DELF 2026: test dates, format, how to book and free practice tests
The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) is the French government's diploma in French as a foreign language, at the four levels A1, A2, B1 and B2. It is set by France Éducation international for the French Ministry of National Education and taken at approved exam centres. There is no single worldwide DELF exam date: each centre fixes its own sessions, so the first thing to do is find a centre near you and ask for its next session. This guide covers how booking works, the DELF exam pattern at every level, the pass mark and a plan for the weeks before your session.
DELF at a glance
| Conducting body | France Éducation international, for the French Ministry of National Education |
| What it is for | Proof of French at A1, A2, B1 or B2; used for study, work, French residence cards and French nationality |
| Mode | At an approved centre: three written papers in one room, then an individual speaking test with two examiners |
| Papers | Listening, reading, writing and speaking, each out of 25 |
| Time | From about 1 hour 20 minutes (A1) to 2 hours 30 minutes (B2) for the written papers, plus speaking |
| Marking | No negative marking; pass at 50 out of 100 with at least 5 out of 25 on every paper |
| Language | French |
| How often | Sessions are set by each centre |
| Official website | france-education-international.fr/delf-dalf |
Test dates and booking
DELF sessions are not held on one national date. Each approved centre sets its own sessions and registration deadlines, and you book with that centre. The France Éducation international site could not be read on 20 October 2026, so no session date is given here: the next DELF date for your city is the one your nearest centre publishes. Ask the centre for the session dates, the registration deadline, the date and time of your speaking test and when results are released.
Each level is a separate diploma. You may sit B2 without having sat A1, A2 or B1, and the diploma does not expire.
How to book the DELF
- Decide the level you need. Check the requirement of your university, employer or the French authority on its own website first (see the FAQ below for French residence and nationality).
- Find an approved centre through the France Éducation international DELF-DALF page.
- Ask the centre for its next session, its registration deadline and its fee. Fees are set locally.
- Register and pay before the deadline. Keep the confirmation.
- On the day, bring the photo ID you registered with and any notice the centre sends you.
Documents to keep ready: a valid photo ID, and if you need special arrangements, the medical or other evidence the centre asks for, sent before you register.
DELF exam pattern
Every level has the same four papers out of 25. The table shows the times from the December 2021 candidate manuals.
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 20 min, 4 or 5 exercises | 30 min, 4 exercises | 30 min: a form and a message of at least 40 words | 5 to 7 min, after 10 min to prepare |
| A2 | 25 min, 4 exercises | 30 min, 4 exercises | 45 min: two texts of at least 60 words | 6 to 8 min, after 10 min to prepare |
| B1 | 25 min, 3 exercises | 35 to 45 min, 2 or 3 exercises | 45 min: one text of at least 160 words | 15 min, after 10 min to prepare |
| B2 | 30 min, 3 exercises (2 on format 1) | 60 min, 3 exercises (2 on format 1) | 60 min: one argued text of at least 250 words | Up to 20 min, after 30 min to prepare |
The manuals say two paper formats circulate for a few years: format 1 and an updated format 2. The centre sets one of them on the day. The time and the 25 points per paper do not change; the number of exercises does.
Pass mark. You need at least 50 points out of 100, and at least 5 out of 25 on every paper. A paper under 5 fails the level whatever the total. A wrong or blank answer on the comprehension papers scores nothing; nothing is taken off, so answer every question.
DELF syllabus
The DELF has no list of set texts. Each level tests what the Common European Framework (CEFR) describes for that level:
- A1: very familiar everyday situations: messages, announcements, simple instructions, filling in a form.
- A2: routine tasks: announcements, phone messages, emails, short articles, describing an event.
- B1: getting by in most situations and giving reasons for a view: radio extracts, general-interest articles, a 160-word opinion text.
- B2: following a talk and arguing a position: long radio documents, informative and argumentative texts, a 250-word argued text and a debate with the examiner.
Our DELF syllabus page lists the tasks paper by paper.
A plan for the weeks before your session
Once your centre gives you a date, count back from it. For B2, a six-week plan might look like this:
| Weeks before | Focus |
|---|---|
| 6 | Sit one full timed DELF B2 practice test. Note which paper is weakest. |
| 5 to 4 | Listening: one long radio document a day, heard twice, writing the main idea first. Reading: one argumentative article a day, noting the author's position. |
| 4 to 3 | Writing: two 250-word argued texts a week (a formal letter, a contribution to a debate, an article), timed at 60 minutes. Count your words. |
| 3 to 2 | Speaking: prepare a monologue from a short document in 30 minutes, then speak for 5 to 7 minutes and defend the view against questions. Record yourself. |
| 2 | A second full practice test under exam timing. Compare paper by paper with the first. |
| 1 | Light review, no new material. Confirm the centre, the time and the speaking slot. |
The 5-out-of-25 rule means a weak paper can cost the whole level. Spend extra time on your lowest paper, not your favourite one. Our guide to analysing a mock test explains how to turn one practice paper into a list of what to fix.
Useful links
- France Éducation international: DELF and DALF (centres and registration)
- DELF tout public, level B2 and the DELF B2 candidate manual
- Free DELF mock tests
- DELF syllabus
- DELF exam dates
- TCF Canada 2026: test dates, format and how to book
- How to use mock tests
Frequently asked questions
What is the DELF pass mark?
You need 50 points out of 100 in total and at least 5 out of 25 on each of the four papers. If one paper is under 5, you fail the level even with a total above 50.
Is there negative marking in the DELF?
No. A wrong or missing answer on the listening and reading papers scores zero, and nothing is taken off. Answer every question, even when you are unsure.
When is the next DELF exam date?
Each approved centre sets its own sessions, so there is no single DELF exam date. Ask your nearest centre, found through France Éducation international, for its next session and registration deadline.
Does the DELF expire?
No. The DELF diploma does not expire. An authority or university may still set its own rules about which level it accepts, so check with them.
Which DELF level do I need for French nationality?
For applications lodged from 1 January 2026, Service Public asks for French at B2 in speaking and writing, and a DELF B2 is one of the diplomas that can show it. Some applicants are exempt. Check the current Service Public page before you apply.
Can I sit DELF B2 without A1, A2 and B1?
Yes. Each level is a separate diploma, and you can register directly for the level you need.