Introduction
If you’re preparing for the IB French Individual Oral (IO), you probably already know this: it’s not just about speaking French. It’s about showing the examiner that you can think, connect ideas, and communicate clearly — all under pressure.
The good news? Once you know the structure, the IO becomes a lot less scary. Whether you’re aiming for IB French SL or HL, this guide will give you a clear step-by-step process to organise your ideas, impress the examiner, and walk out of the room feeling proud.
Step 1: Understand the Format
- Time: 12–15 minutes
- Part 1: 3–4 minutes describing and analysing your chosen visual stimulus (from the IB themes)
- Part 2: 4–5 minutes of follow-up questions with the teacher, based on the same stimulus and theme
- Part 3: 5–6 minutes of general discussion on another theme studied in class
There are five themes you need to master:
- Identities
- Experiences
- Human ingenuity
- Social organisation
- Sharing the planet
Your photo will always be linked to one of these.
Step 2: Pick the Right Visual Stimulus
You don’t get to choose in the exam — your teacher will hand you two photos, and you’ll select one. But in practice, you can prepare by working with lots of examples.
Good visual stimuli are:
- Rich in detail (people, actions, emotions, objects, background)
- Clearly linked to a theme (e.g., a protest for Social organisation, a family dinner for Identities)
- Open to interpretation (so you can comment, not just describe)
Step 3: Think Like the Examiner
The examiner isn’t checking if you know every word in French. They’re asking:
- Can you describe clearly and accurately?
- Can you analyse and connect the picture to the IB themes?
- Can you link to French-speaking cultures, even in a simple way?
- Can you give opinions and justify them with examples?
If you hit those four, you’re on track for a top score.
Step 4: Structure Your Presentation (the right way!)
Here’s the golden structure to follow in your 3–4 minute presentation:
1. Description
Say what you literally see in the picture.
- Who? (gender, age, relationships)
- What are they wearing?
- What are they doing?
- What season/weather is it?
- What’s their emotion?
👉 Example:
Sur la photo, on distingue une famille composée d’un père, d’une mère et de deux enfants. Le père porte un pantalon bleu, un polo blanc et des lunettes. La mère a une robe verte et elle sourit. C’est sans doute l’été car il fait beau.
2. Lien avec le thème et le sous-thème
State which theme and sub-theme the picture belongs to, and explain why.
👉 Example:
Cette photo appartient au thème “Identités”, et plus précisément au sous-thème de la famille et des relations. En effet, on observe une scène familiale où les rôles et les liens sont très visibles.
3. Lien avec un pays francophone
Even if it’s a stretch, always link the picture to a French-speaking country. This shows cultural awareness.
👉 Example:
Je pense que la scène se passe en France car il y a beaucoup de montagnes dans ce pays. De plus, en cours de français, nous avons étudié une tradition similaire en Suisse…
4. Commentaire (le problème soulevé)
Go beyond description: identify a broader issue.
👉 Example:
À mon avis, le problème soulevé est celui de l’équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie de famille. Beaucoup de familles francophones rencontrent ce défi aujourd’hui.
Step 5: Master Transition Phrases
To sound fluent and confident, memorise some ready-to-use phrases:
- Autant que je sache… (As far as I know)
- Il est important de savoir que… (It’s important to know that…)
- D’un côté… mais de l’autre… (On one hand… but on the other…)
- Selon moi… Je pense que… (In my opinion… I think that…)
- Les avantages de… sont… (The advantages of… are…)
- Je suis d’accord avec vous, mais… (I agree with you, but…)
These help you buy time and show complexity in your French.
Step 6: Handle Follow-Up Questions Like a Pro
After your presentation, your teacher will ask you questions. Here’s how to deal with them:
1. Listen for question words
Always identify the question word first:
- Qui (who)
- Pourquoi (why)
- Quand (when)
- Comment (how)
- Quel/Quelle (which/what)
- Combien (how many/much)
👉 If the teacher asks: Pourquoi pensez-vous que cette scène est importante ?
You know you need to give a reason, not just a description.
2. Expand with examples
Don’t give one-line answers. Add examples from your experience or class.
👉 Example:
En cours de français, nous avons écouté une chanson qui parlait du même sujet. J’ai appris que…
3. Use your own experience
Relate it to your life or your country of origin.
👉 Example:
D’après mon expérience, dans mon pays d’origine il y a plus de… mais moins de…
4. Compare and justify
The examiner wants to see you reflect. Compare cultures, justify opinions.
👉 Example:
Je trouve que cette tradition est importante en France, mais dans mon pays, les choses sont différentes. Je pense que…
Step 7: General Discussion
In the final part, you’ll move to a broader conversation about another theme. The strategy is the same:
- Listen carefully
- Answer fully
- Add examples, comparisons, and opinions
Step 8: Practice, Practice, Practice
The IO isn’t something you can cram for the night before. You need to practise speaking aloud, ideally with a tutor or classmate who can push you with follow-up questions.
How a Tutor Can Help
Working with an IB French tutor makes a big difference because:
- They know the marking criteria inside out.
- They can give you mock IOs so the real exam feels natural.
- They help you prepare cultural links and bank of examples you can reuse.
At French-Exams.com, our IB tutors are native speakers who also know the IB curriculum — a rare combo that helps you feel fully prepared.
Conclusion
The IB French IO can feel daunting, but once you know the structure and practise answering in depth, it becomes a chance to show off what you know. Remember:
- Describe → Link to theme → Link to French-speaking country → Comment on issue.
- Use transition phrases.
- Expand your answers with examples and personal reflections.
With the right preparation, you can walk into the exam with confidence — and walk out knowing you’ve hit the top bands.
