DELF A1 Speaking Module: Question Formation

A super common task that can be confusing if you don’t practice it right!

One part of the DELF A1 speaking exam that often confuses students is when the examiner shows you some flashcards with different words (usually nouns/verbs), and you have to form questions using those words.

Example: The flashcard says “Sport”, and you have to ask something like “Quel sport fais-tu ?”
Sounds really simple, but when you’re nervous during the exam, your mind can go blank.

So today, let’s make this part super easy for you. 

What exactly is this task?

In the Production Orale section of the DELF A1:

• The examiner shows you some flashcards one by one with one word in each (like travail, voiture, maison).
• You need to quickly form a grammatically correct question using that word.

   

This part checks:

• If you understand basic vocabulary.
• If you can form and ask simple, correct questions.
• If you can speak naturally, even with limited language, that an A1 learner should be able to do.

What kind of words do they show?

Mostly very common A1-level words, like:

• Loisir (sport, musique)
• Famille (frère, sœur)
• Vie quotidienne (travail, week-end)
• Objets (téléphone, voiture)
• Lieux (ville, maison)
• Vacances, temps libre, repas, école, etc.

How to form a question? Here are 3 quick steps:

1. Look at the word and ask: What type of word is it?

Is it about a person, activity, object, place, or time?

2. Choose the right question word

Here are some go-to options for you:

3. Use a clear, simple structure

Always stick to this structure: Question word + subject + verb + rest of the sentence ?

Important: Don’t just ask yes/no questions that begin with “Est-ce que”. Bring variation in each question you ask.

Most beginners end up making only yes/no questions like:

• “Tu as une voiture ?”

• “Tu travailles ?”

• “Est-ce que tu aimes la télé ?”

These are okay, but they’re too basic. You’ll get a better impression if you ask open-ended questions that invite a more detailed response than just oui or non.

Try these instead:

• “Quel sport fais-tu ?”

• “Où est-ce que tu travailles ?”

• “Comment est ta ville ?”

• “Qu’est-ce que tu regardes à la télé ?”

   

These show more vocabulary, better grammar, and help you stand out.

Now let’s look at some flashcard examples

Some important tips to practice and improve:

• For each word, prepare 2 to 3 open-ended questions in advance.
• Avoid starting every question with “Est-ce que…”, vary your structures.
• Speak out loud during practice to build fluency.
• Focus on short, clear questions, not long perfect ones.
• Remember: confidence beats perfection!

   

Try this now! Imagine you see these flashcards in the exam. What questions would you ask?

1. Week-end
2. Famille
3. Travail
4. Télévision
5. Vacances

Tip: Use quoi, où, pourquoi, comment… to keep it open-ended. Avoid Est-ce que.

Remember:

This task is simple if you train your brain to quickly connect words with open questions. Avoid asking “Tu as une voiture ?” for everything. Try to be more curious and conversational, that’s what examiners love to see!

Want structured practice with real feedback?
Join our beginner-friendly online courses at LingoRelic, designed to help you feel calm, clear, and confident in your DELF A1 speaking test.

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