The DELF exam (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) is an official French diploma that proves your French at levels A1, A2, B1 or B2 on the CEFR scale. It is awarded by the French Ministry of Education and managed by France Éducation International, and unlike most language tests, the diploma never expires. Indian students take it mainly for study in France, for jobs and for a permanent record of their French level. This guide explains the DELF exam pattern, DELF syllabus, DELF score rules, DELF exam fee, registration and DELF preparation in plain language, so you can pick the right level and plan your session.

What Is the DELF Exam?

DELF stands for Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française. It is a diploma, not a score report. You choose one level, sit the exam for that level, and either earn the diploma or you do not. The advanced levels, C1 and C2, belong to a sister diploma called DALF, which has the same structure.

Each level is an independent diploma. You can go straight to B1 without first passing A2, and you can go to B2 without B1. This matters because picking the right level is the most important decision in the whole process. An Alliance Française note makes the point neatly: a DELF B1 passed with 50 out of 100 is worth more than an A2 passed with 70.

DELF Levels and Versions

The four DELF levels follow the CEFR scale. Here is what each one means in real life.

There are also three versions by age. DELF Tout Public is for adults, and Alliance Française de Delhi lists it for candidates aged 17 and above, from A1 to B2. DELF Junior is for ages 11 to 17 and covers A1 to B1. DELF Prim is for ages 7 to 11 and covers A1.1, A1 and A2. This guide focuses on the Tout Public version.

Who Needs to Take the DELF Exam?

Most Indian candidates take the DELF exam for one of these reasons.

• Study in France or other French-speaking countries: universities and schools often ask for B1, B2 or, for some programmes, C1. Check the language requirement on the programme page, since it differs by course and institution.
• Career and jobs: a lifetime diploma is easy to show on a CV for roles that use French.
• A permanent record of your level: because the diploma does not expire, you never need to retest just to renew it.

There is one common mix-up worth clearing up. DELF is not on IRCC's list of accepted French tests for Canadian immigration. For Express Entry you need TEF Canada or TCF Canada, which are the two approved tests. If Canada is your goal, read our Canada destination page and plan for one of those tests. Many candidates do DELF B2 first for a permanent credential and then take TEF or TCF when they are ready to apply.

DELF Exam Pattern

Every DELF level tests the same four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Three of them are taken together in one room as the collective written exam. Speaking is a separate one-to-one exam with examiners. Here is the DELF exam pattern for each level.

The speaking exam also includes preparation time before you meet the examiners, which is 10 minutes at A1, A2 and B1 and 30 minutes at B2. You then meet two examiners one to one. Every module carries the same weight, so a weak speaking exam can sink an otherwise strong result.

DELF Syllabus: What Each Skill Tests

The DELF syllabus is built around real communication tasks rather than a fixed grammar list. It grows in difficulty at each level, but the pattern stays familiar.

• Listening: you answer questions on recorded documents such as announcements, conversations, interviews and radio extracts. At A1 the topics are everyday situations, and by B2 you follow longer documents with opinions and implied meaning. Recent guidance describes the comprehension modules as largely multiple choice.
• Reading: you read notices, messages, articles and longer texts and answer questions. At B2 you handle press articles and argued texts.
• Writing: at A2 you write two short texts of at least 60 words each. At B1 you write one text of at least 160 words, such as an essay or a formal letter. At B2 you write an argued text of at least 250 words.
• Speaking: at A1 and A2 the exam has a guided interview, a short monologue and a role-play. At B1 you have a guided interview, an interactive exercise and a short talk giving your opinion on a document. At B2 you present and defend a point of view from a short document and then discuss it with the examiners.

The written exams are handwritten on paper, not typed. That surprises many candidates, especially at B2 where a 250-word text in French under time pressure is a big physical and mental task.

How Is the DELF Score Calculated?

Each of the four skills is marked out of 25, giving a total out of 100. To earn the diploma you need both of the following, according to the rules Alliance Française de Delhi publishes for DELF A1 to B2 and DALF C1.

• At least 50 out of 100 overall.
• At least 5 out of 25 in each of the four skills.

The second rule catches people out. If you score below 5 out of 25 in any single skill, you do not get the diploma, even if your total is above 50. Candidates in that situation are listed as éliminé.e in the results. For DALF C2 the rule is different, with two components of 50 marks each and a minimum of 10 out of 50 in each.

The papers go through a dual assessment by a panel of examiners before results are published. At Alliance Française de Delhi, results usually appear on the website about one month after the exam. The printed diploma from the French Ministry of Education takes about 3 to 6 months and is collected in person with a photo ID.

DELF Exam Fee, Dates and Registration

DELF sessions in India run through Alliance Française centres, usually in March, June, September and December, with the written date shared across centres and the oral date set by each centre. Fees depend on the level and on whether you study at that Alliance Française. Recent 2026 fee lists quote about ₹11,210 for A1 and A2 and about ₹13,265 for B1 and B2 for external candidates, including GST, while students of the same centre pay less. Confirm the current price with your centre, because fees and rules change.

1. Pick your level. Take an orientation test or a mock paper if you are unsure, and choose the level you can pass, not the one you would like.
2. Create your candidate account. Alliance Française de Delhi requires an account on its exam platform with your photograph and government ID uploaded.
3. Match your details to your documents. Name, date of birth and place of birth must match your ID exactly. Corrections after the exam cost ₹4,000 at Delhi.
4. Register when the session opens. Registration is first come, first served, and online booking at Delhi opens at 9:00 AM. A session's last registration date can be extended, so watch the notice board.
5. Pay in full. Delhi does not accept refund requests once you have registered.
6. Check your notification email. It arrives about a week before the exam, and you cannot change the day or time it gives.

If you want help matching your session with your application dates, our services team can build the timeline with you.

What Happens on DELF Test Day

The DELF exam is held in person. Bring a hard copy of one government photo ID such as an Aadhaar card, passport or driving licence, a printout of your convocation email and a blue pen. Phones and smartwatches are not allowed in the exam room.

At Alliance Française de Delhi, the order on exam day is speaking first, then listening, then the written paper, with a gap between the oral and the listening exam. Oral and written timings are different, so read both on the website. Latecomers are not admitted and forfeit their registration, so arrive early. You must also write your candidate number on your answer sheets, and you will need it later to check your result.

How to Prepare for the DELF Exam

DELF preparation starts with choosing the right level. If you have never studied French, aim at A1 first and build up. If you already speak comfortably, a B1 or B2 target may be realistic. The time you need depends on your starting level, so treat any fixed number of weeks as a rough guide.

• Listening: practise with French radio, podcasts and TV news, and get used to note-taking. Listen for names, numbers and the speaker's opinion.
• Reading: read short French articles daily, and practise answering questions within the time limit.
• Writing: write by hand, since the exam is handwritten. Practise the exact text type your level asks for, and count words. At B2, work on a clear structure with an introduction, arguments and a conclusion.
• Speaking: practise your preparation time. In 10 or 30 minutes you must organise your ideas, so rehearse outlining a talk quickly and speaking without reading.
• Past papers: use the official sample papers from France Éducation International for your level, and time yourself under exam conditions.

If you want structured support, our French language course takes learners from beginner level upward, and our exam preparation page explains how we run mock tests and feedback for test students.

DELF vs TCF vs TEF

Students often mix these three up. They all report French levels, but they serve different purposes, so choose based on what the institution or authority asks for.

If you need a lifelong credential, DELF is the better fit. If you need to meet a Canadian immigration rule, pick TEF or TCF. Many students do both, in that order.

Common Mistakes in the DELF Exam

• Choosing a level that is too high, then failing because one skill scores under 5 out of 25.
• Ignoring speaking and writing practice while doing only reading and listening.
• Not practising handwriting, then running out of time on the written paper.
• Entering a name or date of birth that does not match the ID, which leads to correction fees and delays.
• Booking DELF for a Canadian immigration application, when IRCC accepts only TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
• Retaking a level you already passed to improve your score, which requires giving up the earlier diploma and risks losing it if the new attempt fails.

Frequently Asked Questions