DELF B1 Speaking Structure & Evaluation Criteria | OralPrep Guide
The DELF B1 Production Orale lasts approximately 15 minutes plus 10 minutes of preparation (for Part 3 only). It has 3 parts: Guided Interview (2-3 min), Interaction Exercise (3-4 min), and Expression of a Point of View (5-7 min). Since 2022 the official grid scores 6 criteria in bands out of 25 points, with an eliminatory minimum of 5/25.
The DELF B1 oral part (Production Orale) is often the most feared by students. Unlike written tests, here you have an examiner in front of you and time is ticking against you. However, passing is more about technique and knowledge of the structure than having a perfect French accent.
In this article, we break down the test, the timing, and most importantly, exactly what examiners are looking for (the famous “official criteria”).
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Structure of the Production Orale DELF B1
The test lasts approximately 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes of prior preparation for the third part) and is divided into three parts:
1. Guided Interview (2 to 3 minutes)
It is an informal presentation. The examiner will ask you questions about yourself, your past, present, and future (studies, hobbies, family). There is no preparation time.
Tip: Prepare answers about your tastes and projects, but don’t recite them like a robot.
2. Interaction Exercise (3 to 4 minutes)
It is a role-play. You have to solve a daily situation (buying a ticket, complaining in a shop, organizing a party) interacting with the examiner.
Objective: Demonstrate the ability to cope with unforeseen situations in daily life.
3. Expression of a point of view (5 to 7 minutes)
This is the most important part. You will be given a short inspiring text. You must present the topic and give your argued opinion for about 3 minutes. Then, the examiner will ask you questions.
Expected structure: Introduction, development with arguments and examples, and conclusion.
Official Evaluation Criteria
How is your grade decided? It is not subjective. Since 2022, examiners use the renewed France Éducation International grid, which scores six criteria in bands (0 / 1 / B1 level / B1+ level) out of a total of 25 points. This is exactly what OralPrep evaluates in each simulation:
1-3. Task fulfilment (one score per part): the guided interview, the interaction exercise and the expression of a point of view are scored separately (0 / 1 / 2.5 / 4 points each). Did you do what each part asks: talk about yourself, resolve the situation, give a structured opinion?
4. Lexis (0 / 1 / 3 / 5): Do you have enough varied vocabulary for the topic? Do you avoid repetitions using synonyms?
5. Morphosyntax (0 / 1 / 2.5 / 4): Do you use verb tenses correctly (passé composé, imparfait, futur)? Is there gender and number agreement? Errors are tolerated as long as they do not impede comprehension.
6. Phonological control (0 / 1 / 2.5 / 4): You don’t need to sound native, but you must be understandable and not make excessively long pauses.
Coherence and logical connectors (d’abord, ensuite, par contre, donc) are no longer a separate criterion in the current grid, but they remain decisive: a well-structured speech is what raises your task-fulfilment score, especially in Part 3. Eliminatory minimum: 5/25.
Want to see each part worked through? We have full examples with model answers: Part 1 (guided interview), Part 2 (role-play) and Part 3 (monologue).
Example response (Part 3)
Topic: Le télétravail (Teleworking)
Poor response: “I like teleworking. It’s good. I look at home. I don’t like the metro.”
Level B1 response (Solid): “À mon avis, le télétravail a beaucoup d’avantages. D’abord, on gagne du temps parce qu’on ne prend pas les transports en commun. Ensuite, on est plus tranquille chez soi. Cependant, il est vrai que parfois les collègues nous manquent.”
The difference lies in the use of connectors (“À mon avis”, “D’abord”, “Cependant”) and sentence structure.
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the DELF B1 speaking exam?
The test lasts approximately 15 minutes in total, plus 10 minutes of preparation time for the third part.
What are the three parts of DELF B1 Production Orale?
Part 1 is a Guided Interview (2 to 3 minutes), Part 2 is an Interaction Exercise (3 to 4 minutes), and Part 3 is Expression of a Point of View (5 to 7 minutes).
What is the most important part of the DELF B1 exam?
Part 3, Expression of a Point of View, is the most important part. You receive a short text and must present the topic and give an argued opinion with introduction, development, and conclusion.
How is the DELF B1 speaking exam graded?
Since 2022 the official grid scores six criteria in bands, out of 25 points: task fulfilment for each of the 3 parts (up to 4 points each), Lexis (up to 5), Morphosyntax (up to 4) and Phonological control (up to 4). The eliminatory minimum is 5/25.
Why are logical connectors important in DELF B1?
Connectors like D'abord, Ensuite, Cependant, and donc demonstrate coherence and structure in your speech, which is crucial especially in Part 3.