Oral part
fide test speaking: format, topics and sample answers (A2 and B1)
The oral part is called “Speaking and listening” and takes 40 minutes in total. Here is what happens step by step, what the examiners expect and what a good answer sounds like.
How the oral part works
- 1A short warm-up and an explanation of the test.
- 2A2 tasks: describe a picture, a simulated phone call to make, move or cancel an appointment, and a talk about your habits or an experience.
- 3The examiners recommend continuing at A1 or B1 and explain what that means. You decide.
- 4At B1: a conversation on one of two topics.
- 5Listening: you hear short conversations and choose a picture (A1–A2) or answer questions orally (B1).
The speaking takes about 15 minutes with two examiners: one leads the conversation, the other takes notes and scores. Speaking counts for two thirds of your oral result, listening for one third.
What the examiners expect
| Task | A2 | B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Describe a picture | The situation is understandable. | Some details; the connections between the actions are clear. |
| Phone call | You arrange the appointment without much help. | You explain your request coherently and fluently, with the right polite phrases. |
| Conversation | An exchange happens; the examiners still help. | A fairly spontaneous conversation in which you describe experiences, preferences and opinions with some detail. |
Reacting appropriately matters more than perfect grammar – even at B1 nobody expects error-free language. In the German test you may speak Swiss German dialect in the oral part, and Swiss expressions do not count as mistakes.
Typical B1 conversation topics
Topics come from everyday life in Switzerland. The list shows typical areas with sample questions; the real exam questions are different.
- Housing: city or countryside? House rules, a problem with neighbours.
- Work: part-time or full-time? A good workplace, colleagues.
- Health: what do you do to stay healthy? Seeing a doctor here and in your home country.
- Shopping: in a shop or online? A purchase that went wrong.
- Children and school: from what age a phone? Childcare, parents’ evenings.
- Free time and celebrations: weekends, holidays, family celebrations, Swiss National Day.
- Getting around: bike, car or public transport?
- Environment: separating waste, saving energy.
Sample B1 answer (German)
Meistens kaufe ich im Laden ein, vor allem Lebensmittel, weil ich Gemüse und Früchte sehen will. Kleider bestelle ich manchmal online, weil es dort mehr Auswahl gibt. Aber einmal habe ich Schuhe bestellt, und sie waren zu klein. Das Zurückschicken war mühsam. Wenn es keine Läden mehr gäbe, fände ich das schade – im Laden kann man auch mit den Leuten reden. In English: I mostly shop in shops, especially for food, because I want to see the vegetables. I sometimes order clothes online because there is more choice. But once I ordered shoes and they were too small; sending them back was a hassle. If there were no more shops, I’d find that a pity – in a shop you can also talk to people.
Why this is B1: the answer gives reasons, tells a short story with details and takes a position on a hypothetical situation (“Wenn es … gäbe, fände ich …”).
Useful phrases for the phone call
| Situation | German | French |
|---|---|---|
| Introduce yourself | Guten Tag, hier ist … Ich rufe an wegen … | Bonjour, c’est … J’appelle pour … |
| Make an appointment | Ich möchte gern einen Termin, weil … | J’aimerais prendre rendez-vous, parce que … |
| Move it | Kann ich den Termin am … verschieben? Ich kann leider nicht, weil … | Est-ce que je peux déplacer mon rendez-vous du … ? Je ne peux pas venir, parce que … |
| Cancel it | Ich muss den Termin am … leider absagen, weil … | Je dois malheureusement annuler mon rendez-vous du …, parce que … |
| Check | Habe ich richtig verstanden: am Montag um 17 Uhr? | Si j’ai bien compris : lundi à 17 h ? |
| End the call | Vielen Dank. Auf Wiederhören. | Merci beaucoup. Au revoir. |
Tips for the test day
- Bring a valid photo ID, for example a passport, ID card, foreigner’s permit card or Swiss driving licence.
- Be on time: if you arrive late, you cannot take the test.
- You hand in your phone and watch before the test; dictionaries and notes are not allowed.
- If you don’t understand something, ask – that is part of a normal conversation.
- Give reasons with “weil”, “deshalb” or “zum Beispiel” (French: “parce que”, “donc”, “par exemple”).
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the oral fide test?
- 40 minutes in total. The conversation with the two examiners takes about 15 minutes; the introduction and the listening part come on top.
- Can I speak Swiss German?
- Yes. In the German test you may speak dialect, or a mix of dialect and standard German, in the speaking part.
- Can I take only the oral part?
- Yes. The oral part on its own costs at most CHF 170. You can also retake just one part.
- What happens if I don’t reach B1?
- You get the lower level, for example A2, if you reach it. You can retake the test as often as you like; each attempt is paid.
Sources: fide test handbook (May 2026), regulations for taking the fide test (October 2026) and fide-service.ch. As of November 2026; the information from the fide secretariat and your authority is what counts.