Exam guide
The DALF exam guide
Everything you need to know about the DALF C1 and C2 before you start preparing: how the exam runs, the papers, the marking and what the examiners expect of you.
What is the DALF?
The DALF (diplôme approfondi de langue française, Diploma in Advanced French) certifies command of French at advanced levels. It is an official diploma, awarded by the French Ministry of Education and administered by France Éducation international.
It is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which describes six levels, from A1 to C2. The DALF covers the two highest, C1 and C2. Levels A1 to B2 come under a different diploma, the DELF.
The DALF is valid for life and recognised worldwide. It exempts you from a language test in many procedures, notably for admission to university in France, and it carries weight in an application, a job search or a plan to move abroad.
Two independent diplomas
The DALF C1 and the DALF C2 are two separate diplomas. You register directly for the one that matches your level: you do not need the DELF B2 to sit the C1, nor the C1 to sit the C2.
| DALF C1 | DALF C2 | |
|---|---|---|
| CEFR level | Proficient user, effective operational proficiency | Proficient user, mastery |
| Number of papers | 4, one per skill | 2, each combining comprehension and production |
| Mark for each paper | out of 25 | out of 50 |
| Written papers | 4 hours in total | 3 h 30 |
| Oral paper | 1 h of preparation, 30 min in front of the examiners | 1 h of preparation, 30 min in front of the examiners |
| To pass | 50/100, and at least 5/25 in each paper | 50/100, and at least 10/50 in each paper |
| Dictionary | Monolingual, oral paper only | Monolingual, both papers |
When it is allowed, the dictionary is a monolingual French dictionary lent by the exam centre: you may not bring your own.
How to choose your level
Aim for the C1 if you understand long, demanding texts, including what they imply without saying it, and if you express yourself fluently and in a structured way on complex subjects, in your working life or your studies.
Aim for the C2 if you convey the finest shades of meaning precisely, if you handle idiomatic expressions with an awareness of their connotations, and if you rephrase around a difficulty so smoothly that the person you are talking to barely notices.
If in doubt, a placement test such as the TCF will place you on the CEFR scale.
A general exam
Since 2020, the DALF no longer offers a choice of field: all candidates sit the same topics. These deal with social issues accessible to any well-read person, such as work, education, the environment, health, technology or culture. No specialist knowledge is required; what counts is your ability to understand, analyse and argue in French.
How is the exam marked?
Each written paper is marked by two markers, and each oral takes place in front of two examiners. They use official assessment grids, which mark compliance with the instructions, the quality of the argument, the coherence of what you say, the range and precision of your vocabulary and your grammatical accuracy.
Marking is compensatory: a strong paper can make up for a weaker one, provided none falls below the eliminatory mark.
The pages below cover each level, each paper and the practical steps in detail.
Information checked against the official candidate handbooks published by France Éducation international.
In this section
- DALF C1 Four papers marked out of 25, one per skill. Here is how the exam runs and what each paper requires.
- DALF C2 Two papers marked out of 50, each combining comprehension and production. The highest level of French, and the most demanding exam.
- Registration and results The practical steps, from choosing an exam centre to receiving your diploma, and your rights as a candidate.
- Frequently asked questions Prerequisites, validity, dictionary, word count: short answers to the questions people ask before registering.
Updated on 10 October 2026