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Speaking · level A2 to B2 · 12 min

TCF speaking Task 2: ask questions and follow up

Task 2 is an interactive exercise: you must get information from the examiner, who plays a role (an employee, a salesperson, a neighbour). It lasts 3 minutes 30. For the TCF Canada, you have 2 minutes of preparation; for the TCF IRN, there is no preparation at all. The most common trap: talking alone instead of having an exchange.

TL;DR

  • Speaking Task 2 lasts 3 minutes 30: you ask the questions and the examiner plays a role.
  • For the TCF Canada, use the 2 minutes of preparation to note keywords: price, times, place, conditions.
  • Vary your questions (« est-ce que », inversion, indirect questions) and build on each answer.

Goal: Lead the Task 2 exchange by asking varied questions and reacting to each of the examiner's answers.

You lead the exchange

In this task, the roles are reversed compared with Task 1: the examiner answers, you ask. If the examiner goes quiet, it is up to you to keep things going. A candidate who waits, or who explains their situation at length without asking anything, does not complete the task.

Briefly present your situation in one or two sentences, then move on to your questions. Your goal: cover several different aspects of the topic.

Example in French, as in the exam
Ouverture efficace : « Bonjour Madame. J'ai vu votre annonce pour le cours de cuisine du samedi et j'aimerais avoir quelques informations avant de m'inscrire. »

Prepare a question grid

For the TCF Canada, use the 2 minutes of preparation to write down keywords, not full sentences. For the TCF IRN, do this in your head, in a few seconds. The same grid works for almost every situation: price, dates and times, place, conditions, documents or equipment, cancellation options, next steps.

AspectExample question
Price« Combien coûte l'inscription ? Existe-t-il un tarif réduit ? »
Times« À quelle heure commencent les séances ? »
Conditions« Faut-il avoir un niveau particulier ? »
Equipment« Est-ce que je dois apporter quelque chose ? »
Cancellation« Que se passe-t-il si je ne peux pas venir ? »

Vary the form of your questions

Asking « Est-ce que… ? » ten times works, but it shows very little. Alternate structures to show the range of your grammar, without trying to make things complicated.

  • Intonation: « Le parking est gratuit ? »
  • « Est-ce que »: « Est-ce que les enfants sont acceptés ? »
  • Inversion: « Pourriez-vous m'indiquer les horaires ? »
  • Question word: « Combien de personnes y a-t-il par groupe ? »
  • Polite indirect question: « J'aimerais savoir si le matériel est fourni. »

Following up: the real difference

What sets a good candidate apart is how they react to the answers. Instead of running through the questions on your list, listen to the answer and build your next question on it. This shows that you understand and that you are truly interacting.

Example in French, as in the exam
Examinateur : « Le cours coûte 40 euros la séance. » Candidat : « Ah, c'est un peu cher pour moi. Est-ce qu'il existe une formule pour plusieurs séances ? »
Example in French, as in the exam
Examinateur : « Il faut apporter un tablier. » Candidat : « D'accord. Et pour les ingrédients, ils sont compris dans le prix, ou je dois les acheter moi-même ? »

Wrap up the exchange

End as you would in a real conversation: quickly rephrase what you understood or announce your decision, then say thank you. A clear ending shows that you master the structure of the exchange.

Example in French, as in the exam
« Très bien, donc je peux m'inscrire en ligne et payer sur place le premier jour. Je vais réserver pour samedi prochain. Merci beaucoup pour ces informations, bonne journée ! »

A common mistake

✗ « Je veux faire un cours de cuisine parce que j'aime cuisiner, j'ai toujours aimé ça, ma mère cuisinait beaucoup… » (one minute without a single question)

✓ « J'aimerais m'inscrire au cours de cuisine. Combien de personnes y a-t-il par groupe ? »

Task 2 assesses your ability to get information. A long monologue about yourself does not complete the task.

Frequently asked questions

How long is speaking Task 2?+
3 minutes 30 in both versions. For the TCF Canada, you first have 2 minutes of preparation; for the TCF IRN, the task has no preparation, according to the FEI candidate handbook.
Who asks the questions in Task 2?+
You do. The examiner plays a role (salesperson, landlord, club manager) and you lead the exchange to get information. Waiting for the examiner's questions is the most common mistake.
Should I use « vous » with the examiner in their role?+
Yes, unless the situation clearly describes a conversation between friends. With a shopkeeper, an employee or a landlord, « vous » and polite phrases are expected.
What should I do with the examiner's answer?+
Build on it: ask for a detail, react (« C'est un peu cher, existe-t-il une formule moins coûteuse ? », That's a bit expensive, is there a cheaper option?) or make a decision. A string of questions without listening to the answers sounds like an interrogation.

Practice exercise with answers

1. In Task 2, what is your main role?

2. What is the difference between Task 2 in the TCF Canada and in the TCF IRN?

3. The examiner answers: « L'inscription se fait uniquement en ligne. » (Registration is online only.) Which reaction best shows that you are following up?

4. Which question uses inversion?

Next step

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