French B1 Level: Find Out If You’re There

What Does B1 Level in French Mean?

Before we begin, let’s clarify what the B1 level represents. According to the CEFR, B1 is an intermediate level where you can:

• Understand and communicate on familiar topics.
• Handle situations while traveling in a French-speaking country.
• Express simple ideas autonomously, though with some limitations in precision.

If this sounds like your current level, let’s test your skills!

The B1 French Test: 14 Questions to Evaluate Your Skills

Below, we’ll break down the 14 questions from the test, explain their purpose, and provide tips for answering them effectively.

2. Quel est ton plat préféré et pourquoi ?

(What is your favorite dish and why?)
Here, you’ll talk about your preferences and justify them. For instance:

• Mon plat préféré, c’est la pizza, parce que j’adore le fromage et les différentes garnitures.
• My favorite dish is pizza because I love cheese and the variety of toppings.

Key points to master:

• Food vocabulary (e.g., pâtes, soupe, viande).
• Using adjectives like délicieux or savoureux to describe your choice.
• Structuring your answer: name the dish, describe it briefly, and explain why you like it.

4. Qu’est-ce que tu as fait le weekend dernier ?

(What did you do last weekend?)
This question focuses on your ability to narrate past events using the passé composé. Example:

• Le weekend dernier, je suis allé au parc avec des amis et nous avons fait un pique-nique.
• Last weekend, I went to the park with friends, and we had a picnic.

Key points to master:

• Conjugating verbs in the passé composé (e.g., je suis allé, nous avons fait).
• Vocabulary for leisure activities (e.g., parc, pique-nique, amis).

6. Quel est ton film ou ta série préférée ?

(What is your favorite movie or series?)
Here, you’ll describe your preferences in entertainment. Example:

• Ma série préférée, c’est Stranger Things, parce que l’histoire est captivante et les personnages sont intéressants.
• My favorite series is Stranger Things because the story is captivating, and the characters are interesting.

Key points to master:

• Vocabulary for movies and series (e.g., histoire, personnage, intrigue).
• Using adjectives like captivant, drôle, émouvant.

7. Comment vas-tu à l’école ou au travail ?

(How do you get to school or work?)
This question tests your ability to describe transportation methods. Example:

• Je vais à l’école en bus, mais parfois je prends mon vélo quand il fait beau.
• I go to school by bus, but sometimes I take my bike when the weather is nice.

Key points to master:

• Prepositions for transportation (e.g., en bus, à vélo).
• Vocabulary for transport (e.g., bus, vélo, voiture).

9. Quel est ton souvenir d’enfance préféré ?

(What is your favorite childhood memory?)
This question focuses on narrating past events using both the passé composé and the imparfait. Example:

• Mon souvenir préféré, c’est quand ma famille et moi sommes allés à la plage pendant les vacances d’été.

• My favorite memory is when my family and I went to the beach during summer vacation.

Key points to master:

• Using the imparfait for context and the passé composé for main actions.
• Structuring your response with context, main action, and explanation.

10. Qu’est-ce que tu aimerais apprendre à faire ?

(What would you like to learn to do?)
This question tests your ability to express desires using the conditional tense. Example:

• J’aimerais apprendre à faire du surf car j’adore les vagues et l’océan.
• I would like to learn how to surf because I love the waves and the ocean.

Key points to master:

• Conjugating verbs in the conditional tense (e.g., j’aimerais, je voudrais).
• Using infinitives correctly (e.g., apprendre à faire).

12. Est-ce que tu préfères vivre en ville ou à la campagne ?

(Do you prefer living in the city or the countryside?)
This question focuses on comparisons. Example:

• Je préfère vivre en ville parce qu’il y a plus d’activités et tout est à proximité.
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a house and travel around the world.

Key points to master:

• Using comparatives (e.g., plus de, moins de).
• Vocabulary for places (e.g., ville, campagne, tranquille).

14. Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour protéger l’environnement ?

(What do you do to protect the environment?)
This question evaluates your knowledge of environmental vocabulary. Example:

• Je recycle, j’utilise moins de plastique et je prends les transports en commun.
• I recycle, use less plastic, and take public transportation.

Key points to master:

• Vocabulary for eco-friendly actions (e.g., recycler, plastique, énergie renouvelable).
• Structuring your response with multiple actions and brief explanations.