How to prepare for the DELF exam

Ready to prove your French? Here’s how to kickstart your DELF journey with confidence.

The DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) is an internationally respected certificate issued by the French Ministry of Education. It's your official proof of French-language skills - accepted worldwide by schools, universities, employers, and immigration authorities.

This guide focuses on the “tout public” version, which is designed for adults and older teens who want to validate their French at levels A1 to B2. If you would like to continue with C1 and C2, consider reading our guide about DALF exam.

Why choose DELF?

• Enhance your résumé with a formal diploma
• Meet visa or citizenship language requirements
• Open doors to French-speaking universities or jobs
• Track your learning progress and stay focused with a clear goal
• Get a certificate that never expires—valid for life! 

What DELF test offers?

Across all levels (A1 to B2), the DELF assesses your ability to:

• Understand spoken French
• Read a variety of texts
• Write clearly and appropriately
• Speak with confidence in real-life situations

Each level is independent, you choose the one that matches your skills and goals.

DELF A1 - Starting from scratch

You’re just beginning your French journey, and this level proves you can handle basic, everyday communication.

• Listening: Understand short, slow conversations or messages.

• Reading: Interpret signs, forms, or short notes.

• Writing: Fill out a form and write a short personal message (like a holiday greeting or thank-you note).

• Speaking: Introduce yourself, talk about daily topics like your home or hobbies, and answer simple questions.

By passing A1, you show that you can:

• Communicate in the most basic ways
• Greet others, say who you are, and ask simple questions
• Understand very familiar words and phrases when spoken clearly

DELF A2 - Daily basics and routines

You can now navigate routine situations, like giving personal details, shopping, or talking about your daily life:

• Listening: Follow short conversations or announcements you’d hear at the train station or on the phone

• Reading: Understand posters, brochures, menus, or emails

• Writing: Write a simple letter like an invitation or thank-you message

• Speaking: Have a short chat about your personal life, express likes and dislikes, or make small requests

Passing A2 proves you can:

• Understand commonly used phrases in predictable situations
• Talk about familiar matters such as your job, family, or neighborhood
• Interact in a simple way, provided the conversation partner helps a little

DELF B1 - Becoming independent

This level means you can deal with most daily situations, express your views, and hold a basic conversation with ease.

• Listening: Understand the main points of conversations about school, work, or current events

• Reading: Read simple news articles, letters, or blog posts, and understand the main arguments

• Writing: Write an email or letter, and give your opinion about familiar topics in writing

• Speaking: Talk about your experiences, describe plans, give your opinion, and respond to follow-up questions.

With B1, you can:

• Interact confidently in familiar settings
• Express ideas and opinions clearly enough to maintain a conversation
• Understand simple but structured texts and audio content

DELF B2 - Communicating with confidence

Now you’re at a level where you can speak with fluency and handle more complex topics, especially in professional or academic environments.

• Listening: Follow interviews, debates, or radio programs, even when spoken at a natural pace

• Reading: Read opinion pieces, articles, and official documents and grasp the nuances

• Writing: Construct a logical, well-structured argument in writing on a social issue or abstract theme

• Speaking: Present your viewpoint, debate with a partner, and justify your perspective with solid arguments.

Achieving B2 shows that you can:

• Participate in discussions naturally and fluently
• Defend an argument and analyze pros and cons
• Understand and write detailed, structured content across topics

How much does it cost?

Prices vary slightly depending on the test center and country. As a general guide:

• A1: ~€100
• A2: ~€120
• B1: ~€140
• B2: ~€170

Choosing your level

• Take an official placement test (many are free)
• Do a mock exam to see where you stand
• Choose the level that matches your current skills or one step up if you’ve got time to prepare

How to prepare effectively

If you start 3-6 months before exam day:

• Study 30-45 minutes a day
• Focus on your weakest skills
• Use real DELF past papers and model tests

If you start 1-2 months before:

• Increase to 1-2 hours/day
• Do weekly timed mock exams
• Practice speaking regularly, even alone or with AI tools

Oral skills tips:

• Talk to native speakers or check out our conversation classes
• Record yourself and assess fluency and structure
• Practice typical speaking tasks from past exams
• Get feedback from a teacher or tutor

Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Cramming last-minute
• Neglecting speaking or writing
• Relying only on vocabulary lists
• Forgetting to review your own mistakes
• Skipping mock exams in timed conditions

Want a boost? Consider our DELF prep course

Sometimes self-study isn’t enough. A prep course can offer:

• Structure and a clear roadmap
• Real corrections on your speaking and writing
• Strategy sessions to help you perform better on exam day
• Motivation, feedback, and accountability 

Choose your level, build your plan, stay consistent and you’ll get there.

Bonne chance!