You have explained the activity. Your French feels under control. Then your friend says, « Ça ne m'intéresse pas », and the next argument you prepared no longer fits.
TEF speaking Section B is a 10-minute interaction in which you present an advertisement or everyday offer and try to persuade the examiner, playing a friend, to take part. The official CCI speaking sample booklet sets out that task. You need to respond as the conversation develops.
Below, an original French dialogue shows how to handle several objections about one activity. Each reply is explained in English. You will also find eight objection drills and a practice routine. These are TEF Practice teaching examples, not official questions, a recalled test conversation or examiner-scored answers. Exam sources checked September 28, 2026.
What happens in TEF Canada speaking Section B?
You receive a document, introduce its proposal to your friend and develop reasons for them to participate. The examiner responds in that role. The task gives you opportunities to explain, clarify and adapt your arguments.
Section B lasts 10 minutes. Section A lasts 5 minutes and focuses on obtaining information. Together they form the 15-minute speaking test, according to the official TEF Canada presentation. These instructions concern TEF Canada; do not apply them automatically to TEF IRN or TCF tasks.
One useful practice habit is to pause after an argument and let your partner answer. A long opening speech makes it harder to show that you understood a new concern. For the full task overview, see the TEF Canada speaking format guide.
An original Section B practice topic
Your situation: Your friend would like to meet people locally but is hesitant about organized activities. You have found the following advertisement. Present it and try to persuade your friend to attend with you.
Original practice advertisement
Atelier cuisine du quartier
Préparez deux plats de saison en petit groupe, puis partagez le repas.
Samedi, de 11 h à 14 h, à la maison de quartier des Tilleuls.
Tarif : 18 euros par personne. Ingrédients et matériel compris.
Débutants bienvenus. Groupe limité à huit participants.
Inscription obligatoire avant jeudi. Signalez toute allergie lors de l'inscription.
Before speaking, separate what the advertisement confirms from what you would need to check. It confirms the price, timing, group size, included materials and welcome for beginners. It does not promise a discount, a different time slot, cancellation terms or an allergy-free kitchen.
This distinction makes your arguments more coherent. You can propose asking about something without claiming that the organizer has already agreed to it.
Sample dialogue: respond when the objection changes
This is an annotated teaching sequence, shorter than a full 10-minute test interaction. Read the friend's line, try your own response aloud, and only then compare it with the candidate's reply.
1. Introduce the activity through your friend's situation
Candidate
Tu m'as dit que tu aimerais rencontrer des gens dans le quartier. J'ai trouvé un atelier de cuisine qui pourrait te plaire. C'est samedi, de onze heures à quatorze heures, à la maison de quartier des Tilleuls. On prépare deux plats, puis on mange ensemble. Le groupe est limité à huit personnes, donc ce serait l'occasion de discuter autour d'une activité. Ça te dirait d'y aller avec moi ?
The introduction selects details that matter to this friend. The small group and shared meal support the idea of meeting people. It does not recite every line of the advertisement before allowing an answer.
2. Answer the price concern without inventing a discount
Friend
Dix-huit euros, c'est trop cher pour cuisiner. Je peux faire à manger chez moi.
Candidate
Oui, cuisiner chez toi te coûterait peut-être moins cher. Ici, les ingrédients et le matériel sont compris, et on partage le repas à la fin. Ce qui me semble intéressant pour toi, c'est aussi de passer un moment avec des voisins. Est-ce que c'est le prix total qui te gêne, ou le fait de payer pour une activité que tu fais déjà ?
The candidate acknowledges a reasonable comparison. The reply then uses confirmed details and asks what the objection really means. There is a difference between lacking the money and questioning the value.
If your partner says they cannot afford it, do not keep repeating that it is good value. You could discuss whether another occasion would be better. A relevant reply respects the concern you have just heard.
3. Adapt when the problem becomes confidence
Friend
C'est surtout que je cuisine très mal. J'ai peur de ralentir tout le monde.
Candidate
Ah, je comprends mieux. L'annonce précise que les débutants sont les bienvenus, donc tu n'as pas besoin d'arriver avec de l'expérience. On pourrait commencer par une tâche simple et demander des explications si nécessaire. Tu aurais surtout peur de ne pas comprendre les consignes ou de faire une erreur devant les autres ?
The reply changes direction. More price arguments would miss the newly stated problem. The candidate uses the beginners policy, suggests a manageable approach and asks a focused follow-up.
Avoid promising that your friend cannot make a mistake. You can explain how someone might participate despite uncertainty.
4. Respond to the more specific worry
Friend
De faire une erreur. Je n'aime pas qu'on me regarde quand je ne sais pas faire.
Candidate
Je comprends. On pourrait se mettre ensemble au début, et je pourrais t'aider si une consigne n'est pas claire. Comme le groupe compte au maximum huit personnes, il y aura moins de monde que dans un grand cours. Je ne peux pas te promettre que tu seras tout de suite à l'aise, mais on peut demander comment les tâches sont réparties avant de s'inscrire.
The candidate offers personal support and a practical question for the organizer. The language marks uncertainty: on pourrait, je pourrais, on peut demander. The small group is a fact; feeling comfortable is a possibility.
5. Take a schedule conflict seriously
Friend
Et puis je dois être chez ma sœur à quatorze heures. Je ne peux pas arriver en retard.
Candidate
Dans ce cas, terminer l'atelier à quatorze heures ne te laisserait pas le temps d'y aller. Il faudrait demander si un départ un peu plus tôt est possible, sans gêner le groupe. Sinon, on pourrait se renseigner sur une prochaine date. Je préfère qu'on vérifie ce point plutôt que de te proposer une organisation impossible.
The candidate notices that the finishing time conflicts with the appointment. They do not casually change the advertised schedule or promise early departure. The solution depends on information still to be confirmed.
6. Handle an allergy without offering false reassurance
Friend
Il y a autre chose : je suis allergique aux noix. Même avec une autre recette, je ne sais pas si je pourrais manger sur place.
Candidate
Tu as raison de le signaler. L'annonce demande de préciser les allergies, mais ça ne veut pas dire que l'atelier peut forcément répondre à tes besoins. On devrait contacter l'organisateur pour connaître les ingrédients et les conditions de préparation. Tant que ce n'est pas clair pour toi, on ne s'inscrit pas.
This reply keeps the distinction between an instruction to disclose an allergy and a guarantee about the kitchen. It demonstrates careful understanding of the document. You do not need to invent a solution to every obstacle.
7. Propose a next step without forcing agreement
Friend
Bon, je veux bien regarder les informations, mais je ne te promets pas de venir.
Candidate
Bien sûr. Je t'envoie l'annonce et on prépare nos questions sur l'horaire et les allergies. L'activité pourrait être une bonne occasion de rencontrer des voisins, à condition qu'elle te convienne. Après la réponse de l'organisateur, on pourra en reparler avant jeudi, puisque c'est la date limite d'inscription.
The closing recalls the friend's original goal and the actual deadline. It proposes a realistic next step. The friend has agreed to look at the information, not to attend; the candidate keeps that difference clear.
Eight common objections to practise
These are useful rehearsal categories, not a prediction of the objections on your exam. For each one, practise a response tied to the advertisement in front of you.
| Objection | What you need to understand | A useful French starting point |
|---|---|---|
| C'est trop cher. | Budget limit or doubts about value? | Qu'est-ce qui te fait hésiter dans le prix ? |
| Je n'ai pas le temps. | A fixed conflict or a busy week? | Quel moment te poserait problème ? |
| C'est trop loin. | Travel time, cost or access? | Comment est-ce que tu pourrais t'y rendre ? |
| Je ne sais pas faire. | Lack of skill or fear of judgment? | Tu crains surtout quelle partie de l'activité ? |
| Je ne connais personne. | Would going together help? | On pourrait y aller ensemble. |
| Ça ne m'intéresse pas. | Which part fails to appeal? | Qu'est-ce qui ne te plaît pas dans cette proposition ? |
| Je n'ai pas le matériel. | Is equipment actually included? | Vérifions ce que l'annonce prévoit. |
| Je préfère réfléchir. | Is there an unanswered concern? | Qu'est-ce que tu aimerais savoir avant de décider ? |
A follow-up question helps when the concern is unclear. You do not need one after every objection. If the friend already says “I work until six and the activity starts at five,” you have enough information to discuss that conflict.
Then develop the answer: identify the relevant fact, explain why it matters to your friend, and suggest a realistic option. A collection of short questions alone would not provide much persuasion practice.
Fix the reply that ignores the objection
Friend: « Je travaille samedi jusqu'à midi. »
Weak reply: « Mais c'est une activité très intéressante. Tu vas rencontrer des gens et apprendre beaucoup de choses. »
The benefits may be relevant to the activity, but they do not address the friend's availability. Here is a revision for the cooking advertisement:
L'atelier commence à onze heures, donc tu manquerais le début. Il faudrait demander si une arrivée après midi est possible, mais ce serait peut-être compliqué pour suivre la recette. S'il y a une autre date, ce serait sans doute plus pratique pour toi.
The revision connects the working hours to the advertised start. It considers a possibility, explains its limitation and suggests checking another date. No impressive adjective could replace that reasoning.
During review, write down the friend's objection and your first sentence after it. If they concern different problems, practise that transition again. The Section B persuasion lesson provides a shorter guided exercise on the same skill.
French phrases for facts, possibilities and clarification
The most useful phrases let you communicate what you mean accurately. Practise completing them with different topics.
- A confirmed detail: L'annonce précise que le matériel est compris.
- A possible action: On pourrait demander s'il reste des places.
- An unconfirmed condition: Il faudrait vérifier si on peut annuler.
- A consequence: Ça te permettrait de rencontrer des voisins.
- A clarification: Si je comprends bien, c'est surtout l'horaire qui te gêne.
- A qualification: Ce serait une possibilité, à condition que l'organisateur soit d'accord.
Use tu consistently when the role is a friend. Keep your tone conversational and respectful. You can disagree or offer a different perspective without telling the other person their concern is stupid.
For grammar practice, compare si tu es disponible, on peut y aller with si tu étais disponible, on pourrait y aller. The first considers a real possibility; the second presents a more hypothetical situation. Practise the pattern with sentences you understand rather than adding a complicated tense solely to sound advanced.
A practice routine that trains unexpected replies
Start with two short rounds before attempting the full timing:
- Introduce the offer. Explain the cooking workshop in your own words, including why it could suit this friend. Stop and listen to the response.
- Practise one exchange. Ask a partner to choose an objection from the table without telling you which one. Answer, then let them make the concern more specific.
- Try a 10-minute interaction. Use a fresh advertisement and allow the partner to change concerns. The rehearsal timing matches Section B, but this routine is our study advice.
- Review two moments. Find one reply that addressed the concern and one that missed it. Revise the weaker reply aloud, then try another topic.
If you study alone, cover the candidate replies above and record your response to each friend's line. Change the order on the next attempt. Solo rehearsal helps with phrasing; a live partner adds the unpredictability you need to practise interaction.
Use TEF speaking practice to find Section A and B activities, and the TEF preparation plan to fit speaking into your work on all four skills. Repeating the same dialogue until you know it by heart does not test your response to a new objection.
TEF speaking Section B questions
Do I fail if the examiner keeps saying no?
Continued resistance is part of the exercise. CCI's official speaking preparation advice specifically prepares candidates for an interlocutor who disagrees. Their refusal alone is not a score report. Keep developing relevant arguments and responding to what they say.
How is TEF speaking graded?
CCI describes standardized assessment of communication, vocabulary, grammar, organization and fluency, among other criteria, in its results guidance. A written dialogue cannot demonstrate pronunciation or spontaneous interaction, so we do not attach an NCLC score to this example.
Is there a fixed number of arguments or objections?
The official Section B sample instructions ask you to present the document and persuade your friend; they do not prescribe a fixed number of objections. Build enough relevant detail to sustain the interaction. Avoid counting through memorized arguments while ignoring the examiner's replies.
Can I invent a discount or extra service?
For practice, keep the advertisement's facts consistent. If a discount is not stated, say you could ask whether one exists. That lets you propose a solution without changing the offer. The same approach works for transport, equipment, childcare and cancellation arrangements.
Is this the same as TEF writing Section B?
No. This article concerns a spoken interaction with a friend. Writing Section B asks you to develop a written response to an opinion. Use the TEF writing format guide for that task, including its separate timing and requirements.
Is TEF speaking easier than TCF speaking?
That depends on which tasks you find more manageable. Practise official examples from both before deciding. The TEF and TCF comparison explains the formats; one comfortable practice dialogue cannot establish which test will give you a better result.
Try a new Section B conversation
Open the Section B speaking practice topics and choose a fresh situation. After your attempt, check whether each response addressed the actual concern, whether you developed your reasons, and whether your claims matched the advertisement.
Choose one exchange to improve and repeat it with a different objection. If you use automated feedback, treat its estimates as practice guidance rather than an official TEF result. The next useful step is to make your next reply clearer and more relevant.
