TCF Speaking Task 1: Example Questions & Model Answers | OralPrep Guide
The first two minutes of your TCF set the tone for the whole interview — and they are graded like everything else. The moment you sit down in front of the examiner, with zero preparation time, Task 1 begins: the entretien dirigé (directed interview), your very first contact with a corrector who is listening for vocabulary, grammar and fluency while you simply talk about yourself. Many candidates underestimate this task because it looks “easy” — no document to comment on, no role play to run. That is exactly what makes it a trap: with no imposed structure, the temptation is to answer in short, flat sentences. This guide breaks down what is really being assessed in these 2 minutes, with commented example answers.
Quick summary (July 2026): Task 1 = 2 minutes, no preparation. The examiner asks you about yourself, your family and your professional environment. Official objective: “le candidat fait preuve de sa capacité à échanger avec une personne qu’il ne connaît pas (l’examinateur)” (the candidate demonstrates their ability to interact with someone they don’t know). The interview is recorded and evaluated through independent double-marking, like the other 2 tasks.
How Task 1 works
Task 1 is the first of the 3 tasks that make up the TCF speaking test (EO), which lasts 12 minutes in total. There is no preparation time: the interview starts as soon as you sit down opposite the examiner, who asks questions at a natural conversational pace. Unlike Task 2 (where you are the one asking the questions) or Task 3 (a spontaneous argued talk on a topic chosen by the examiner), Task 1 is a classic interview: the examiner leads, and you answer and develop your ideas.
The official objective, as stated in the candidate manual, is that “le candidat fasse preuve de sa capacité à échanger avec une personne qu’il ne connaît pas (l’examinateur)” — the candidate shows they can exchange with someone they don’t know. In practice, this means talking about yourself, your family and your professional environment: your background, your job or studies, your family, your town.
The whole interview is recorded. As with Tasks 2 and 3, two correctors assess your performance independently and in double-blind: the examiner who conducts your interview assigns a first level, then a second corrector, trained by France Éducation international (FEI), listens to the recording remotely and assigns their own level without knowing the first score. If there is a significant gap between the two, a third correction settles it. For the full picture of all 3 tasks and how the final score is calculated, see our guide on the TCF speaking test structure and criteria.
The questions examiners really ask
There is no published official list, but the themes of Task 1 are consistent from one session to another. Here are the most frequent questions, grouped by topic (in French, as they are actually asked, with an English translation):
Introduction
- « Bonjour, pouvez-vous vous présenter ? » (Hello, can you introduce yourself?)
- « Vous venez d’où exactement ? » (Where exactly are you from?)
- « Parlez-moi un peu de votre famille. » (Tell me a little about your family.)
Studies / work
- « Que faites-vous dans la vie : vous étudiez ou vous travaillez ? » (What do you do: are you studying or working?)
- « Qu’est-ce que vous aimez dans votre travail ou vos études ? » (What do you like about your job or studies?)
- « Depuis combien de temps faites-vous cela ? » (How long have you been doing this?)
Daily life / hobbies
- « Qu’est-ce que vous faites pendant votre temps libre ? » (What do you do in your free time?)
- « Comment est votre ville ou votre quartier ? » (What is your town or neighbourhood like?)
- « Vous vivez seul(e) ou avec d’autres personnes ? » (Do you live alone or with other people?)
Plans
- « Quels sont vos projets pour les prochaines années ? » (What are your plans for the next few years?)
- « Pourquoi apprenez-vous le français ? » (Why are you learning French?)
- « Envisagez-vous de voyager ou de vous installer dans un pays francophone ? » (Are you considering travelling or settling in a French-speaking country?)
The examiner chooses follow-up questions based on what you say: mention a brother, and they may ask where he lives; mention a career plan, and they may probe the details. So the conversation never follows this exact order — what matters is giving developed answers to whatever comes up, not reciting a list of prepared replies.
Worked example: 4 questions, two levels of answer
Here are four of the most common questions, each with two possible answers: a flat answer, typical of an A2/B1 level, and a developed answer, typical of B2. The factual content is similar — it is how you say it that changes everything.
1. Introducing yourself
« Bonjour ! Pour commencer, est-ce que vous pouvez vous présenter ? »
(Hello! To start, could you introduce yourself?)
Flat answer (A2/B1)
« Bonjour. Je m’appelle Karim. J’ai vingt-quatre ans. Je viens d’Algérie. J’habite à Lyon. Je travaille dans un restaurant. »
(Hello. My name is Karim. I’m twenty-four. I’m from Algeria. I live in Lyon. I work in a restaurant.)
Developed answer (B2)
« Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Karim, j’ai vingt-quatre ans et je suis originaire d’Alger, en Algérie. Je vis à Lyon depuis maintenant deux ans, où je suis arrivé pour poursuivre mes études. Actuellement, je travaille à temps partiel dans un restaurant tout en terminant un master en gestion. Ce qui me plaît, c’est de pouvoir mêler les deux : le contact avec les clients le soir et les cours le matin. Je suis quelqu’un d’assez sociable, donc ce rythme me convient plutôt bien, même s’il est parfois fatigant ! »
The flat answer stacks five short present-tense sentences with no connectors and no development — a list of facts, not an exchange. The developed answer covers the same information but links it together (depuis/since, actuellement/currently, ce qui me plaît, c’est/what I like is), adds a concrete detail (the master’s degree) and a spontaneous nuance (même s’il est parfois fatigant/even if it’s tiring sometimes) — exactly what the pragmatic criterion calls “développement thématique” (thematic development).
2. Studies or work
« Que faites-vous dans la vie : vous étudiez ou vous travaillez ? »
(What do you do: are you studying or working?)
Flat answer (A2/B1)
« Je travaille. Je suis vendeuse dans un magasin. C’est un travail normal. »
(I work. I’m a shop assistant. It’s a normal job.)
Developed answer (B2)
« En ce moment, je travaille comme vendeuse dans un magasin de vêtements, mais ce n’est pas vraiment le métier que je veux faire toute ma vie. En fait, j’ai suivi une formation de comptabilité l’année dernière, et j’espère changer de secteur d’ici un an ou deux. Ce qui me plaît dans mon poste actuel, c’est le contact avec la clientèle, mais je rêve d’un travail plus technique, avec moins de stress lié aux horaires. »
The word “normal” in the flat answer says nothing precise — a classic sign of A2-level vocabulary. The developed answer contrasts the present with a future plan (mais/but, en fait/actually, d’ici/within), uses precise vocabulary (“secteur”, “clientèle”) and qualifies its own opinion, which shows both grammatical accuracy (subordinate clauses) and fluency.
3. Free time
« Qu’est-ce que vous faites pendant votre temps libre ? »
(What do you do in your free time?)
Flat answer (A2/B1)
« Je regarde la télé. Je fais du sport. Je vois mes amis. »
(I watch TV. I do sport. I see my friends.)
Developed answer (B2)
« Ça dépend beaucoup des jours, mais en général, je fais du sport deux ou trois fois par semaine — surtout de la course à pied, ça me permet de décompresser après le travail. Le week-end, j’essaie de retrouver mes amis, on va souvent au cinéma ou on organise un dîner chez l’un ou l’autre. Depuis peu, je me suis aussi mise à la cuisine, et honnêtement, j’y prends de plus en plus de plaisir. »
Three activities listed side by side with no frequency or detail: the typical structure of an A2 answer. The developed answer specifies frequency (“deux ou trois fois par semaine”), justifies a choice (“ça me permet de décompresser”), and adds a spontaneous piece of information (depuis peu/recently) that shows the candidate is genuinely improvising, not reciting a list.
4. Future plans
« Quels sont vos projets pour les prochaines années ? »
(What are your plans for the next few years?)
Flat answer (A2/B1)
« Je vais continuer à apprendre le français. Je veux trouver un bon travail. »
(I’m going to keep learning French. I want to find a good job.)
Developed answer (B2)
« Alors, à court terme, mon objectif, c’est surtout de passer ce TCF et d’atteindre au moins le niveau B2, parce que j’en ai besoin pour une demande d’immigration. Si tout se passe bien, j’aimerais m’installer au Québec d’ici deux ou trois ans — j’ai de la famille là-bas, et le marché du travail dans mon domaine, l’informatique, semble assez dynamique. Après, je ne sais pas encore exactement où je serai dans dix ans, mais ce qui compte pour moi, c’est de continuer à progresser, aussi bien professionnellement que personnellement. »
“A good job” is a typical example of vague A2/B1 vocabulary. The developed answer justifies the goal (parce que/because), qualifies it with the conditional (si tout se passe bien/if all goes well, “j’aimerais”), uses precise vocabulary (“marché du travail”, “domaine”) and owns the uncertainty without freezing up (“je ne sais pas encore exactement”) — a clear sign of the spontaneity and fluency that sets B2 apart.
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Start TCF simulationWhy the developed answers score higher
Unlike the DELF, the TCF grading scheme does not award separate points per criterion: each corrector assigns a single overall CEFR level — from “A1 non atteint” to C2 — to each of the 3 tasks, based on three families of criteria defined by the official manual (p.22):
- Linguistic: “étendue et maîtrise du lexique, correction grammaticale, aisance, prononciation, fluidité globale du discours” (range and command of vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, ease, pronunciation, overall fluency of speech).
- Pragmatic: “interaction, structuration du discours, cohérence et cohésion, développement thématique” (interaction, structuring of speech, coherence and cohesion, thematic development).
- Sociolinguistic: “adéquation à la situation de communication” (appropriateness to the communication situation).
A flat answer like “Je regarde la télé. Je fais du sport. Je vois mes amis.” technically completes the task — it answers the question — but it demonstrates neither range of vocabulary, nor thematic development, nor fluency: three sentences placed side by side, with no connector, no example. A developed answer ticks all three families at once: more precise vocabulary, sentences linked to one another, and visible spontaneity in the nuances (“ça dépend”, “honnêtement”, “même si”).
Once assigned to the 3 tasks, these levels are combined through a calculation rule to produce your final score out of 20, which is itself converted into a CEFR level according to the official scale:
| CEFR level | Speaking score (/20) |
|---|---|
| A2 | 2–5/20 |
| B1 | 6–9/20 |
| B2 | 10–13/20 |
| C1 | 14–17/20 |
Source: Manuel du candidat TCF, France Éducation international, April 2024, p.26 (see also the official TCF Canada page). A Task 1 answered consistently with flat answers drags the whole interview down, even if your Tasks 2 and 3 are stronger, because your overall level reflects performance across all 3 tasks, directed interview included.
French phrases you can reuse
Introducing yourself
- « Je suis originaire de… / Je viens de… » (I’m from…)
- « Je vis à… depuis… » (I’ve lived in… since…)
- « Actuellement, je travaille / j’étudie… » (Right now, I work / I study…)
Talking about your work or studies
- « Depuis [duration], je… » (For [duration], I’ve been…)
- « Ce qui me plaît, c’est… » (What I like is…)
- « Ce qui est plus difficile, c’est… » (What’s harder is…)
Talking about your interests
- « Je suis passionné(e) par… » (I’m passionate about…)
- « Ce qui me plaît vraiment, c’est de… » (What I really enjoy is…)
- « J’y consacre [frequency] environ. » (I spend roughly [frequency] on it.)
Talking about your plans
- « J’envisage de… » (I’m considering…)
- « Si tout se passe bien, j’aimerais… » (If all goes well, I’d like to…)
- « D’ici [duration], je… » (Within [duration], I’ll…)
Buying time / handling a blank
- « Alors, laissez-moi réfléchir… » (So, let me think…)
- « C’est une bonne question… » (That’s a good question…)
- « Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? » (Could you repeat that, please?)
Typical mistakes in the directed interview
Answering in one word. « Oui. » « Ça va. » « Rien de spécial. » These answers give the corrector nothing to assess: no vocabulary, no structuring, no thematic development. Always develop: who, where, since when, why, how you feel about it.
Reciting a memorised self-introduction. The examiner spots flat intonation and mechanical pacing in a memorised text immediately. They will then ask an off-script question to break the routine — and that is exactly when many candidates freeze, having prepared scripted sentences rather than genuine ideas.
Panicking at an unexpected follow-up. A follow-up question that strays from your plan is not a trap — it’s simply the conversation running its natural course. Asking for clarification (« Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ? ») is a legitimate communication strategy, never an admission of failure.
Answering a different question than the one asked. Under stress, some candidates launch into a rehearsed topic instead of the examiner’s actual question — for example talking about their holidays when asked about their plans. The “appropriateness to the communication situation” criterion directly penalises this mismatch.
What comes next
Once the directed interview ends, the examiner moves straight into Task 2. Find our full worked examples:
- Task 2 — Interactive exercise: worked example
- Task 3 — Expressing a point of view: worked example
- TCF speaking test structure and criteria
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Start TCF simulationFrequently asked questions
How long is Task 1 of the TCF speaking test?
Task 1 (the entretien dirigé, or directed interview) lasts 2 minutes on the TCF Tout Public, Canada and Québec versions. On TCF IRN (since May 2025), the timing is slightly different, around 3 minutes, within a shortened speaking test of about 10 minutes total across the 3 tasks.
Can I prepare my answers at home?
You can review the recurring themes (introduction, family, work, plans) and prepare ideas, but not scripted sentences. A memorised, recited answer is spotted immediately by the examiner and penalises fluency and spontaneity, both explicit grading criteria.
What if I don't understand a question the examiner asks?
You can ask at any point during the interview for the question to be repeated or clarified. This is part of the official test procedure and does not cost you points — it is far better than answering a different question than the one asked.
Does Task 1 count as much as Tasks 2 and 3?
Each corrector assigns a CEFR level (from 'A1 non atteint' to C2) separately to each of the 3 tasks. A calculation rule then combines these 3 levels into your final score out of 20 and overall level, so Task 1 carries the same weight as the other two.
What questions come up most often in Task 1?
The same themes recur across sessions: introduction, family, studies or work, hobbies, your town or neighbourhood, and future plans. There is no published official list, but these topics are consistent.
Can the examiner interrupt me during Task 1?
Yes, if you go over the time allowed for the task. The examiner may also move on with a new question once they feel they have enough material on the current topic.