The TEF Canada Expression Orale (speaking) section is 15 minutes long and consists of three tasks completed in front of an examiner. Unlike the reading and listening sections, speaking is evaluated in real time by a trained assessor using a standardized rubric. For NCLC 7, you need approximately 393–499 out of 600 on the speaking component.
The examiner introduces a topic and asks questions to guide a short conversation. Topics are everyday and practical: your job, your city, a recent experience, your plans. The examiner is testing your ability to respond naturally, maintain a conversation, and use appropriate vocabulary without long pauses.
Key tip: Do not give one-sentence answers. Expand every response with a reason, an example, or a follow-up thought. Examiners are looking for fluency and range, not just accuracy.
You receive a document — an image, a short text, or a chart — and must speak about it for 3 to 4 minutes. You have 1 minute to prepare. This task tests your ability to describe, explain, and give an opinion in structured French.
Key tip: Use a clear structure: introduce the topic (30 sec), describe what you see (60–90 sec), give your opinion or analysis (60 sec), conclude (30 sec). Examiners reward organised thinking as much as fluency.
The examiner gives you a scenario — a dispute, a negotiation, or a position to defend — and you must engage in a structured exchange. This is the hardest task because it requires real-time argumentation in French.
Key tip: Learn debate connectors and use them actively: D'un côté... de l'autre côté (on one hand... on the other), Cependant (however), En effet (indeed), Il faut reconnaître que (one must recognise that). These phrases signal B2-level discourse organisation to the examiner.
While topics are not published in advance, they cluster around predictable themes:
Prepare a 2–3 minute opinion piece on each of these topics before your exam. You will not use all of them, but having prepared thoughts prevents panic when encountering an unfamiliar subject.
TEF Canada speaking is scored on five criteria: fluency (speaking at a natural pace without excessive hesitation), vocabulary range (varied and precise words), grammar accuracy (correct tenses and sentence structure), coherence (organised ideas with transitions), and interaction (responding naturally and maintaining the exchange). NCLC 7 does not require perfect French — occasional grammar errors are acceptable if fluency, vocabulary, and coherence are strong.
Record yourself speaking for 3 minutes on a random topic every day. Listen back and identify: did you hesitate? Did you repeat vocabulary? Did you use varied tenses? This self-evaluation builds the awareness to correct errors in real time during the exam. DeshiTalksFrench speaking practice modules include AI-generated feedback on your recorded responses, identifying specific gaps in fluency, vocabulary range, and grammar.