If you're thinking about taking the DELF, you probably need it for something: a residence card or French citizenship, a French university, a job, or simply proof of the French you've worked for. You want to know which level to sit, what happens on exam day, what it costs and when you can take it.
Here's how the DELF and the DALF work at every level, with the 2027 dates in France and how to prepare for the part most people find hardest.
What are the DELF and the DALF?
The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) certifies French at the first four CEFR levels, A1 to B2, and the DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) at C1 and C2. According to France Éducation international, each level is a separate diploma, recognised worldwide and valid for life. The decree that governs them, décret n° 2020-1196, lets you register for any level without holding a lower one first.
This guide covers the "tout public" version for adults. There are also DELF junior and DELF Prim versions for teenagers and children, with themes suited to their age, and a professional option at every level.
Which level do you need?
For life in France, the level depends on what you're applying for, and a DELF or DALF at that level is accepted as proof, according to service-public.fr's pages on residence cards and nationality:
- A2 for a multi-year residence card, as our guide to the French residence card language requirement explains;
- B1 for the 10-year resident card;
- B2 for French citizenship, covered in our guide to the French citizenship language requirement.
France Éducation international adds that the DELF B2, and more and more the DALF C1, gives access to French universities. Because the diploma never expires, it's often a better buy than a TCF, whose results last two years. Our TCF IRN guide compares the two.
The DELF and DALF at each level
From A1 to C1, three papers are taken together in a room with other candidates: listening, reading and writing. Speaking is a one-to-one test with two examiners, usually on another day. The DALF C2 combines the skills into two longer papers. These timings come from France Éducation international's pages for A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2:
| Level | Listening, reading, writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| DELF A1 | 20, 30 and 30 minutes | 5 to 7 minutes, plus 10 to prepare |
| DELF A2 | 25, 30 and 45 minutes | 6 to 8 minutes, plus 10 to prepare |
| DELF B1 | 25, 45 and 45 minutes | 15 minutes, plus 10 to prepare |
| DELF B2 | 30, 60 and 60 minutes | 20 minutes, plus 30 to prepare |
| DALF C1 | 40 minutes, 50 minutes and 2 hours 30 | 30 minutes, plus 1 hour to prepare |
| DALF C2 | One combined reading and writing paper of 3 hours 30 | 30 minutes, plus 1 hour to prepare |
How do you pass?
From A1 to C1, each of the four parts is marked out of 25. You need 50 out of 100 overall and at least 5 out of 25 in every part, so a very weak score in one skill fails you however well the rest went. At C2, each of the two papers is marked out of 50, and you need 50 overall with at least 10 in each.
The juries' decisions are final: you can't contest your marks, though your exam centre can let you see your paper. If you fail, the decree lets you register again for the next session once results are out, and you sit the whole exam again.
Registration, prices and results
You don't register with France Éducation international. You choose an approved exam centre in France or abroad, and the centre tells you its price, dates and deadlines. Prices vary a lot. In the US, L'Alliance New York, the Alliance Française de Chicago and the Alliance Française de Washington all list $135 for A1, $145 for A2, $155 for B1, $190 for B2 and $245 for the DALF, and New York adds a $50 administrative fee. In France, the Alliance Française de Toulouse charges €160 to €190 for A1 to B2, including a €50 registration fee.
Book early. Centres often close registration several weeks before the exam, some sessions fill up, and a centre doesn't have to run every session. Results come from your centre once the jury has met, so ask your centre when to expect them.
DELF and DALF dates in France for 2027
In France, France Éducation international sets a national calendar for the group papers, published in its 2027 calendar. A1 and A2 are on Tuesdays, B1 and B2 on Wednesdays, and C1 and C2 on Thursdays. Speaking tests are set by each centre within 30 days after the group papers. Outside France, centres set their own dates.
| Month | DELF A1, A2 | DELF B1, B2 | DALF C1, C2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| February | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| March | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| May | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| June | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| July | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| August | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| October | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| November | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| December | 7 | 8 | 9 |
How to prepare for the DELF speaking test
The speaking test is where you're on your own in front of two examiners. From B1 up, you have to give and defend an opinion, and at B2 you defend a point of view on your own for several minutes, then discuss it with the jury. The way to get ready is to hear and say a lot of real conversations, until the phrases for agreeing, disagreeing and proposing a compromise come without thinking.
That's what our app, Copycat Cafe, is built for. In one of our B2 French lessons, a resident explains why she signed a petition against a noisy bar:
« Les riverains au nom desquels j'ai signé la pétition n'ont rien contre la culture. »
"The local residents on whose behalf I signed the petition have nothing against culture."
« Avez-vous essayé de discuter directement avec le propriétaire du bar ? »
"Have you tried speaking directly with the bar owner?"
« C'est justement la démarche à laquelle nous avons d'abord eu recours, sans résultat. »
"That's exactly the approach we tried first, with no result."
You hear each conversation at normal or slow speed and rebuild every line by ear, say the lines aloud and get a 0–100 pronunciation score on every word, then use the same French with Copy, your AI conversation partner. The French course has 50 lessons at each level from A1 to B2, so it takes you from the DELF A2 for a residence card all the way to the DELF B2 for citizenship. Copycat Cafe costs $174 a year ($14.50 a month) or $29 a month in the US, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the DELF and the DALF?
The DELF covers levels A1 to B2, and the DALF covers the advanced levels C1 and C2. Both are official French diplomas from France's Ministry of Education.
How much does the DELF cost?
Each exam centre sets its own price. In the US, many centres charge $135 for A1, $145 for A2, $155 for B1, $190 for B2 and $245 for the DALF, sometimes with an extra administrative fee.
What score do you need to pass the DELF?
50 out of 100, with at least 5 out of 25 in each of the four parts. For the DALF C2, 50 out of 100 with at least 10 out of 50 in each of its two papers.
Does the DELF expire?
No. DELF and DALF diplomas are valid for life.
Which DELF level do I need for French citizenship?
B2. A DELF B2 or a DALF diploma meets the language requirement for French nationality.
Do I have to take the DELF levels in order?
No. You can register for any level directly, without holding a lower diploma.