The formulas that carry it
| Function | Say |
|---|---|
| Opening politely | Bonjour madame, excusez-moi de vous déranger… |
| Requesting | Je voudrais… / Serait-il possible de… ? |
| Complaining | Je suis désolé, mais il y a un problème… |
| Insisting politely | Je comprends, mais… |
| Proposing | Et si on… ? / Je vous propose de… |
| Concluding | Très bien, c'est entendu. Merci beaucoup. |
French politeness is more explicit than English politeness. A blunt request that would pass in English reads as rude in French, and the register mark reflects it.
Keeping the exchange alive
- Open and close properly — *bonjour* and *au revoir* are part of the task.
- React to what the examiner says rather than delivering prepared lines.
- If refused, do not give up — negotiate. The exchange is what is being marked.
- Reach a resolution before the time ends.
The conditional carries most of the politeness: *je voudrais* rather than *je veux*, *pourriez-vous* rather than *pouvez-vous*. It is the cheapest register upgrade available.
Exercice en interaction — FAQs
2 questions
Everyday transactions — shops, accommodation, travel, services, workplace problems.
Yes. Register and appropriacy are explicitly assessed in this part.
More production orale question types
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.