DELF A1 Role-Play Examples: 6 Practice Scenarios for the Oral Exam
The jeu de rôle (role-play) is Part 2 of the DELF A1 oral exam. The examiner gives you a situation — buying something at a store, ordering food, asking for directions — and you must interact naturally using basic French.
Many A1 candidates panic during the role-play because they have not practiced realistic scenarios. This guide gives you 6 common situations with the exact phrases you need.
A1 Role-Play Format: The examiner describes a situation and plays a role (shopkeeper, receptionist, etc.). You interact for about 2–3 minutes. You are evaluated on your ability to communicate in simple, everyday situations.
What Examiners Look For at A1
At A1 level, examiners do not expect perfect grammar. They evaluate:
- Can you understand the situation? (Do you respond appropriately?)
- Can you ask simple questions? (Combien ça coûte? Où est…?)
- Can you give basic information? (Your name, age, what you want)
- Can you use polite forms? (Bonjour, s’il vous plaît, merci)
The key is to communicate, not to be perfect.
Scenario 1: At the Bakery (À la boulangerie)
Situation: You are in a French bakery. You want to buy bread and pastries.
Useful phrases:
- Bonjour, je voudrais… (Hello, I would like…)
- Un croissant / une baguette / un pain au chocolat
- C’est combien ? (How much is it?)
- Je prends deux croissants, s’il vous plaît (I’ll take two croissants, please)
- Voilà. Merci, au revoir ! (Here you go. Thanks, goodbye!)
What the examiner might ask:
- “Vous désirez ?” (What would you like?)
- “Autre chose ?” (Anything else?)
- “Ça fait 4 euros 50” (That’s 4 euros 50)
Tips:
- Always start with “Bonjour” — politeness matters at every level
- Use “je voudrais” (I would like) — it works for everything
- You can point or gesture to help communicate — this is normal at A1
Scenario 2: At the Train Station (À la gare)
Situation: You need to buy a train ticket to Lyon.
Useful phrases:
- Je voudrais un billet pour Lyon, s’il vous plaît
- Un aller simple / Un aller-retour (One way / Round trip)
- Pour demain matin / Pour aujourd’hui (For tomorrow morning / For today)
- À quelle heure est le prochain train ? (What time is the next train?)
- C’est quel quai ? (Which platform?)
- Merci beaucoup !
What the examiner might ask:
- “Aller simple ou aller-retour ?” (One way or round trip?)
- “Pour quelle date ?” (For what date?)
- “Première ou deuxième classe ?” (First or second class?)
Tips:
- If you don’t understand, say: “Pardon, vous pouvez répéter ?” (Can you repeat?)
- It’s okay to take a moment to think — say “Euh…” naturally
Scenario 3: At the Restaurant (Au restaurant)
Situation: You are ordering a meal at a restaurant.
Useful phrases:
- Une table pour deux personnes, s’il vous plaît (A table for two, please)
- Je voudrais le menu, s’il vous plaît (I’d like the menu, please)
- Comme entrée, je prends la salade (For starter, I’ll have the salad)
- Comme plat principal, je voudrais le poulet (For main course, I’d like the chicken)
- Un verre d’eau / une carafe d’eau (A glass of water / a carafe of water)
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît (The check, please)
What the examiner might ask:
- “Vous avez réservé ?” (Did you book?)
- “Qu’est-ce que vous prenez ?” (What will you have?)
- “Comme boisson ?” (To drink?)
- “Vous désirez un dessert ?” (Would you like dessert?)
Tips:
- Learn food vocabulary by category: entrées, plats, desserts, boissons
- “Je voudrais” and “Je prends” are the two key structures for ordering
Scenario 4: At the Hotel (À l’hôtel)
Situation: You are checking into a hotel.
Useful phrases:
- J’ai une réservation au nom de… (I have a reservation under the name…)
- Je voudrais une chambre pour deux nuits (I’d like a room for two nights)
- Une chambre simple / double (A single / double room)
- Le petit-déjeuner est inclus ? (Is breakfast included?)
- À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner ? (What time is breakfast?)
- Où est l’ascenseur ? (Where is the elevator?)
What the examiner might ask:
- “Vous avez une pièce d’identité ?” (Do you have ID?)
- “Votre chambre est au troisième étage” (Your room is on the third floor)
- “Le petit-déjeuner est de 7h à 10h” (Breakfast is from 7 to 10)
Tips:
- Practice numbers (room numbers, floors, times)
- Know how to spell your name in French: “M-A-R-T-I-N”
Scenario 5: Shopping for Clothes (Dans un magasin de vêtements)
Situation: You want to buy a gift for a friend.
Useful phrases:
- Je cherche un cadeau pour un ami (I’m looking for a gift for a friend)
- Vous avez ça en bleu / en taille M ? (Do you have this in blue / in size M?)
- Je peux essayer ? (Can I try it on?)
- C’est trop grand / trop petit (It’s too big / too small)
- Il y a une réduction ? (Is there a discount?)
- Je le prends ! (I’ll take it!)
What the examiner might ask:
- “Quelle taille ?” (What size?)
- “Quelle couleur ?” (What color?)
- “Vous payez comment ?” (How are you paying?)
Tips:
- Learn colors: rouge, bleu, noir, blanc, vert, jaune
- Learn sizes: petit, moyen, grand
- “Trop + adjectif” is very useful: trop cher, trop petit, trop grand
Scenario 6: At the Doctor’s Office (Chez le médecin)
Situation: You are making an appointment or describing a health problem.
Useful phrases:
- Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous (I’d like to make an appointment)
- J’ai mal à la tête / au ventre / à la gorge (My head / stomach / throat hurts)
- Je suis malade depuis deux jours (I’ve been sick for two days)
- J’ai de la fièvre (I have a fever)
- Je suis allergique à… (I’m allergic to…)
What the examiner might ask:
- “Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas ?” (What’s wrong?)
- “Depuis quand ?” (Since when?)
- “Vous prenez des médicaments ?” (Are you taking any medication?)
Tips:
- Learn body parts: la tête, le ventre, la gorge, le dos, les yeux
- “J’ai mal à…” works for any body part
- Always start with the greeting: “Bonjour docteur”
General Tips for the A1 Role-Play
- Always greet and say goodbye (Bonjour / Au revoir)
- Use “s’il vous plaît” and “merci” — politeness counts
- If you don’t understand, ask: “Pardon ? Vous pouvez répéter ?”
- “Je voudrais” is your Swiss Army knife — use it for everything
- Don’t translate from your language — use the simple phrases you know
- Smile and stay calm — examiners want you to succeed
Practice Under Real Conditions
Reading scenarios is helpful, but speaking them is what prepares you for exam day. OralPrep lets you practice A1 role-play situations, records your response, and tells you if you covered the essential elements.
Practice A1 Role-Plays with AI Feedback
Record your answers to real exam-style scenarios. Get instant feedback on what you got right and what to improve.
Try Free — 2 EvaluationsFrequently asked questions
How long does the DELF A1 role-play last?
The role-play lasts about 2 to 3 minutes. You interact with the examiner who plays a role like a shopkeeper, receptionist, or server.
What are the six common DELF A1 role-play scenarios?
The six scenarios are At the Bakery, At the Train Station, At the Restaurant, At the Hotel, Shopping for Clothes, and At the Doctor's Office.
What do examiners look for in DELF A1 role-play?
Examiners evaluate whether you can understand the situation, ask simple questions, give basic information, and use polite forms like Bonjour, S'il vous plaît, and Merci.
What is a key phrase that works for most DELF A1 situations?
Je voudrais (I would like) is essential — you can use it for almost everything: Je voudrais un billet, Je voudrais une chambre, Je voudrais un croissant.
What should you do if you don't understand the examiner in DELF A1?
You can ask for repetition by saying Pardon, vous pouvez répéter? It is perfectly acceptable to ask and shows appropriate communication strategy.