5 French exams compared
French has two kinds of recognised exams. Diplomas test exactly one level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the European scale from A1 to C2, and never expire. Tests place your level anywhere on the scale and stay valid for two years.
| Exam | Issued by | Levels and validity | Typical purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| DELF | France Éducation international | A1 to B2, no expiry | CV, university, citizenship |
| DALF | France Éducation international | C1 and C2, no expiry | master's, grandes écoles, skilled jobs |
| TCF | France Éducation international | a level per part, 2 years | university, citizenship, Canada |
| TEF | Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce | a level per part, 2 years | immigration, especially Canada |
| DFP | Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce | DFP Affaires A1 to C1, for life | work French by field |
France Éducation international (FEI) is the French public body in Sèvres near Paris that designs the DELF, DALF and TCF. The Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry awards the TEF and the DFP, the diplomas for work French. Children can take DELF Prim, and teenagers DELF junior or scolaire.
Instituts français and Alliances Françaises run the DELF and DALF in many countries, and FEI lists every licensed centre on a world map.
Which French exam fits which goal
The right exam follows from the body that asks for proof. The table lists usual requirements, and the university, authority or employer always has the final word.
| Goal | Exam that fits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| First year at a French university | TCF DAP or DELF B2 | the university's rules |
| Master's, grandes écoles | DALF C1 | some programmes ask for C1 |
| French citizenship | DELF B2, TCF or TEF | test results at most 2 years old |
| Immigration to Canada | TEF Canada or TCF Canada | result valid for 2 years |
| Work and CV | DELF B1 or B2, DFP | the employer sets the level |
Since 1 January 2026, France has required French at B2 instead of B1 for citizenship. B2 is the fourth of the six CEFR levels. The TCF DAP is the version of the TCF for the preliminary application to the first year at a French university. In Canada, strong results in the TEF Canada or TCF Canada earn extra points in the Express Entry immigration system.
Choose the DELF or DALF when you need proof that never expires, for example for your CV or a university. Choose the TCF or TEF when an authority wants a recent result.
Diploma without expiry or test valid for two years
For the DELF and DALF you register for one level and either pass or fail. Each of the six diplomas from A1 to C2 is a separate exam, so you can go straight to B2 or C1. The TCF and TEF have no fail, and the result shows your level in each part.
- ✓A DELF or DALF diploma never expires and is issued by the French state.
- ✓You choose any level and need no lower diploma first.
- ✓With the TCF you always get a result, even if you narrowly miss your target level.
- ✗If you narrowly miss the level in the DELF, you get no diploma at all.
- ✗Many DELF centres offer only a few exam dates a year.
- ✗TCF and TEF results must be renewed after two years.
This shapes your preparation. For the DELF you train the tasks of exactly one level. For the TCF you work towards a target level and practise tasks across several levels of difficulty.
What makes DELF and DALF preparation different
The DELF and the DALF C1 have four parts worth 25 points each, namely listening, reading, writing and speaking. You pass with 50 out of 100 points, but you need at least 5 points in every part. One neglected part therefore costs you the whole diploma.
Four points shape your preparation.
- Writing tasks have a minimum word count, and in DELF B2 the argumentative text needs at least 250 words.
- You get preparation time before the speaking test, 30 minutes at B2 and one hour for the DALF C1. Use it to note an outline with an introduction, two or three arguments and a conclusion.
- The DALF C1 asks for a synthèse, a neutral summary of several documents without your own opinion.
- Since 2020, FEI has been introducing a listening and reading format for A1 to B2 with more documents and only multiple-choice questions.
France Éducation international provides sample papers, marking grids and a candidate handbook free of charge. A teacher whom FEI has licensed as an examiner knows the grids for writing and speaking first-hand.
Register for the level you already reach reliably in class. A placement test tells you in advance, and FEI points to its own Ev@lang test and to the free tests from RFI and TV5Monde.
Dates, fees and results for the DELF and DALF
Each exam centre sets its own fees and dates. Two centres show the range.
The Université Clermont Auvergne offers five exam windows between December 2026 and June 2027, and the Institut français Écosse offers three in 2027. You cannot take the DELF or DALF from home. The written parts take place in an exam room, and you take the speaking part in front of two examiners.
DELF and DALF preparation usually comes as a package of six to twelve weeks with mock exams and marking of your writing. Add up course length, registration deadline and the wait for your result before you commit to a university or immigration deadline.
Frequently asked questions about online French test preparation courses
Which French exam is valid for life?
The French diplomas DELF and DALF from the French Ministry of Education are valid for life, and so are the DFP diplomas from the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce. The TCF and TEF, by contrast, are valid for two years. Universities and authorities may still ask for recent proof.
Which French exam do I need for French citizenship?
For French citizenship you need French at B2 since 1 January 2026, shown for example with the DELF B2, the TCF or the TEF. Before that date, B1 was enough. TCF and TEF results may be no more than two years old.
Which French test do I need for immigration to Canada?
For immigration to Canada you need the French tests TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Both results are valid for two years. Strong French earns extra points in Canada's Express Entry system.
Can you take a French exam online from home?
You always take the DELF and DALF, the official French diplomas, at an exam centre. telc offers a remote B2 test in French that you sit at home under remote supervision. Visa and residence procedures do not currently accept these remote certificates.
How long does preparation for a French exam such as the DELF B2 take?
Preparation for a French exam such as the DELF B2 usually takes six to twelve weeks if you already reach the level in class. Many courses are sold as a package over that period. If you are still a whole level short, you need a general course first.
How much does a French exam such as the DELF cost?
Each exam centre sets its own fee for a French exam such as the DELF. At the Université Clermont Auvergne, DELF A1 costs 130 euros, DELF B2 200 euros and DALF C1 220 euros. The Institut français Écosse charges between 105 and 245 pounds in 2027.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.