DELF "tout public" DALF examinations

DELF and DALF contents description

DELF A1 - User basic

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with three or four very short recordings on everyday life (played twice).
Maximum duration of recordings: 3 mins.

20 mins approx. /25
Reading

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with four or five written documents on everyday life.

30 mins /25
Writing

Two part test:
- filling in a record, a form,
- writing simple phrases (postcards, messages, stories etc) on everyday topics.

30 mins /25
Speaking

Three part test:
- guided conversation,
- exchanging information,
- role-play.

5 à 7 mins +
10 mins of preparation
/25

DELF A2 - User basic

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with three or four short recordings on everyday life (played twice).
Maximum duration of recordings: 5 mins.

25 mins approx. /25
Reading

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with three or four short recordings on everyday life.

30 mins /25
Writing

Two short pieces of writing (letter to a friend or message)
- describe an event or personal experiences,
- invite, thank, say sorry, ask for something, give information, congratulate in writing...

45 mins /25
Speaking

Three part test:
- guided conversation,
- exchanging information,
- role-play.

6 à 8 mins +
10 mins of preparation
/25

DELF B1 - User independent

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with three recordings (played twice).
Maximum duration of recordings: 6 mins.

25 mins approx. /25
Reading

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with two written documents:
- extract useful information concerning a particular task,
- analyse the contents of a document of general interest.

35 mins /25
Writing

Express personal opinions on a general topic (essay, letter, article etc).

45 mins /25
Speaking

Test in three parts:
- guided conversation,
- interactive exercise,
- expressing an opinion on a document designed to elicit a reaction.

15 mins
approx. +
10 mins of preparation
(only concern
the 3rd part of the test)
/25

DELF B2 - User independent

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with three recordings:  
- interview, news bulletin etc (played once),
- presentation, lecture, speech, documentary, radio or television programme (played twice).
Maximum duration of recordings: 8 mins.

30 mins approx. /25
Reading

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with two written documents:
- text of an informational nature regarding France or the French-speaking world,
- text of an argumentative nature.

1h /25
Writing

Taking a personal stand (contributing to a debate, formal letter, review of a film/book).

1h /25
Speaking

Stating and defending an opinion based on a short document designed to elicit a reaction.
 

20 mins
approx. +
30 mins of preparation
/25

 

B2 level is requested to attend a French university.
For professional development, it is strongly recommended.

DALF C1 - User proficient

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with recordings:
- a long recording (interview, lesson, conference...) approximately eight minutes long (played twice),
- several short radio broadcasts (newsflashes, surveys, adverts etc) (played once).
Maximum duration of recordings: 10 mins.

40 mins approx. /25
Reading

Comprehension questionnaires dealing with a text of ideas (literary or journalistic), 1,500 to 2,000 words long.

50 mins /25
Writing

Two part test:
- Summarise several written documents totalling approximately 1,000 words,
- write an essay with supporting arguments on the contents of the documents.
Candidate can choose between two fields: humanities and social studies, science.

2h30 /25
Speaking

A presentation based on a series of written documents, followed by a discussion with the examiners.
Candidates can choose between two fields: humanities and social studies, science.

30 mins
+
1h of preparation
/25

DALF C2 - User proficient

COMPETENCE TYPE OF TESTS DURATION MARK
Listening and speaking

Three part test:
- write-up the contents of a recording (played twice)
- personal development based on the problem given in the recording
- debate with the examiners.
Candidates can choose between two fields: humanities and social studies, science.

30 mins
+
1h of preparation
/50
Reading and writing

Writing a structured text (article, editorial, report, speech etc) based on several documents totalling approximately 2,000 words.
Candidates can choose between two fields: humanities and social studies, science.

3h30 /50

Total mark out of 100
Overall pass mark: 50/100
Pass mark per test: 5/25 (10/50 for C2)

Source: https://www.france-education-international.fr/delf-dalf/delf-tout-public