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Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF)
DELF / DALF
Diplôme d'études en Langue Française
Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française
French Proficiency Exams
DELF/DALF is the official French proficiency exam offered by the French Ministry of Education. In addition to allowing you to opt out of a French university's language entrance exam, having the DELF/DALF looks good on your CV. If you are interested in obtaining an official document proclaiming your French language skills, keep reading.
The DELF/DALF is the French equivalent of the English proficiency test TOEFL*, but the tests for these two languages are quite different. TOEFL certification, which is offered by Educational Testing Services, requires that candidates take a 2- to 4-hour test, after which they receive a TOEFL score indicating their level of proficiency. In contrast, DELF/DALF certification consists of multiple test sessions. Rather than a score, DELF/DALF candidates work to obtain one of three certificates:
- DELF Level 1
- DELF Level 2
- DALF
These certificates are further broken down into independent units. Candidates take the units within a given certificate in any order, and earn them 'definitively' - once a unit is passed, the candidate never has to retake it, even if they stop working on the DELF/DALF for months or years. Once a candidate has passed each of that certificate's units, s/he receives the certificate and can then work on units for the next certificate. Thus there is no score; the French speaker's level is identified by the highest certificate s/he has obtained.
DELF / DALF Units
| | DELF 1 | Speaking: Basic
| Speaking: Ideas and feelings
| Reading & writing: Basic
| Language mechanics
| | DELF 2 | French & francophone civilization
| Speaking: Specialized language*
| | DALF | Reading & writing: Advanced
| Listening comprehension
| Reading & writing: Specialized*
| Listening & speaking: Specialized*
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*Candidates choose the specialized French topic they wish to be tested on: science, math, humanities, etc.
Proficient French speakers can opt out of one or both of the lower level certificates by taking a 'direct access' test: there is one to get into DELF 2 without first obtaining the DELF 1 certificate, and another to take the DALF without passing DELF 2.
For details about the DELF/DALF, including descriptions of the tests in each unit; access to practice tests; and information about test centers (in some 130 countries), schedules, and fees, please visit the official DELF/DALF website.
The Centre national d'enseignement à distance offers correspondence courses in DELF/DALF preparation.
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