DELF Exam: Dates, Format, Questions & How to Pass [2022]

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A title at the end of the DELF exam confirms your proficiency as you answer “Ouï” to “Parlez-vous Français” confidently? French, unarguably, is one of the international languages of great literature, first-class films, fashion, cooking, theatre, dance, architecture, and whatnot. To let people know that fluency in French is one of the many capabilities, you would need to secure a DELF title. Wondering what that is and how to get one? We have collated everything for you here.

What is the ‘DELF Exam?’

DELF offers diploma certifications to students who undertake the exam. The Council of Europe’s Common European Framework arranges this exam for aspirants. DELF stands for Diplôme d’études en langue française or Diploma in French Studies. The exam is meant for students or young learners who have a keen interest in learning a foreign language. In case you apply for a job in a European corporation, the knowledge of French would help you better your chances by increasing your employability. There are four levels of this examination. The first two levels are considered ‘beginner level,’ and the last two are considered ‘independent.’ The levels are:

  • A1
  • A2
  • B1
  • B2

DELF exam in Indian Cities

The DELF exam will be held across almost all the important cities of India. Their official website mentions that the exam centres will be scattered across fourteen cities. These cities are:

  • Trivandrum
  • New Delhi
  • Panjim
  • Ahmedabad
  • Coimbatore
  • Chennai
  • Bhopal
  • Kolkata
  • Pune
  • Hyderabad
  • Bengaluru
  • Mumbai
  • Chandigarh
  • Pondichéry

There is one Alliance française in each of these cities. These are the exam centers for the DELF test. The states and addresses of these exam centres are as follows:

City of exam

Exam centre

State and address

Trivandrum

Alliance française de Trivandrum

Sudarshana, Forest Office Lane, Vazhuthacaud, 695014 Trivandrum, Kerala

New Delhi

Alliance française de Delhi

New Delhi

Panjim

Alliance française de Panjim-Goa

House B-305-306 Akah Bhavan, H, Salgado RD off 18th June Rd, Opposite Canara Bank, 403001, Goa

Ahmedabad

Alliance française d’Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Coimbatore

PSG Institute of Management

PB 1668, Avinashi Road, Peelamedu 641004, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Chennai

Alliance française de Madras

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Bhopal

Alliance française de Bhopal

E-7/639, Area Colony, 462016, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Kolkata

Alliance française du Bengale

Kolkata, West Bengal

Pune

Alliance française de Poona

Pune, Maharashtra

Bengaluru

Alliance française de Bengalore

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Hyderabad

Alliance française d’hyderabad

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Mumbai

Alliance française de Bombay

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chandigarh

Alliance française Le Corbusier

Chandigarh, Punjab

Pondichéry

Alliance française de Pondichéry

Pondichéry, Tamil nadu

However, do keep in mind that all centres of all cities might not hold exams for all levels. Some might be a centre for the DELF A1 exam, while some might hold an exam for the B2 level. To know more in detail, you need to look for the recent notifications on the website. 

DELF Exam in India Format

There will be four exams of two levels each. The exams are:

  • DELF A1 exam
  • DELF A2 exam
  • DELF B1 exam
  • DELF B2 exam

Now, the exam will have four parts- reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

The DELF exam 2021 format has still remained unchanged in 2022 as the official website has not announced any change. The format is as follows:

Reading

If you go through DELF A1 sample papers with answers, you will find that this section has short comprehension questions. There will be multiple-choice questions or questions where you need to identify whether the given options are true or false.

The same applies to the DELF B2 level also. In DELF B1 sample papers, the texts are longer than that of A1. It tests whether the learners can read and understand written instructions or not.

Writing

The writing section in the DELF test is not the same at all levels. The learners are asked to write, following the instructions given in the question paper. But the length and time of the exam vary.

For DELF A1 level, the question will ask you to write an introduction of yourself in 40 words. You will also write personal information, and that’s all for the A1 level.

At the A2 level, you have to present more descriptive writing. Here, you will have to describe a particular event or share your experience in written form.

In B1 and B2 levels, you will have to write an argument on the topic given to you. The level of difficulty will vary and increase from B1 to B2.

Speaking

Learners of A1 and A2 levels will have to converse in small and simple sentences. The conversation will be a guided one.

At the B1 level, you will be given a picture or a situation that you will describe in your own words.

The difference between B1 and B2 levels is that, in the latter, you will not only be describing but also presenting an argument or defending your opinion.

Listening

S ecordings will be played for levels A1, A2, and B1. Each recording will be around three minutes in length, and you get to hear it twice.

At the end of the recorded audio clipping, you will be asked questions about it. These will be small and simple questions with easy and direct answers.

For the B2 level, there will be two recordings. You will get to hear the first recording twice, and the second will play only once. All you have to do is listen closely and carefully to answer the questions.

The time format of DELF exam levels is as follows:

Level of DELF

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

DELF A1 exam

30 minutes

30 minutes

20 minutes

Preparation time 10 minutes

Speaking time 5-7 minutes

DELF A2 exam

30 minutes

45 minutes

25 minutes

Preparation time 10 minutes

Speaking time 6-8 minutes

DELF B1 exam

35 minutes

45 minutes

25 minutes

Preparation time 10 minutes

Speaking time 15 minutes

DELF B2 exam

60 minutes

60 minutes

30 minutes

Preparation time 30 minutes

Speaking time 20 minutes

DELF Exam Dates 2022 India

DELF Exam 2022 will be held in June, and registration for this exam starts on 12th May 2022. The exam will continue from 13th June to 17th June, as per the official website. However, there is a last day of registration for this exam session, and this time, it is 31st May. Exams of various levels will be held on different days. The DELF exam dates for 2022 are:

DELF Level of Exam

Date

Day

DELF A1 level

13th June 2022

Monday

DELF A2 level

14th June 2022

Tuesday

DELF B1 level

15th June 2022

Wednesday

DELF B2 level

16th June 2022

Thursday

DELF Number of available seats

Level

Number of seats

A1

50

A2

50

B1

50

B2

50

DELF Exam Fees in India

The fees for the exam vary at different levels. Also, the fee structure is different for AFD students and external students. DELF A1 exam fees are similar to that of the A2 level. Again, the exam fee for the B1 and B2 levels are similar. The fee structure is as follows:

Exam level

Exam Fee (in INR) for AFD students

Exam Fee (in INR) for external students

A1

6608

9440

A2

6608

9440

B1

7930

11,328

B2

7930

11,328

For more in-depth details, you can check the official website from here.

DELF Exam in India: How to Crack

For native speakers, learning the French language and then coming out with flying colours in the DELF exam requires extra practice and true sincerity. A few strategies for DELF A1 exam preparation will include:

Continuous Practice

 

There is nothing like a rigorous practice that yields the best result in education. Practicing the language and questions from DELF A1 sample papers time and again will make you reach your target more smoothly.

DELF A1 Sample Papers
This image is a page of DELF A1 level sample paper

 

Solving French DELF A1 sample papers

 

Solving previous years’ question papers within the given time always sharpen your skills. The more you solve these, the more familiar you become with the question patterns, type of questions asked, etc. You can find sample papers here. For more resources, you can check this out.

DELF A1 Exam Question Paper
This is an image of the DELF A1 level question paper

 

You can find DELF A2 sample papers here.

DELF A2 Sample Paper
The image depicts a page of DELF A2 level question paper

 

DELF A1 Syllabus

At the A1 level, the DELF exam syllabus includes a wide range of textual and grammar topics. In the initial levels, the learning goals are Greeting in French, learning basic vocabulary, spelling words, etc. The grammar topics include genders, articles, auxiliary verbs, etc.

As prepared by the Alliance Française for the beginner level, the syllabus is again classified in sections to ensure that the learners experience holistic learning. The detailed syllabus can be found here.

A glimpse at the syllabus:

DELF Exam Syllabus
This image depicts the syllabus of DELF A1 level
DELF Exam Syllabus
This image depicts the syllabus of DELF A2 level

The French proverb goes “Petit a petit, l’oiseau fait son nid”. You might not be a pro in French today, but with patience and sincerity backed by education and knowledge, you can be the bird that makes its nest little by little- that’s what the proverb means. Choose a trustworthy course and sign up to quench your thirst to learn the French language today itself. A DELF title will be crowned to you in no time.

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