DELF syllabus

French diploma at CEFR A1, A2, B1 and B2. Each level is four papers out of 25; the pass mark is 50/100, with at least 5/25 on every paper.

DELF A1

Compréhension de l'oral (listening)

4 exercises, or 5 on the updated format · 20 minutes

Out of 25. Recordings are heard twice. The manual mentions pictures with some questions.

  • A phone message
  • A public or radio announcement
  • Simple instructions
  • Very short dialogues
  • On the updated format, identifying objects

Compréhension des écrits (reading)

4 exercises · 30 minutes

Out of 25. The body of the December 2021 manual says 30 minutes. The summary table in the same manual is easy to misread as 20 minutes.

  • A short message (email or invitation)
  • Finding one's way in a place
  • Times, instructions and small ads
  • A short article

Production écrite (writing)

2 exercises · 30 minutes

Out of 25. On the form, the manual says one point per correct answer and that spelling is not marked if the word is clear.

  • Fill in a form
  • A short message of at least 40 words (postcard, note, email or invitation)

Production orale (speaking)

3 parts · 5 to 7 minutes, after 10 minutes to prepare

Out of 25. Two examiners.

  • Guided interview
  • Exchange of information
  • Simulated dialogue

DELF A2

Compréhension de l'oral (listening)

4 exercises · 25 minutes

Out of 25. The manual says you hear 4 or 7 documents depending on the format, and that there is a second listening.

  • A public announcement (station, airport, transport)
  • A phone message
  • A radio extract
  • A conversation between native speakers

Compréhension des écrits (reading)

4 exercises · 30 minutes

Out of 25. The exercise chapter says 30 minutes. The same manual says the collective sitting is 1 hour 35 or 1 hour 40 and that reading can be 25 or 30 minutes depending on the version.

  • A poster, menu or small ad
  • An email or a personal letter
  • Instructions (rules, a recipe)
  • A newspaper, magazine or guidebook article

Production écrite (writing)

2 exercises · 45 minutes

Out of 25. The manual suggests about 20 minutes to prepare each text.

  • Describe an event or a personal experience, at least 60 words
  • Write to invite, thank, apologise, inform or congratulate, at least 60 words

Production orale (speaking)

3 parts · 6 to 8 minutes, after 10 minutes to prepare

Out of 25. Two examiners.

  • Guided interview
  • Monologue
  • Interaction

DELF B1

Compréhension de l'oral (listening)

3 exercises · 25 minutes

Out of 25. The manual tells candidates to expect a second listening and says the first question of each exercise is about the general meaning.

  • A dialogue about everyday life
  • A radio extract on a work topic
  • A radio extract on a general topic

Compréhension des écrits (reading)

2 or 3 exercises · 35 to 45 minutes

Out of 25. The summary table shows 45 minutes; the sitting notes say reading runs from 35 to 45 minutes according to the format.

  • Find information in a brochure, an ad or a menu in order to complete a task
  • One or two general-interest articles

Production écrite (writing)

1 exercise · 45 minutes

Out of 25.

  • Express a personal view in a text of at least 160 words (essay, letter or article, as the task asks)

Production orale (speaking)

3 parts · 15 minutes, after 10 minutes to prepare

Out of 25. Preparation applies to the point-of-view part. Two examiners.

  • Guided interview
  • Expressing a point of view
  • Interaction

DELF B2

Compréhension de l'oral (listening)

3 exercises on format 2 (5 documents); 2 exercises on format 1 (2 documents) · 30 minutes

Out of 25. Multiple choice has three options and one right answer. Short answers may be a word, a date or a figure, sometimes reworded. Questions follow the order of the document; the first often asks for the general meaning.

  • Format 2, exercise 1: one long authentic radio document (talk, lecture, documentary or speech), played twice
  • Format 2, exercise 2: a second long document of the same kind, played twice
  • Format 2, exercise 3: three short documents (interview, news bulletin or short report), each played once
  • Format 1 instead uses one long document played twice and one short document played once

Compréhension des écrits (reading)

3 exercises on format 2; 2 exercises on format 1 · 60 minutes

Out of 25. The same question types as listening, plus true or false, sometimes with a justification taken from the text. The exercises are independent.

  • Format 2, exercises 1 and 2: an informative or an argumentative text
  • Format 2, exercise 3: the point of view of a French-speaking person
  • Format 1 instead uses one informative text about France or the French-speaking world and one argumentative text

Production écrite (writing)

1 exercise · 60 minutes

Out of 25. The manual's grid covers task, register, presenting facts, arguing a position, coherence, vocabulary and grammar. Less than 250 words misses the length part of the task.

  • Argue a personal point of view in at least 250 words: a contribution to a debate, a formal letter, a critical article or a report, as the task asks

Production orale (speaking)

2 parts, taken in order · 20 minutes maximum, after 30 minutes to prepare

Out of 25, for the whole paper. The manual's grid gives marks for language across the paper and separate marks for the monologue and the debate. Two examiners; one or both may speak.

  • Monologue, 5 to 7 minutes: you draw two subjects, choose one, and defend a point of view from a short trigger document
  • Debate with the examiner, with no extra preparation: defend and adjust that view