DELF A1 speaking, called Production Orale, is a face-to-face exam worth 25 of the 100 total marks. It runs for roughly 5 to 7 minutes after 10 minutes of preparation time, and is split into three short parts: a guided conversation about yourself, an exchange where you ask the examiner questions, and a short role play or picture description.
At A1 level, examiners expect very simple language — short, complete sentences and basic vocabulary — not fluency or range. This guide walks through what happens in each part, gives model questions and answers, and explains exactly what examiners are marking, so you can prepare with a clear target rather than guessing what is expected.
DELF A1 Production Orale – Module Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Duration | Approximately 5–7 minutes (after 10 minutes preparation time) |
| Total marks | 25 |
| Pass mark | 5 out of 25 for this section; overall DELF A1 pass is 50 out of 100 with no section below 5 |
| Format | 3 parts: guided conversation + exchange of information + role play or picture description |
| Examiner | One or two examiners; the interaction is supportive and designed to help you demonstrate A1 ability — not to catch you out |
| Preparation time | 10 minutes alone with the task cards before entering; use this time to prepare your monologue and questions |
Part 1 – Guided Conversation (Entretien Dirige)
The examiner asks you 3–5 simple personal questions. You answer in complete sentences. Topics are predictable: your name, age, nationality, job or studies, family, where you live, hobbies, and daily routine. At A1, answers of 1–2 sentences per question are completely sufficient — do not worry about producing long responses.
| Common Question | Model A1 Answer |
| Comment vous appelez-vous? | Je m’appelle [name]. |
| Quel age avez-vous? | J’ai [number] ans. |
| D’ou venez-vous? / Quelle est votre nationalite? | Je viens de l’Inde. / Je suis indien(ne). |
| Qu’est-ce que vous faites dans la vie? | Je suis etudiant(e). / Je travaille comme ingenieur(e). |
| Vous habitez ou? | J’habite a Mumbai. / J’habite dans un appartement. |
| Vous avez des freres et soeurs? | Oui, j’ai un frere et une soeur. / Non, je suis fils/fille unique. |
| Qu’est-ce que vous aimez faire? | J’aime lire et regarder des films. / J’aime le sport. |
Part 2 – Exchange of Information (Echange d’Informations)
You draw a card with a topic word (e.g., “famille”, “nourriture”, “ville”, “sport”) and must ask the examiner 3 simple questions about that topic. This part tests your ability to form basic questions in French. At A1, questions using “Vous avez…?”, “Vous aimez…?”, “Ou est…?”, “Quel est…?”, and “Comment…?” are all appropriate.
| Topic Card | 3 Model Questions to Ask the Examiner |
| Famille | Vous avez des enfants? / Vous etes marie(e)? / Vous avez des freres et soeurs? |
| Nourriture | Vous aimez la cuisine francaise? / Qu’est-ce que vous mangez le matin? / Vous allez souvent au restaurant? |
| Sport | Vous faites du sport? / Quel sport vous aimez? / Vous regardez le football a la television? |
| Ville | Vous habitez dans une grande ville? / Il y a un musee dans votre ville? / Vous aimez votre ville? |
| Vacances | Vous partez en vacances cette annee? / Vous preferez la mer ou la montagne? / Ou est-ce que vous allez? |
Part 3 – Role Play or Picture Description
The third part presents a simple situation card — for example: “You are at a hotel. Ask for a room, find out the price, and say how many nights you need.” Or you may be given a simple picture to describe. Respond naturally with short sentences. The examiner plays the other role (hotel receptionist, shop assistant, etc.) and supports the interaction.
| Situation Type | Key Language to Use |
| At a shop | Je voudrais… / C’est combien? / Avez-vous…? / Je prends ca. |
| At a hotel | Je voudrais une chambre. / Pour [number] nuits. / C’est quel prix? |
| Asking for directions | Excusez-moi, ou est…? / C’est loin? / Merci beaucoup. |
| Picture description | Il y a… / Je vois… / La femme est… / C’est une… / Il fait beau. |
Scoring Criteria for DELF A1 Speaking
| Criterion | What the Examiner Assesses |
| Task achievement | Did you respond to questions and cover the required points? Did you produce the required number of questions in Part 2? |
| Vocabulary | Basic A1 vocabulary used correctly; range is not assessed at A1 — accuracy and appropriateness are |
| Grammar | Simple present-tense sentences; basic verb conjugation; errors that do not impede communication are tolerated |
| Pronunciation | Intelligible French pronunciation; individual sounds may not be perfect but the message must be clear |
| Fluency | Short responses with some pauses are normal at A1; the ability to keep the exchange going with simple language is what matters |
DELF A1 speaking is the most interactive module but also the most coachable. Prepare 20 common A1 questions and rehearse complete-sentence answers. Practise forming questions for 5–6 topic cards. Record yourself and listen back for pronunciation and fluency. languagetest.in provides DELF A1 Production Orale mock exercises with topic cards, model dialogues, and scoring criteria to support focused A1 speaking preparation.
References: DELF A1 speaking guide: ciep.fr/delf-dalf | Alliance Francaise DELF A1: alliancefrancaise.in | languagetest.in DELF A1 speaking preparation
Each post reviewed by the languagetest.in research team.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the DELF A1 speaking exam?
The spoken exam itself lasts about 5 to 7 minutes, preceded by 10 minutes of preparation time alone with the task cards for parts two and three.
What is the pass mark for DELF A1 speaking?
You need at least 5 out of 25 in this section, and an overall score of 50 out of 100 across all four DELF A1 modules, with no module scoring below 5.
Can I fail DELF A1 speaking for making grammar mistakes?
Small errors are tolerated at A1 as long as your message is understood. Examiners mark whether you completed each task and communicated clearly, not grammatical perfection.
What topics come up in the DELF A1 guided conversation?
Expect predictable personal questions about your name, age, nationality, work or studies, family, where you live, and hobbies — answered in one or two simple sentences each.
Ready to practice?