jours. (I go there every day.)
- Je viens de France, j’habite à Lausanne.
7. Simple Connectors
To organize your ideas and sound natural:
Example:
et, mais, parce que, donc, après, puis, alors
“Je prends le bus parce qu’il pleut.”
Tips to Succeed in the FIDE A2 Oral Test
Learn useful French phrases
Polite expressions are very important in Swiss French culture:
- Je voudrais… — I would like
- Est-ce que je peux… ? — Can I…?
- Excusez-moi, j’ai une question… — Excuse me, I have a question
Practice real Swiss situations
Prepare for topics that really happen in daily life:
- Buying a CFF train ticket
- Talking to your landlord about heating
- Calling la commune for an appointment
- Visiting a doctor or pharmacy
Listen to Swiss French
Listen to RTS (Radio Télévision Suisse) or podcasts like On en parle to understand accents and intonation.
Speak every day
Even short moments count: describe what you do, your plans, or your weekend.
“Aujourd’hui, je vais au travail en bus.”
“Hier, j’ai fait mes courses à Migros.”
Stay calm and smile to succeed in the FIDE A2 Oral Test
It’s not about perfect grammar — it’s about showing that you can communicate naturally.
Here are some practice exercises to help you strengthen your speaking skills and feel confident for your FIDE A2 Oral Test in French-speaking Switzerland.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 — Describe an Image
Choose a photo from daily life (a bus stop, a market, an office).
→ Speak for one minute.
Je vois une femme avec un sac. Elle attend le bus. Il fait froid, elle porte un manteau.
Exercise 2 — Role Play
Call the commune (mairie):
Bonjour, je m’appelle Sofia Rossi. J’aimerais savoir les horaires du bureau des étrangers, s’il vous plaît.
Exercise 3 — Quick Questions
Answer orally:
- Qu’est-ce que vous faites le matin ?
- Qu’est-ce que vous aimez dans votre ville ?
- Qu’est-ce que vous faites si vous êtes malade ?
Exercise 4 — Find and Conjugate
Complete with the correct verb and tense.
- Hier, je ______ (aller) à la poste.
- Demain, nous ______ (faire) une promenade.
- Je ______ (habiter) à Genève depuis deux ans.
- Est-ce que vous ______ (pouvoir) répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
Cultural Tips for Suisse Romande
To sound natural and comfortable, learn local vocabulary:
🇨🇭 un natel = a mobile phone (instead of portable)
🇨🇭 une action = a discount or sale
🇨🇭 ça joue ? = “Is that okay?”
🇨🇭 les poubelles sont ramassées le jeudi — yes, that’s a typical conversation topic!
Small details like this show you understand Swiss daily life.
Prepare with a Professional FIDE Tutor
Preparing alone can be stressful, especially when you need guidance on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
With a professional FIDE preparation tutor, you can:
- Simulate real speaking situations from the exam
- Get corrections and clear explanations of grammar and tenses
- Expand your vocabulary for Swiss daily life
- Learn to speak naturally and confidently
Since 2014, we’ve helped many expatriates in Switzerland improve their French, integrate into local life, and feel more confident communicating in everyday situations — at work, in their neighborhood, and within the community. Our lessons are online, flexible, and fully personalized, adapted to your level, schedule, and goals.
Whether you need just a few practice sessions or a complete preparation plan, you’ll receive expert guidance and motivation every step of the way.
We’ve also supported numerous learners preparing for immigration and permit applications, helping them strengthen their French for B permit and C permit renewals and ensuring they feel at ease navigating daily life in French-speaking Switzerland.
Our FIDE A2 Oral Courses: How Do They Work?
Our FIDE A2 Oral courses are delivered via Zoom or Teams or on the platform of your choice covering all aspects of the French language in order to best support you in your objectives.
Our A2 tuition is personalized, tailored to your specific needs and pace allowing you to achieve your goals more effectively than in a group or classroom setting.
- We will design a personalized study plan for you, based on your specific needs and your language level.
- We offer an effective preparation with tailored learning materials (full range of A2 ressources and assessments).
- Our French lessons target key areas such as listening and speaking and meticulously work on each grammar point such as French connectors or the subjunctive to ensure that each area meets the requirements required for the B1 level.
- For homework, we will assign you work to practice grammar, develop your vocabulary and prepare oral comprehension, and oral production tasks. The homework will then be prepared and reviewed by your FIDE French tutor.
- We offer you great planning flexibility. Our French tutor is available all year, during the holidays and after work hours.
We are happy to support many expatriates to guarantee their success in the French FIDE test.
Some testimonials from students are below.
“ Laure helped me prepare for my Fide exam in a very short time (5 weeks). I knew that this exam was coming up and that I had no choice but to take it, so I contacted her although I was not very motivated. Laure showed great patience and I immediately felt that she knew my profile well. She was able to motivate and encourage me while giving me hope that I would be able to pass this exam. Her method is based on simulation of a real exam situation, with real exam questions. She shared various useful tools to help prepare for the specific levels (A1 and A2). Laure not only helped me take the exam but she also makes sure that you apply the language in your daily life. Laure constantly supported me and I can never thank her enough for all the efforts she made to help me. I definitely recommend Laure to anyone who needs to take the Fide, and wish to learn in a supportive, positive environment.“
Alban Pilanevic
Consultant - Geneva
“ I undertook 3 months of lessons to prior my FIDE test with Laure and was amazed by how much my French improved over this time. From A1 level that I had more or less acquired with an app, I had to reach B1 for the test. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Laure without her focused preparation, insightful guidance, and structured lessons, I would not have done nearly as well with fide without her. Even after the test, I am continuing my lessons with Laure, I enjoy them so much, and I am so delighted to now be able to get by in French in any daily situation.I highly recommend her expertise to anyone aiming to pass the French FIDE test and to anyone interested in learning French regardless of their skill level. Merci beaucoup! ”
Roxana T
Supply chain officer - Geneva
“I started my French classes with Laure a few months ago and I have to say that I am really impressed with the advance and how fast I have been able to learn with her. Specially, because now I am able to have a fluid discussion with a group of people and my pronunciation has evolved significantly. I had learnt languages with other teachers but had not experienced such a fast evolution before. Laure is a great teacher and designs the class individually. She is an active listener and has an excellent ear, so I find that she prepares the classes to help the student to improve in those aspects that are key for the student to improve in French and the results are just amazing. Looking forward to continue with my French classes with Laure and my journey to improve in French! I really recommend Laure as a teacher for anyone who wants to learn this beautiful language!”.
Carmen Miguel - lawyer
Lausanne
At French via Skype, we specialize in FIDE test preparation to help you certify your French language level with confidence and success. Our personalized lessons are designed to make you feel fully equipped — ready to speak naturally, understand clearly, and integrate smoothly into life in French-speaking Switzerland.
If you’d like to discuss your goals or create a customized study plan, we’ll be delighted to assist you.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to sign up for your lessons.
À bientôt !
