What is the DELF exam?
DELF (diplôme d'études en langue française) and DALF (diplôme approfondi en langue française) are official diplomas awarded by the French Ministry of Education in France to certify the competency of candidates outside of France in the French language. Now with over twenty-six examination centers in Canada and hundreds worldwide, the DELF/DALF is based on seven competency levels identified within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), an international standard.
DELF Prim and DELF for Schools are based on the same basic structure as the standard version of DELF, only the themes and the supports differ as they are adapted to a school public.
DELF Prim and DELF for Schools are reserved for students from schools having previously signed an agreement between local education authorities and the French Embassy.
At each level, four communication skills are assessed: written comprehension, oral comprehension, written production and oral production. Successful candidates receive a permanent official diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education in France.
Audiences for Examinations
The following audiences may be interested in DELF and DALF:
- public sector employees who work at the local, provincial or federal level.
- employees or prospective employees in national and multinational companies
- employees in a Canadian branch of a French company
- university or college students
- secondary school students in basic education
- members of the general public who wish to be assessed on the same criteria as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The benefits for participating candidates include:
- international recognition of their French language competency
- assessment on same international language standards as candidates in 154 countries
- a lifelong diploma upon successful completion of each level.
Overview of DELF/DALF exam levels
DELF Prim is the first level in the DELF/DALF series of certificates awarded by the French Ministry of Education for proficiency in French as a Foreign Language.
DELF Prim is intended for children who are beginners in French as a Foreign Language and who are either undertaking studies corresponding to the French elementary level or are the right age to undertake such studies under the regulations applicable in their country. Successful candidates receive a certificate identical to the general public version.
The tests are built on the same model as the standard version of DELF, but with topics adapted to suit the age group in question.
There are three levels of DELF Prim;
- DELF Prim A1.1
- DELF Prim A1
- DELF Prim A2
DELF for schools is open to all young people of nationalities other than French who attend a school authorized to offer it as part of the abovementioned agreement. The structure of the examinations is the same as that of the standard version of DELF. Only the topics and the materials are different: these are adapted for preadolescent and adolescent candidates in secondary school, 12 to 17 years old.
There are four levels of DELF for Schools;
- DELF A1
- DELF A2
- DELF B1
- DELF B2
DELF and DALF are official qualifications awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify the competency of candidates from outside France in the French language. DELF is composed of 4 independent diplomas that correspond to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The Standard version of DELF/DALF is open to any adults of nationalities other than French who would like their French skills to be recognized for personal or professional purposes.
The DELF and DALF diplomas are independent, you can take the examination of your choice.
DELF is composed of four basic and independent diplomas, and the DALF is composed of two independent advanced diplomas.
There are four levels of Standard version of DELF
- DELF A1
- DELF A2
- DELF B1
- DELF B2
There are two levels of DALF
- DALF C1
- DALF C2