VCE French Oral Exam: What Is It And What To Expect From The General Conversation?

What is the VCE French oral exam?

The VCE French oral exam is the final speaking assessment for VCE French. It tests your ability to speak naturally and confidently in French. The exam lasts about 15 minutes and is divided into two parts:

1. General conversation (≈ 7 minutes): about you, your life, and interests.

2. Discussion (≈ 8 minutes): based on your detailed study topic.

This guide focuses on the first part: the general conversation, where examiners ask you questions about your everyday life, opinions, and experiences.

What questions are asked in the VCE French general conversation?

The general conversation covers familiar, personal topics. You’ll usually be asked questions from these categories:

1. Family and home life: siblings, parents, pets, house, suburb, routine, chores, part-time job.

2. Friends and social life: what you do with friends, friendship qualities, social activities.

3. Hobbies and free time: sport, music, well being, culture, art, cinema, health, lifestyle.

4. School and studies: favorite subjects, teachers, exams, extracurricular, balancing life and study.

5. Future plans: career goals, university, volunteering, gap year, travel, personal projects.

6. Holidays and travel: past trips, dream destinations, travel interests, cultural experiences.

Most students begin with questions about family, so make sure you’ve prepared one paragraph about that topic first. (This is not a rule, the examiners are free to start with any question they want. It's just an observation from my past students' experiences).

PS: You can also download a list of sample questions on my website.

What cultural questions appear in the VCE French exam?

You can expect at least one question about French language or culture. Examples include:

• Why do you like French culture?

• Why did you choose to study French?

• Is French a difficult language to learn?

• Would you like to visit a French-speaking country in the future?

• Would you recommend learning French to others?

These questions test your motivation and cultural understanding, two areas examiners value highly and that are mentioned in the Study Design.

What are follow-up questions in the general conversation?

Examiners use follow-up questions to keep the conversation flowing and to test how naturally you can respond.

They will often pick up on something unusual you’ve said. For example:

• “You said you’re an only child, did you enjoy growing up that way?”

• “You mentioned reading, who’s your favorite author?”

• “You have a pet, what breed is it?”

• "You mentioned travelling to Sri Lanka a lot, do you have family there? How do you compare Sri Lankan culture with the French one?"

The "follow-up questions" should not surprise you as they refer directly to something you already mentioned.

👉 Tip: Reread your prepared answers and ask yourself what follow-up questions might appear. Examiners tend to explore interesting or unique details.

What unexpected questions might come up?

Some students are surprised by small, personal questions they didn’t anticipate. Here are real examples from past students:

• After saying they like reading: “What was the last book you read?”

• After saying they lived in Brussels: “Describe life in Belgium.”

• After mentioning speaking Farsi: “Are there words similar in French and Farsi?”

• After mentioning an uncle who plays in a band: “What kind of music does he play?”

Other possible questions my students were surprised by:

• “What are your school’s facilities like?”

• “Describe your house or your ideal house.”

These questions help examiners test your spontaneous speaking skills.

How can I prepare for the VCE French general conversation?

Follow these steps to prepare effectively:

1. Write short paragraphs about each main topic.

2. Practice speaking them aloud and memorize key vocabulary and sentences.

3. Brainstorm follow-up and unexpected questions.

4. Record yourself and listen for fluency and pronunciation.

5. Review key vocabulary and connectors (e.g. d’abord, ensuite, en revanche).

6. Have some repair strategies in mind (eg.: “Je n’ai pas bien compris, pouvez-vous reformuler la question?”).

7. Rehearse with your French teacher, tutor, or classmate.

Preparation is key. The more familiar you are with your own answers, the easier it becomes to respond naturally, even when surprised.

If you need more tips, go read my 👉 10 Tips To Ace Your French VCE Oral Exam.

More resources to help you prepare

If you’re looking for more resources, create a free account on my website to access documents such as:

• Writing Prompts For VCE French

• Most Common French VCE Mistakes

• VCE French Oral Question List

• And more!