TEF Canada Preparation Course: TEF Canada: Expression orale (speaking)

1. Question 1 of 16

   How long is the TEF Canada speaking test in total?

   • A10 minutes
   • B15 minutes
   • C25 minutes
   • D30 minutes
   Show answer

   Answer: B. 15 minutes

   The speaking test lasts 15 minutes: 5 minutes for Section A and 10 minutes for Section B.

2. Question 2 of 16

   What is your goal in speaking Section A?

   • ATo convince a friend to join an activity
   • BTo read a text aloud
   • CTo obtain information
   • DTo describe a photo
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   Answer: C. To obtain information

   Section A is about obtaining information, for example by phoning about an ad.

3. Question 3 of 16

   What is your goal in speaking Section B?

   • ATo answer the examiner's questions about your work experience
   • BTo present a document and convince someone
   • CTo ask for a refund
   • DTo tell a story about your past
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   Answer: B. To present a document and convince someone

   In Section B you present the document to a friend and try to persuade them, giving your opinion with examples.

4. Question 4 of 16

   In Section B, who plays the friend you must convince?

   • ANobody: you speak alone
   • BThe examiner
   • CA recorded voice
   • DAnother candidate
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   Answer: B. The examiner

   The examiner plays the person you speak to in both sections: the contact person in A and the friend in B.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Why is the speaking test recorded?

   • ATo check your accent only
   • BSo you can listen to it after the test
   • CTo send it to your employer
   • DSo that a second evaluator can mark it
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   Answer: D. So that a second evaluator can mark it

   The test is always recorded for double evaluation: the examiner marks it, then a second evaluator marks the recording.

6. Question 6 of 16

   About how many questions does the official advice suggest asking in Section A?

   • AAbout thirty
   • BOnly one
   • CAbout ten
   • DTwo or three
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   Answer: C. About ten

   The official article suggests asking about ten questions ("une dizaine") to get as much information as possible.

7. Question 7 of 16

   What does the official advice say the examiner will do in Section B?

   • AStay silent the whole time
   • BNever completely agree with you
   • CAgree with you right away
   • DCorrect your grammar as you speak
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   Answer: B. Never completely agree with you

   The examiner will not fully agree, so stay calm and keep giving arguments and examples.

8. Question 8 of 16

   In Section A you phone a stranger at a business. Which question fits best?

   • ATu prends les cartes, toi, ou je dois apporter de l'argent comptant ?
   • BOuais, c'est combien, ton truc ?
   • CAccepte paiement carte ?
   • DEst-ce que vous acceptez les paiements par carte ?
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Est-ce que vous acceptez les paiements par carte ?

   With a stranger at a business, use polite "vous" and a full question. The others are too familiar or not correct French.

9. Question 9 of 16

   Which question is correct French?

   • APourriez-vous me dire à quelle heure commence-t-il le cours ?
   • BPourriez-vous me dire à quelle heure commence le cours ?
   • CPourriez-vous me dire quelle heure commence le cours ?
   • DPouvez-vous dire moi l'heure du cours ?
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Pourriez-vous me dire à quelle heure commence le cours ?

   An indirect question after "me dire" needs "à quelle heure" and no inversion with -t-il.

10. Question 10 of 16

    Which is the inverted form of « Est-ce que vous offrez la livraison ? »

    • AOffre-vous la livraison ?
    • BOffrez vous-la livraison ?
    • CVous-offrez la livraison ?
    • DOffrez-vous la livraison ?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Offrez-vous la livraison ?

    In inversion, the verb comes first, joined to the subject pronoun by a hyphen: Offrez-vous… ?

11. Question 11 of 16

    The examiner speaks quickly and you miss a detail. What is the best thing to say?

    • ACan you say it in English?
    • BJe comprends tout, merci, on peut continuer.
    • CQuoi ?
    • DPardon, pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Pardon, pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?

    Ask politely in French. Asking for repetition or clarification is a normal part of a real conversation.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Listen to the examiner. What is the best next question?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Examinateur: Oui, l'appartement est encore disponible. Il est libre à partir du 1er juillet.

    • AEt le loyer, c'est combien par mois ?
    • BBonjour, je vous appelle au sujet de l'annonce.
    • CEst-ce que l'appartement est encore disponible ?
    • DL'appartement est libre à partir de quand ?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Et le loyer, c'est combien par mois ?

    The examiner already said the apartment is available from July 1, so ask about something new, such as the rent.

    Transcript

    Examinateur: Oui, l'appartement est encore disponible. Il est libre à partir du 1er juillet.

13. Question 13 of 16

    In Section B, your friend says: « C'est trop cher pour moi. » Which reply is best?

    • AJe comprends, mais le prix comprend le matériel, et il y a un rabais pour les étudiants.
    • BJe ne sais pas.
    • CTant pis pour toi.
    • DC'est vrai, tu as raison, laisse tomber : on trouvera une autre activité moins chère un autre jour.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Je comprends, mais le prix comprend le matériel, et il y a un rabais pour les étudiants.

    Accept the objection, then answer it with a concrete argument. Giving up or ending the talk does not show your ability to persuade.

14. Question 14 of 16

    What does « Ça vaut la peine » mean?

    • AIt's free
    • BIt's worth it
    • CIt hurts
    • DIt's too hard
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    Answer: B. It's worth it

    "Ça vaut la peine" means the effort or cost is worth it, a useful phrase when you try to persuade someone.

15. Question 15 of 16

    Your friend loves cooking but has little money. The document is about a free cooking workshop. Which sentence is the most persuasive?

    • AMoi, j'aime bien les ateliers de toutes sortes, surtout ceux qui ont lieu le samedi matin au centre-ville.
    • BL'atelier a lieu dans un bâtiment.
    • CJe ne sais pas si c'est intéressant.
    • DToi qui adores cuisiner, tu vas apprendre de nouvelles recettes, et en plus, c'est gratuit !
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Toi qui adores cuisiner, tu vas apprendre de nouvelles recettes, et en plus, c'est gratuit !

    Persuasion works best when you link the offer to the listener's interests and needs: here, cooking and a free price.

16. Question 16 of 16

    In Section A you phone about a job offer. Which question gets the most precise information?

    • AEst-ce que vous pourriez me donner quelques détails de plus sur ce poste, s'il vous plaît ?
    • BLe poste existe toujours ?
    • CC'est bien, ce poste ?
    • DCombien d'heures par semaine faut-il travailler, et quels sont les horaires ?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Combien d'heures par semaine faut-il travailler, et quels sont les horaires ?

    A precise question asks for specific facts (hours and schedule). Vague questions give vague answers.

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