Planning a persuasive response | TEF Speaking

The TEFAQ is the version of the TEF used for Quebec immigration applications, and the speaking section (Expression orale) follows the same two-task format as other TEF variants. What makes the TEFAQ context distinctive is the time pressure: preparation windows are short, and your spoken French needs to land as a complete, convincing answer rather than a half-formed stream of ideas. This lesson is specifically about the B1 skill of organising a persuasive spoken response quickly, with a structure the examiner can follow from your first word to your last.

What you’ll learn

Build and deliver a complete B1 oral argument in under three minutes
Open a Section B answer with a clear position statement, not a description
Link arguments with connectors that signal order and logic
Manage the pace of your delivery so you finish the argument, not just start it
Avoid the most common TEFAQ B1 speaking errors that cost coherence marks

Why structure matters under time pressure

When you are nervous or rushing, spoken language naturally becomes disorganised. You repeat yourself, lose track of your second point, or land on a vague ending. Structure is the antidote: if you have a clear sequence to follow (position, reason one, reason two, recommendation), your brain has a map. Even if individual sentences are imperfect, the answer feels complete and coherent to the examiner.

What TEFAQ examiners assess in Section B

Coherence: does the answer have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
Vocabulary: do you go beyond basic words? ("avantageux" instead of "bien", "abordable" instead of "pas cher")
Grammar: are your verb tenses consistent? Is the conditional used correctly for advice?
Fluency: do you speak at a steady pace with natural pauses, not long silences?

The four-move structure

Four moves is enough for a complete B1 answer. Each move takes about thirty to forty-five seconds if you speak at a natural pace. Together they produce an answer of two and a half to three minutes, which is the target range for Section B.

1Position (one sentence): state your recommendation directly, using "je" and a clear verb.
2Reason one (two to three sentences): name the advantage, add a detail from the ad, say why it matters.
3Reason two (two to three sentences): same pattern, new point, use a different connector.
4Recommendation (one to two sentences): tell your friend exactly what to do and add a note of urgency.

Four-move answer for a job ad

À ta place, je n'hésiterais pas une seconde à postuler. D'abord, le poste correspond exactement à ta formation : l'annonce demande un diplôme en comptabilité, ce que tu as. Tu serais donc opérationnel dès le premier jour. Ensuite, les conditions de travail sont vraiment attractives : quatre semaines de congés payés et une assurance santé complète, ce qui est loin d'être standard dans ce secteur. Je te conseille donc d'envoyer ton dossier avant la fin de la semaine, avant que l'offre ne soit pourvue.
In your position, I would not hesitate for a second to apply. First, the role matches your training exactly: the ad asks for a degree in accounting, which you have. You would be ready from day one. Next, the working conditions are truly attractive: four weeks of paid leave and full health insurance, which is far from standard in this sector. So I advise you to send your application before the end of the week, before the position is filled.

Connector phrases that signal structure

Connectors act as signposts for the examiner. When you say "D'abord", they know a first reason is coming. When you say "C'est pourquoi", they understand a conclusion follows. Using these phrases consistently lets the examiner follow your logic even if they are simultaneously noting your grammar or vocabulary.

To open: "À ta place..." / "Si tu me demandes mon avis..." / "Je suis convaincu(e) que..."
First reason: "D'abord, il faut noter que..." / "Premièrement..."
Second reason: "Ensuite..." / "De plus..." / "Par ailleurs..."
Reinforcing: "En effet..." / "D'ailleurs..."
Recommendation: "C'est pourquoi je te conseille de..." / "Donc, à ta place, je..."

Connector mistakes at B1

Using "alors" as a filler word at the start of every sentence: "Alors, euh, il y a..." is not a connector, it is a hesitation habit.
Using "premièrement / deuxièmement / troisièmement" without using a conclusion connector: the list sounds unfinished.
Saying "et aussi" instead of "de plus" or "par ailleurs": "et aussi" is grammatically fine but signals a limited vocabulary range.

Vocabulary upgrades for Section B

One of the clearest signals of B1 versus A2 vocabulary in speaking is the move from very basic adjectives and verbs to more precise ones. You do not need complex vocabulary, but swapping a few very common words for slightly stronger ones makes a real difference to your score.

"bien" becomes "avantageux / intéressant / attrayant"
"pas cher" becomes "abordable / raisonnable / compétitif"
"avoir" in a context becomes "bénéficier de / disposer de"
"dire à" becomes "conseiller à / recommander à"
"commencer" becomes "débuter / prendre ses fonctions"

Same idea, two vocabulary levels

A2 : "C'est bien parce que c'est pas cher et il y a beaucoup de choses." / B1 : "C'est une offre très avantageuse, car le tarif est tout à fait abordable et elle inclut de nombreux services."
A2: "It is good because it is not expensive and there are many things." / B1: "It is a very advantageous offer, as the price is quite affordable and it includes numerous services."

Managing pace and finishing on time

Some candidates rush through their points to avoid silence; others speak too slowly and run out of time before finishing. Neither is ideal. A natural pace for B1 French is roughly the pace at which you tell a story to a friend: measured, but not halting. Practising with a timer trains your internal clock so you automatically pace yourself on exam day.

Pace check while practising

Record a two-and-a-half-minute practice answer and count your connectors: if you have fewer than three, you are rushing through points without developing them.
If your answer is under ninety seconds, you are missing at least one of the four moves.
If your answer is over four minutes, you are over-explaining each point: tighten the details.
The target is a complete four-move structure in two and a half to three minutes, every time.

How to practise this

Practice plan for TEFAQ Section B

Find short French advertisements from Quebec sources (e.g., kijiji.ca, centris.ca, or Emploi Québec).
Write your four-move outline in 30 seconds (position, two reasons in keywords, recommendation).
Record your answer without notes, aiming for two and a half to three minutes.
Listen back and check: Does your first sentence state your position? Did you use at least three different connectors? Did you end with a recommendation?
Repeat with a new ad every day until the four-move structure becomes automatic.

Key takeaways

A four-move structure (position, reason one, reason two, recommendation) gives you a complete B1 answer in under three minutes.
Open with your position in the first sentence: do not start with a description of the ad.
Use connector phrases ("D'abord", "Ensuite", "C'est pourquoi") as explicit signposts for the examiner.
Upgrade a handful of key words (from "bien" to "avantageux", from "pas cher" to "abordable") to lift your vocabulary score.
Practise with a timer: a complete answer in two and a half to three minutes is the target range.