The DILF, DELF and DALF are a series of diplomas which validate a candidate's proficiency in French. Each of these exams corresponds to a different level of French proficiency. By passing these exams you will be awarded with an internationally recognised diploma which can, especially at higher levels, help you to secure a a job in France or visa.

The DELF and DALF exams were established in 1985, with the DILF coming into being in 2006. Initially, the DELF and DALF had their own evaluation criteria, but now they all follow the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The CEFR is divided into six levels:

A1 - Breakthrough
A2 - Waystage
B1 - Threshold
B2 - Vantage
C1 - Advanced
C2 - Mastery

The DILF stands for Diplôme Initial de Langue Française. It assesses the proficiency of beginner-level (A1) learners and often provides the first piece of certification that learners will receive.

The DELF stands for Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française. There are four different DELF exams which can be taken, each corresponding to a different level of the CEFR, from A1 to B2.

The DALF stands for Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française. There are two different DALF exams which can be taken, corresponding to the final two levels of the CEFR, namely C1 and C2.

The DILF can only be taken in exam centres within France (or French overseas departments), while the DELF and DALF exams can be taken throughout the world.

The DILF is aimed at absolute beginners and newcomers to France who have only a very basic grasp of the language. In the CEFR this level of French proficiency is known as A1.1.

The DELF A1 exam, on the other hand, is aimed at learners who have learned everything covered in A1 French. The materials for A1 level French are covered in the first 12 lessons of Alexa's Complete French Course.

The exam lasts 1 hour 15 minutes in total.

For the listening section, you will be tested on your ability to understand a range of simple audio excerpts, such as public announcements and instructions.

For the reading section, you will be asked to answer questions based on some simple written information.

For the writing section, you will be assessed on your ability to write simple information such as addresses and numbers, as well as fill in a form.

The speaking section will take the form of an interview where you will be assessed on basic verbal skills.

Note that you must also achieve a minimum of 35 marks across the listening & speaking sections.

There are a few dates throughout the year when the DILF exam can be taken. The dates currently listed for 2026 are 7 April, 16 June, 13 October, 8 December.

You can apply for the DILF exam by booking it through the exam centre where you want to take the exam.

To see a complete map of where you can take the DILF exam, see here. You can also see each of the DILF centres in list form here, complete with their addresses and contact details. Please note that the DILF can only be taken in France or in certain French overseas departments, namely Mayotte, La Réunion and French Guiana.

Further information can be found on the website for each centre, or by contacting the centre using the phone number or email address provided on the website.

Each exam centre charges its own fees for the DILF exam, so you will need to check the websitefor each centre or get in touch through their contact details. As of October 2025, fees range between around €50 and €150. For instance, FRATE Formation Conseils charge €80, while the Alliance Française centre in French Guiana charges €125.

There are four DELF exams, each corresponding to the first four levels of the CEFR.

For each exam there are four sections:

Compréhension de l'orale (Listening)
Compréhension des écrits (Reading)
Production écrite (Writing)
Production orale (Speaking)

Each section is worth 25 marks, adding up to 100 marks in total. To pass any of the DELF exams, you must attain at least 50 marks overall, and at least 5 marks in each section.

For the listening comprehension, you will have to listen to three or four recordings about subjects related to everyday life answer questions based on the recordings.

For the reading comprehension, you will have to answer questions based on four or five written documents.

For the writing section, you will be asked to write in French on a given topic. For the lower levels, this might entail filling out a form with details or providing a short amount of factual information, while for higher levels you will be asked to express your opinion on a subject and engage in more complex writing tasks.

The Speaking section has three parts for A1, A2 and B1 levels, namely a guided conversation, information and exchange and a role-play, each conducted with the examiner. For B2 there is only one part, during which you will have to give a presentation based on a short written document and answer discussions from the examiners.

Reading consists of comprehension questions that deal with four or five written documents on everyday life. For example notices or ads may appear.

Writing may consist of filling in a form, writing simple postcards, and messages on everyday topics.

Listening consists of comprehension questions that deal with three or four recordingswhere people talk about situations related to everyday life. For instance two people might be discussing the weather or talking about a restaurant.

Speaking has three parts for the A1, A2 and B1 level such as a guided conversation, exchanging information, and a role-play. For the B2 level a more detailed and involved discussion of your opinions is required, regarding a short document designed to elicit a reaction.

There are numerous dates available to take each of the level DELF and DALF exams. You can see a complete table for availability in France in 2026 here.

France Education International provides a map and list of exam centres in France and overseas. Unlike the DILF, the DELF exam can be taken at exam centres across the world. Find your nearest exam centre and contact them to make your application.

The exam fees for the DELF vary from centre to centre, as well as on the level of exam you are applying for. The higher the CEFR level, the more expensive the application will cost. For example, to take the A1 DELF exam in Washington will set you back $135, while the B2 DELF exam costs $190. In Bangalore, on the other hand, the exam fee for the A1 DELF exam is ₹7,075, while the fee for the B2 DELF exam is ₹8,501 (internal rate).

There are also versions of the DELF exam aimed at children (DELF Prim) and adolescents (DELF Junior/Scolaire). Each of the exams carries the same value. The only difference is in the topics encountered in the exams, which are geared towards younger audiences than the topics found on the regular DELF exams. The difficulty level of the questions remains the same.

You can find out more about DELF Prim and DELF Junior/Scolaire on the France Education international website.

There are two DALF exams, each corresponding to the last two levels of the CEFR.

For the DALF C1 exam there are four sections:

Compréhension de l'orale
Compréhension des écrits
Production écrite
Production orale

Each section is worth 25 marks, adding up to 100 marks in total. To pass DALF C1, you must attain at least 50 marks overall, and at least 5 marks on each section.

For the DALF C2 exam there are two sections:

Compréhension orale
Production orales

Each section is worth 50 marks, adding up to 100 marks in total. To pass DALF C2, you must attain at least 50 marks overall, and at least 10 marks on each section.

Reading comprehension and Writing are in the same section for DALF C2. For this section you will be asked to analyse a set of documents (around 2,000 words) and write a structured text of 700-2,000 words on one of two given topics, with access to a monolingual French dictionary.

Listening comprehension and Speaking are also combined into one section. You will have to present a summary of a 5-10 minute audio excerpt, provide your opinion on the issue in a speech of around 10 minutes, and engage in a debate with the examiner. Again you will have access to a monolingual French dictionary.

There are numerous dates available to take each of the level DELF and DALF exams. You can see a complete table for availability in France in 2026 here.

France Education International provides a map and list of exam centres in France and overseas. Unlike the DILF, the DALF exam can be taken at exam centres across the world. Find your nearest exam centre and contact them to make your application.

As with the DELF exams, exam fees vary from centre to centre and depending on which level DALF exam you wish to take. Check the information on the exam centre website for more information.