DELF Exam: French Proficiency Tests | Leverage Edu (2024)

DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) is the worldwide recognized official certificate awarded by the French Ministry of Education. The certificate has a lifelong validity and is available for all age groups. The exam is used to assess French language skills amongst different age groups and can be used as a gateway to French universities and exciting jobs in Canada, France, and many other countries.

DELF Exam: French Proficiency Tests | Leverage Edu (1)

Name of the ExamDELF/DALF
Parts of the ExamListening (Comprehension Orale)
Speaking (Production Orale)
Reading (Comprehension Ecrite)
Writing (Production Ecrite)
Overall passing marks50/100
Pass mark per paper5/25 in each section
This Blog Includes:
  1. What is the DELF Exam?
  2. Levels of DELF Exam
  3. Importance of The DELF Exam
  4. Exam Format
  5. Exam Scores
  6. DELF Exam Fees
  7. How to Register?
  8. DELF Exam Dates 2023
  9. Top Institutes for DELF Exam in India
  10. FAQs

What is the DELF Exam?

The DELF is an abbreviation used for Diplôme d’études en langue française. It is a test for non-native French learners. This test helps in evaluating your level of French language proficiency. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate, this test has levels from A1 to B2 to cover every type of learner. Moreover, DELF is one of the best and most useful diplomas in the field of French, mostly when you want to pursue a job in France or other French-speaking countries like Switzerland, Canada, or Belgium or if you want to take admission at the French university.

Levels of DELF Exam

Here are the different levels of difficulty and certification for the DELF exam:

  • DELF A1: Breakthrough or beginner
  • DELF A2: Waystage or elementary
  • DELF B1: Threshold or intermediate
  • DELF B2: Vantage or upper intermediate
  • DALF C1: Effective Operational Proficiency or Advanced
  • DALF C2: Mastery or proficiency

Also Read: Study in Europe: A Complete Guide for International Students

Importance of The DELF Exam

The DELF exam has immense benefits and is very common nowadays. These benefits include:

  • Employment Opportunities: DELF proves to be the solution if you are seeking employment opportunities. If you want to improve your employment prospects then this exam is perfect for you as you can pursue studies and travel or live abroad.
  • Common and Beneficial: If you want to pursue a career in French then DELF is your gateway to teaching French in the beautiful country of France or across the globe. The exam not only takes you to French universities but also to the professional business world of French speakers.
  • Powerful Diploma: DELF is termed as the most powerful as in this exam you prove French language abilities after evaluation.
  • Highly Competitive: This examination has four parts and is highly competitive. The DELF is taken by thousands of students across the globe from all age groups. The test takers are required to demonstrate their French language skills across 4 main components like Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Reading to ace this exam.

Also Read: Education in France and Public Universities in France

Exam Format

The DELF/DALF exam has different levels according to age groups as well as levels of proficiency. The format of the exam:

Exam TypeOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ProductionOral Production
DELF A120 minutes30 minutes45 minutes6 to 8 minutes with 10 minutes preparation
DELF A230 minutes25 minutes45 minutes6 to 8 minutes with 10 minutes of preparation
DELF B125 minutes45 minutes45 minutes15 minutes with 10 minutes of preparation
DELF B230-minute60-minute60-minute20-minute PO with 30 minutes of preparation
DALF C140 minutes50 minutes2.5 hours30 minutes with 60 minutes of preparation.
DALF C23hours 30 minutes3hours 30 minutes30 minutes30 minutes with 60 minutes of preparation.
  • DELF A1 Listening (Comprehension Orale) is of approximately 20 minutes and 25 marks. In this section of comprehension questionnaires, you had to answer 3 or 4 very short recordings of everyday life that would be played twice. Moreover, the maximum duration of the recording would be 3 mins.
  • DELF A1 Reading (Comprehension ecrite) is 30 minutes of 25 marks. In this section, you will get comprehension questionnaires that you’ve to answer with 4 or 5 written documents on everyday life.
  • DELF A1 Writing (Production ecrite) is 30 minutes of 25 marks. It has two parts in 1st part you have to fill in a record, and a form followed by the 2nd part which is writing simple phrases (postcards, messages, stories, etc.) on everyday topics.
  • DELF A1 Speaking (Production orale)is of approximately 5~7 minutes and is about 25 marks. It has 3 parts
    • Guided conversation
    • Exchanging information
    • Role-play

Exam Scores

There are four parts to the DELF/DALF exam, namely, Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension, Written Production, and Oral Production. Each section is given a total mark of 25 and the passing mark for each section is 5 marks. The maximum mark for the exam is 100 and the passing marks are 50 marks.

DELF Exam Fees

There is a slight difference in the fees for international students( studying at Alliance Française) is INR 8850 to 11,800. The table given below shows the fees for each level of DELF.

DELF LevelExam fee (Inc GST.)AFD StudentsExam fee (Inc GST.)External Students

A1 TPRs. 5,310Rs. 8,850
A2 TPRs. 5,310Rs. 8,850
B1 TPRs. 5,900Rs. 10,620
B2 TPRs. 5,900Rs. 10,620
C1 TPRs. 8,260Rs. 11,800
C2 TPRs. 8,260Rs. 11,800
A1 JuniorRs. 5,310Rs. 8,850
A2 JuniorRs. 5,310Rs. 8,850

Also Read: All About the TEF Exam

How to Register?

For registration in the DELF examination, you must follow the following steps

  • Get in touch with an accredited examination center.
  • In 164 countries there are more than 1000 examination centres making it easy for you to find an examination centre irrespective of the location.
  • Fill out a registration form in which you have to enter your details. Moreover, this is the same for everyone.
  • Then you need to provide a photocopy of your ID card or passport followed by paying the registration fees with the help of accredited examination centers.

Also Read: TEF vs TCF: Which is the Best for International Students?

DELF Exam Dates 2023

The DELF exam is held multiple times throughout the year. Here are the upcoming dates for the exam:

Exam Period (Type of Exam)Registration DatesExam Dates
March 2023 (Tout Public)13 February 202313/03: A1, 14/03: A3, 15/03 B1, 16/03: B2, 17/03: C1, 18/03: C2
April 2023 (DELF Junior)17 March 202317/04: A1, 18/04: A2,19/04: B1, 20/04: B2.
April 2023 (DELF Prim)18 January 2023 to 7 February 202318/04: A1.1, 19/04: A2, 20/04: A1
June 2023 (Tout Public)12 May 202312/06: A1, 13/06: A2, 14/06: B1,15/06: B2, 16/06: C1, 17/06: C2.
July 2023 (DELF Junior and Tout Public)16 June 202317/07: A1 TP, 18/07: A2 TP/B2 J,19/07: B1 TP/B1 J, 20/07: B2 TP/A2 J,21/07: C1 TP/A1 J, 22/07: C2 TP.
September 2023 (Tout Public)11 August 202311/09: A1, 12/09: A2, 13/09: B1,14/09: B2, 15/09: C1, 16/09: C2.
December 2023 (Tout Public)3 November 202304/12: A1 TP, 05/12: A2 TP/B2 J,06/12: B1 TP/B1 J, 07/12: B2 TP/A2 J,08/12: C1 TP/A1 J, 09/12: C2 TP
December 2023 (DELF Prim and DELF Junior)4 September 2023 to 19 October 202313/12: A1.1, A1 J, 14/12: A2, A2 J,15/12: A1, B1 J, 16/12: B2 J.

Top Institutes for DELF Exam in India

There are only a few centers conducting DELF for junior French language proficiency exams in India. The examination centres in India are given below but some of these change every year.

LocationStates
North IndiaChandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur
East IndiaKolkata
West IndiaAhmedabad, Vadodara, Indore, Bhopal, Mumbai, Pune, Panjim.
South IndiaBangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Pondicherry, Mysore, Mangalore, Trichy, and Trivandrum

Also Read: Best Foreign Language Courses

FAQs

What is the DELF exam for?

The DELF exam is the official diploma exam for the French Language proficiency of international candidates. It is awarded by the French Ministry of Education.

What does the DELF stand for?

The full form of DELF Diplôme d’études en langue française i.e. Diploma of French Language Studies.

Who conducts the DELF exam in India?

DELF/DALF exam in India is conducted by Alliance Française (AF).

This was all about the DELF exam. Planning to study and work after learning French? Then the DELF is your gateway to study abroad destinations. Call us at 1800 572 000 and find out all you need to make your dream university a reality today!

DELF Exam: French Proficiency Tests | Leverage Edu (2024)

FAQs

What percent do you need to pass DELF? ›

You must obtain a mark of at least 50 out of 100 points to pass the DELF – this is known as the “pass mark” (“seuil de réussite”). Note, however, that if you score less than 5 out of 25 in any one of the four skill sections, you will not pass!

How hard is the DELF exam? ›

The DELF B2 is a challenging exam, especially for non-native French speakers. The exam tests your ability to communicate in French at an upper-intermediate to advanced level. Preparing for the DELF B2 may seem daunting but by studying and practicing, you can improve your French language skills.

Which is easier, tef or DELF? ›

The easiest would be DELF/DALF, unless it's the DALF C2. TCF/TEF is similar to TOEFL/IELTS. It's a general test to measure everyone's language skill. Thus, the problems range from very easy to very difficult.

What is the passing marks for DELF? ›

To pass the exam, you need to score 50 points or more.

In the DELF A1 level, the exam assesses your proficiency in the four fundamental language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

What DELF level is fluent? ›

B2. B2 is the level where a student is considered fluent since their knowledge is advanced but not proficient. This level requires 230 hours of study or eight sessions, meaning one year of complete study (after completing the intermediate).

What is the easiest DELF level? ›

DELF A1: This level is for beginners who have a basic understanding of French. It tests fundamental skills like introducing oneself, asking simple questions, and understanding basic written and oral texts.

Which is harder, B1 or B2 DELF? ›

You would have understood that there are differences between DELF B1 and B2 which are significant, going from B1 to B2 is indeed a big leap in your learning of French, in terms of complexity and sophistication in each test that this either in oral or written comprehension and expression.

How long is DELF valid? ›

DELF is an official, high-quality diploma, harmonised with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This diploma is recognised worldwide and is valid for life.

How many times can I take the DELF test? ›

There is no limit as to how many times that you can sit for the DELF exam; however, you do need to wait for a thirty-day period between test sessions; that is, you cannot take a test this week and then one next week.

Can I study in France without DELF? ›

To study in France at the postgraduate level, you will usually need to take either the DELF or the DALF. You can learn more in our guide to French language tests. If your course will be taught entirely in English, you won't need to take a French language test.

Is DELF worth it? ›

Academic advantages. Taking the DELF examination can also improve a child's employability and educational prospects. The DELF certificate is recognized worldwide as proof of proficiency in French, which can be an asset in today's global job market.

How to pass the French proficiency test? ›

Preparing for your French Proficiency Test

Be sure to review all language conventions (e.g., spelling, grammar, and idiomatic expressions). Review various text forms (e.g., persuasive writing). Listen and watch French programming to practice listening and comprehension skills.

How much does it cost to pass DELF B2? ›

Each part is marked out of 25 points, the total is out of 100 points. To pass, you need to score 50/100, i.e. 50%. The minimum score required per test is 5/25.

Is the DELF exam multiple choice? ›

The DELF and DALF exams have four components: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The listening and reading sections are multiple-choice, while the writing and speaking sections are evaluated by trained examiners.

Is DELF B2 worth it? ›

A DELF certificate can qualify you for study, work or other opportunities. DELF B2 meets the language requirement for admission to universities in France and increasingly to French-speaking universities in Canada.

What is the passing score for DELF B2? ›

DELF B2 Exam Format

The total duration of the test is 1 hour and forty minutes . The overall pass mark is 50/100.

What is the lowest level of DELF exam? ›

What is DELF?
DELF LevelCEFR Level
DELF A1A1 — Beginner
DELF A2A2 — Elementary
DELF B1B1 — Low-intermediate to intermediate
DELF B2B2 — Upper intermediate
May 22, 2023

What is a good grade for DELF B2? ›

Each part of the test has 25 possible points, and you must score at least 5 points in a section to pass. However, to pass the entire DELF B2 exams, you must score a minimum of 50 points.

What is A1 grading for DELF? ›

DELF A1 is considered to be the discovering level and is usually reached after 80 hours of french language study. and ideally for a true beginner. If you would like to determine if this level is for you please check out A1 -C2 self Assessment checklist.

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