The Swiss fide test in French: two parts, four skills, a level rather than a pass, and free practice questions

How is the fide test structured?

Two parts, four skills. The oral part combines Parler, speaking with an examiner, and Comprendre, listening to a recording that is played at most twice, and takes about 40 minutes in total. The written part, Lire et Écrire, takes about 60 minutes. You choose a level combination before you sit it, either A1 to A2 or A2 to B1; the test starts at A2 and the examiners can suggest a higher or a lower level.

• Oral part: Parler plus Comprendre, about 40 minutes
• Written part: Lire plus Écrire, about 60 minutes
• Combinations: A1 to A2, or A2 to B1

How is the fide test scored, and what do you actually get?

A language passport, not a certificate of passing. The oral level is worked out from Parler counting two thirds and Comprendre one third; the written level comes from Lire and Écrire. You need to reach at least the lower level of the combination you chose to be certified, and the passport then shows one level for oral and one for written. The result usually arrives after four to six weeks.

Which French level do you need for a Swiss permit or naturalisation?

It depends on the permit, and the oral and written requirements are different. As a guide: family reunification on a B permit usually needs spoken A1; the C settlement permit needs spoken A2 and written A1; an early C permit needs spoken B1 and written A1; and ordinary or simplified naturalisation needs spoken B1 and written A2. Cantons can set higher requirements than the federal minimum, so confirm your exact level with your canton or commune before you book a level combination.

• Family reunification (B permit): spoken A1
• Settlement (C permit): spoken A2 and written A1
• Early C permit: spoken B1 and written A1
• Naturalisation: spoken B1 and written A2, cantons may ask for more

What does the fide test actually ask about?

Everyday life in Switzerland, not grammar for its own sake. The tasks are built around the situations a resident meets: the commune office, the caisse-maladie, renting and the déchetterie, the doctor, buying a billet. Our practice bank groups itself into the same nine everyday themes, which is why the free questions below run across all nine rather than through a grammar syllabus.

• Renseignements personnels: introducing yourself, family, appearance, character
• Vie quotidienne et famille: daily routine, household, time
• Logement et voisinage: housing, renting, the commune, waste and recycling
• Travail et formation: jobs, applications, training, school
• Achats et services: shops, money, restaurants, services
• Santé: the body, the doctor, the pharmacy, the caisse-maladie
• Transports et voyages: tram, billet, vélo, travel, weather
• Administration et autorités: appointments, forms, public services
• Loisirs et société: hobbies, clubs, festivals, taking part

Is the French Swiss French?

Swiss French, fr-CH, which is what the test is written and spoken in. It is standard French, not a separate language, but the everyday vocabulary and the numbers differ from France: septante for 70 and nonante for 90, huitante for 80 in Vaud, Valais and Fribourg, and words such as natel, billet, tram, commune, caisse-maladie and déchetterie. Practising on France-French material leaves you fluent in words the examiner will not use, which is a small problem in reading and a real one in the listening part.

Are these the official fide questions?

No. The official fide model tests and scenario materials are copyright-protected, with rights held by the State Secretariat for Migration, and none of them are reproduced here. Every question, reading text, listening script and illustration in the app is written or drawn from scratch to match the publicly documented format of the test, with an explanation for each answer in French and English.

Is RiverMap Learning connected to fide or the SEM?

No. RiverMap Learning is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the fide secretariat, the State Secretariat for Migration or any accredited test centre. These pages and the app are independent preparation material. You book the test directly at an accredited centre with no obligation to take a course, the fee is set by the centre so it varies, and the fide secretariat itself does not run preparation courses. Always confirm the current format, levels and fee on the official fide page before you book.