MockoAt B2 level, the TEF IRN speaking exam expects more than a list of well-formed questions. The examiner wants to hear a candidate who can ask precise, purposeful questions and keep an exchange natural: following up on an answer, pushing for more detail, clarifying something unexpected. This first oral task (gathering information about a service or opportunity by phone) is the foundation of your speaking score, and the difference between a B1 and a B2 performance often comes down to how well you listen and respond to what the examiner actually says.
What you’ll learn
- Ask precise follow-up questions that build on the examiner's previous answer
- Use nuanced question forms that show grammatical range at B2
- Keep the exchange natural by reacting, clarifying, and confirming
- Manage conversation repair: what to say when you do not catch an answer
- Avoid the B1 plateau of producing questions that ignore what the other person has just said
B2 versus B1 in the information-gathering task
At B1, producing ten grammatically correct questions from a document is enough. At B2, the bar is higher: your questions should be responsive. That means that at least two or three of your questions should be direct follow-ups on what the examiner has told you, not just the next item on a pre-planned list. A B2 candidate sounds like a person having a real phone conversation; a B1 candidate sounds like they are working through a checklist.
What distinguishes B2 performance in this task
- Questions that pick up a specific word from the previous answer: "Vous dites que les places sont limitées : est-ce que vous pouvez me préciser combien il en reste ?"
- Conditional and subjunctive in question forms: "Serait-il possible que...?" / "Y aurait-il une possibilité de...?"
- Smooth recovery phrases when you miss information, without breaking the conversational flow.
- A closing that confirms a concrete next step rather than just politely ending the call.
Asking precise follow-up questions
A follow-up question takes something from the examiner's previous answer and asks for more detail. This is the clearest signal that you are listening. It requires holding the answer in working memory long enough to formulate a question about it, which is a genuine B2 comprehension skill.
- 1Listen for a keyword or piece of information in the examiner's answer.
- 2Repeat it briefly to signal you understood: "Ah, donc la formation dure six semaines..."
- 3Then ask the follow-up: "...et est-ce que ces six semaines peuvent être réparties sur plusieurs mois ?"
Examiner : "Le loyer est de 950 euros par mois, mais des frais d'agence s'appliquent." / Vous : "Je vois. Pourriez-vous me préciser à combien s'élèvent exactement ces frais d'agence et s'ils sont à régler en une seule fois ?"
Examiner: "The rent is 950 euros per month, but agency fees apply." / You: "I see. Could you specify exactly how much these agency fees come to and whether they are payable in a single instalment?"
Examiner : "Le salaire est compétitif." / Vous : "C'est intéressant. Sauriez-vous me donner un chiffre précis, ou au moins une fourchette indicative ?"
Examiner: "The salary is competitive." / You: "That is interesting. Would you be able to give me a precise figure, or at least an indicative range?"
B2 question forms that show grammatical range
At B2 you are expected to use a wider range of tenses and moods in your questions. The conditional of politeness is standard in formal French, and the ability to embed a question inside another structure (indirect question) is a clear B2 marker.
- Conditional of politeness: "Pourriez-vous m'indiquer si..." / "Sauriez-vous me dire..."
- Indirect question: "Je me demande s'il serait possible de..." / "Je voudrais savoir dans quelle mesure..."
- Hypothetical: "Dans le cas où le poste ne serait plus disponible, y aurait-il d'autres offres similaires ?"
- Embedded relative: "Est-ce que vous avez des locaux qui sont accessibles en fauteuil roulant ?"
- Question with modal: "Serait-il envisageable de visiter l'appartement avant de signer le bail ?"
Dans le cas où je ne remplirais pas toutes les conditions requises, y aurait-il quand même la possibilité de déposer un dossier de candidature à titre préventif ?
In the event that I did not meet all the required conditions, would there still be a possibility of submitting an application as a precautionary measure?
Managing the conversation: repair and clarification
In a real phone call, misunderstandings happen. At B2, handling them smoothly is part of the skill. A candidate who freezes or says "Pardon ?" repeatedly shows limited conversational competence. A candidate who reformulates or asks a clarification question shows they can manage the interaction actively.
- "Excusez-moi, je n'ai pas bien saisi ce dernier point. Pourriez-vous reformuler ?"
- "Si je comprends bien, vous dites que... c'est exact ?"
- "Pardonnez-moi, est-ce que vous avez bien dit [X] ou [Y] ?"
- "Je suis désolé(e), la connexion n'est pas très bonne. Pourriez-vous répéter la partie concernant les délais ?"
Turn a missed answer into a B2 moment
- If you genuinely did not catch something, do not pretend you did: ask for a repeat.
- Use the repair as a chance to show vocabulary: "Si je comprends bien" and "reformuler" are themselves B2 phrases.
- Confirm what you understood after any repair: this demonstrates active listening.
Closing the call with a concrete next step
A B2 phone call closing does not just say thank you and goodbye. It confirms a concrete next step: an appointment date, a document to send, a deadline to note. This shows that you understood the practical purpose of the call and can act on it, which is exactly what the task is testing.
Parfait. Si je résume : je dois vous envoyer mon CV et ma lettre de motivation par courriel avant le 15 du mois, et vous me recontacterez sous une semaine pour confirmer si ma candidature est retenue. C'est bien cela ? Très bien. Je vous remercie vivement pour ces informations précieuses. Bonne continuation.
Perfect. To summarise: I need to send you my CV and cover letter by email before the 15th, and you will contact me within a week to confirm whether my application has been shortlisted. Is that correct? Very good. Thank you very much for this valuable information. All the best.
Avoid this B1 closing habit
- Ending with only "Merci, au revoir" without confirming any next step: this is a B1 close, not a B2 one.
- Summarising everything the person told you in detail: this wastes time and adds no value.
- Forgetting to confirm the key practical point: date, deadline, document, or appointment.
How to practise this
B2 practice routine for the information task
- Find a French ad and write a script of ten pre-planned questions.
- Ask a partner to answer them in character, adding one unexpected detail each time (e.g., "il y a des frais supplémentaires" or "la date a changé").
- Practice following up on those unexpected details rather than moving to the next pre-planned question.
- Record yourself and count how many questions were follow-ups versus pre-planned: aim for at least three follow-ups out of ten.
- Practise repair phrases separately until they come out automatically, without breaking your fluency.
Key takeaways
- At B2, at least two or three of your questions should follow up directly on what the examiner has just told you.
- Use conditional and indirect question forms ("Pourriez-vous me préciser si...", "Serait-il envisageable de...") to show grammatical range.
- Manage conversation repair confidently: a well-phrased clarification request is itself a B2 performance marker.
- Confirm understanding with brief echoes before asking the next question: "Donc, si je comprends bien..."
- Close with a summary of the key next step (date, document, deadline) to demonstrate that the call had a practical purpose.
