👋 Bienvenue sur FIDE Prep !
Pass the fide Test with Confidence
Complete fide test preparation online: real exam examples, sample papers with model answers, timed mock oral exams, and A1–B1 speaking practice. Free vocabulary and flashcards — no account needed.
I am learning
Ready to start practising?
Click below to start preparing for your fide test.
Where do you want to start?
Three ways in, depending on where you are today. You can change this at any point.
I’m new to the fide test
Start with what the test actually asks you to do, and how the oral and written parts are scored.
See what’s in the testI know roughly where I am
See the two ways to work through the material — by level, or from a situation you already need.
See how to practiseMy exam is booked
Rehearse the speaking test under exam conditions and compare yourself against model answers.
See mock examsWhat's in the fide test?
Understand what to expect in the fide test through simple, real-life tasks that check your speaking and writing skills.
The oral and written parts are graded separately — you can choose the level you need.
Talk about what you see in an image.
Simulate a short phone conversation.
Describe your daily or weekly activities.
Complete very basic forms.
Write quick replies to short messages.
Answer simple letters or notes.
How to practise
There are two ways in, depending on how you like to work — follow the exam’s own order, or start from a situation you already know you need.
Guided by level
The oral exam starts at A2 for everyone. Part-way through, the examiner moves you onto whichever track fits how it is going.
Everyone starts here
A1–A2
Lower track
A2–B1
Higher track
Guided sections for every task, with free examples to get you started.
Open the practice mapPick a topic
Start from a real-life situation and work through its material in whatever order suits you.
Santé
Le médecin
Doctor
Un rendez-vous
Appointment
Comprehensive topic list, with free vocabulary and sample dialogues.
Browse topicsRehearse the oral exam before it counts
The part everyone dreads is the speaking test. Practise it as many times as you like, in French or German, until it stops being a surprise.
Structured like the official exam
The tasks arrive in the same order and on the same clock as the exam.
Tips while you answer
Prompts appear as you speak, so you learn the technique rather than just the words.
Your answer is recorded
Play it back afterwards — hearing yourself is the fastest way to improve.
Compare with a model answer
A review screen puts your recording next to a sample answer for the same task.
Sample task · A2 telephone
Call the doctor’s surgery to cancel tomorrow’s appointment and ask for a new one next week.
The official practice test runs only a few times a year, and you need to register well in advance. Here you can rehearse any time, in French or German, as often as you like.
The things nobody tells you before the oral
Short, specific strategies for the moments that actually go wrong in the exam room.
Ask to “reformulate”, not just “repeat”
FREEUse filler words to buy yourself time
Fluidity over grammar
Prepare your introduction
Memorise key phrases
Know the oral exam structure
One tip is free to read. The rest come with Full access.
Everything that’s included
All of it built around the tasks the fide test actually asks you to do.
Guided speaking practice
Work through the real exam tasks — A2 introductions, picture description, telephone roleplay and small discussion, plus A1 guided dialogues. Start with free examples.
Everyday vocabulary library
All everyday topic lists, with audio. Save the words you keep forgetting into your own study lists once you have an account. The three A2 exam-task sets come with Full access.
Unlimited flashcards
Drill vocabulary in browse, match and type modes. No daily cap, no account required to start.
Real exam example videos
Fourteen recordings of actual fide oral tests with full transcripts, so you know exactly what the room sounds like.
Mock oral exams
A timed simulation with live tips, your answer recorded, then a review against a model answer. One full paper is free.
Exam tips & strategies
What to do when you have not understood the question, which tenses actually come up, and how to fill a silence.
What it costs
A lot of it is free. Look around as a guest, create a free account to save your words and take a mock exam, and unlock everything for the four months around your exam.
Guest
All everyday vocabulary lists
Unlimited flashcards
Practice map & exam structure
Free practice examples
Save words & progress
Mock exams
Complete A1 & A2 practice content
Free account
Everything in Guest
Save favourites & word lists
Progress tracking
One free mock speaking exam
All practice content & mock papers
Tips & strategies
Full access
Everything in Free account
Complete A1 & A2 practice content
All dialogue & discussion topics
A2 exam-task vocabulary
All mock speaking exam papers
Tips & strategies
No card details are needed for the free account.
Full access is a one-time payment for four months — never a recurring subscription. Choosing Full access helps us create more practice content for other learners. And we believe, four months gives most learners time to practise at a relaxed pace.
Who are we?
We built the site we wish we had when we were in your shoes.
As full-time tech workers in Switzerland, language learning didn't come naturally to us. Between traditional schools, tutors, and late-night study sessions, passing the fide test for our C permits was a real journey. Frustrated by the lack of focused tools, we teamed up to build the digital platform we desperately needed.
Today, we help expats conquer the fide test efficiently. Every exercise is designed from a real learner's perspective and verified by experts.
If we could balance full-time jobs and pass, you can too. Let's get you ready!
FAQ
Answers to common questions about the fide test in Switzerland.
The FIDE test is Switzerland’s official language exam for foreigners. It checks whether you can handle everyday situations in the language of your canton and is often required for residence permits, settlement permits or naturalisation. It tests levels A1 to B1 of the CEFR.
The FIDE test has an oral part (speaking and comprehension) and a written part (reading and writing). The oral test lasts about 40 minutes and the written test about 60 minutes.
The exam covers levels A1, A2 and B1. For the oral test, you start with A2-level tasks; examiners then advise you to continue at either A1-A2 or A2-B1 level, depending on your performance. The written part you can decide to take either A1-A2 or A2-B1 level.
The full test costs CHF 250; the oral part alone costs CHF 170 and the written part alone costs CHF 120.
Register directly with an accredited examination centre in Switzerland. You can choose to take both parts or only one part of the test.
The required level depends on your permit path and canton. Many applications require language skills between A1 and B1 in oral and written communication. Check your official letter or ask your cantonal migration authority before booking the test.
Yes. You can take only the oral part, only the written part, or both parts. If you need to improve, you can retake only the relevant part. Results remain valid for life.
Yes. The FIDE test is available in French, German, and Italian. FIDE Prep provides practice materials for French and German.
You will get your Language Passport (the certificate showing your levels) by post about four weeks after the test. Some times, the processing time may extend to six weeks.
We do not have a native iPhone app, Android app, or desktop app. On some devices and browsers, you can still install FIDE Prep as a web app and open it like an app.
Show steps for your device:
Desktop
1. Open FIDE Prep in Chrome on your computer.
2. Look for the install icon on the right side of the address bar.
3. Click the install button.
4. Confirm to add the web app to your computer.
Browser menus and button names can be a little different depending on the browser and device.
Contact us
Have questions or feedback? We welcome anything constructive about our fide preparation materials — it is how this gets better.
Contact usWe typically respond within 2-3 business days.
fideprep.ch is an independent educational platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the official fide secretariat or the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). "fide" is a registered trademark of its respective owners.