Exam prep · CEFR-aligned · free practice tools
French exam prep
Verb-focused prep guides and free typed-answer drills for every major French exam, from DELF A1 to the Bac. Built for English speakers who freeze when the exam asks them to produce the right conjugation, not just recognize it.
Which French exam should you take?
French has more standardized exams than any other language, which is wonderful if you know which one you need and bewildering if you don't. Here's the short version:
- Immigrating to Canada? You need TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Both are accepted by IRCC and the Quebec selection program. Scores expire after 2 years.
- Applying to a French university or working in France? You need DELF B2 (undergraduate) or DALF C1 (master's / PhD / professional). These diplomas are life-long; once you pass, you never need to retake.
- US high school student? AP French Language and Culture. Annual exam in May.
- UK student? GCSE French (ages 14–16) or A-Level French (ages 16–18).
- French native or in the French school system? Brevet (3ème) and Bac (Terminale).
How CEFR levels map across exams
Most international French exams reference the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): six levels from A1 (absolute beginner) through C2 (native-like mastery). North American and UK exams use their own scales but loosely align:
| CEFR | What you can do | Matching exams |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Survival: introduce yourself, order food, ask basic questions in présent. | DELF A1 · TCF (60–199) |
| A2 | Everyday past-tense conversation. Passé composé feels automatic. | DELF A2 · TCF (200–299) · GCSE Foundation |
| B1 | Hold a real conversation on familiar topics. Imparfait + futur simple reliable. | DELF B1 · TCF (300–399) · TEF (Niveau 4) · GCSE Higher |
| B2 | Argue an opinion, follow most TV. Subjonctif is automatic in common triggers. | DELF B2 · TCF (400–499) · TEF (Niveau 5) · AP French · A-Level · Bac |
| C1 | Professional / academic. Subjonctif passé, conditionnel passé fluent. | DALF C1 · TCF (500–599) · TEF (Niveau 6) |
| C2 | Near-native. Literary tenses (passé simple) understood; nuance and register controlled. | DALF C2 · TCF (600–699) · TEF (Niveau 7) |
Prep guides by exam
What's next
All eight prep guides are live. Coming next: per-level deep dives for the remaining DELF levels (A1, A2, B2 are live alongside B1), plus DALF C1/C2 for the academic and translator audience. Subscribe to the blog for updates as new pages and practice tools roll out.