Whether you prepare with the Myndaq DELF B2 course or on your own, know exactly what happens in the exam room: which papers you sit, how long each lasts, how the 100 points are split and what counts as a pass. This page follows the DELF B2 format paper by paper as France Éducation international (FEI) describes it in its candidate manual, then covers the other levels, versions and results. For choosing a level and a study plan, see the DELF and DALF French exam guide.
How DELF B2 is organised
DELF B2 has four épreuves (papers), each marked out of 25. Three are collective: you sit them one after another in the same room as other candidates. The fourth is individual, in front of two examiners.
- Compréhension de l'oral (listening) - 30 minutes, 25 points, 2 or 3 exercises
- Compréhension des écrits (reading) - 60 minutes, 25 points, 2 or 3 exercises
- Production écrite (writing) - 60 minutes, 25 points, one text of at least 250 words
- Production orale (speaking) - up to 20 minutes after 30 minutes of preparation, 25 points, two parts
The collective papers last 2 h 30 in total. The speaking test is a separate appointment; your convocation gives the place, date and time of each.
Why "2 or 3 exercises"? FEI's candidate manual (December 2021 update) says two formats, format 1 and an updated format 2, would be in circulation for a few years, and you sit whichever is set on the day. The manual gives no date for withdrawing format 1, so check with your centre which format it currently uses. Durations and points stay the same; the number of documents and exercises changes, so practise with both.
Listening in 30 minutes
- Format 1, two exercises - one long authentic radio document (a talk, lecture, documentary or speech) heard twice, then one short document (an interview, news bulletin or short report) heard once.
- Format 2, three exercises - two long documents, each heard twice, then a set of three short documents, each heard once.
Questions follow the order of the recording, and the first concerns the document as a whole. Some documents are played only once, so read the questions before each recording and note the speakers' positions and tone.
Reading in 60 minutes
- Format 1, two exercises - an informative text about France or the French-speaking world, and an argumentative text.
- Format 2, three exercises - two informative or argumentative texts, plus an exercise on understanding a French speaker's point of view.
The exercises are independent, so start with any of them and share the hour fairly.
Writing in 60 minutes
There is one task: take a position on a subject and argue it to convince the reader. Depending on the instructions, the text may be a contribution to a debate, a formal letter, a critical article or a report. The 250 words are a minimum, and you note your word count at the bottom of the answer sheet. The rough draft is not marked.
The marking grid printed in the manual splits the 25 points as follows:
- Respecting the task (text type, theme, length) - 2
- Sociolinguistic appropriateness (register, forms of address and politeness) - 2
- Presenting facts, events or situations - 3
- Arguing a position - 3
- Coherence and cohesion - 4
- Vocabulary and word spelling - 5
- Grammar and grammatical spelling - 6
Vocabulary and grammar together carry 11 of the 25 points.
Speaking with 30 minutes of preparation
You receive two subjects, each built on a trigger document, and keep the one you prefer. After 30 minutes of preparation, the test runs in this order:
- Monologue suivi (5 to 7 minutes) - identify the theme of the document, frame a problématique from it, announce your plan and defend an argued point of view with relevant examples.
- Exercice en interaction - a debate in which the examiner picks up on what you said; you react, qualify your ideas and defend your position.
The examiners mark the monologue and the debate separately, plus vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation across the whole test.
The pass rule
- The four papers add up to 100 points.
- You need at least 50 out of 100 to obtain the diploma.
- You need at least 5 out of 25 in every paper. A mark below 5 in any one paper is eliminatory, whatever your total.
Scores of 22, 20, 14 and 4 total 60, yet fail because one paper is below 5. Scores of 13, 12, 13 and 12 total exactly 50 with no paper under 5, which is a pass. Plan for a margin above both lines.
DELF A1 to DALF C2 at a glance
The ministry's regulation defines six independent diplomas, so you can register for any level without holding the one below it. From A1 to C1 the pattern matches B2: four papers out of 25, a pass at 50/100 and a 5/25 minimum per paper. Timings below are from FEI's candidate manuals; where two figures appear, they depend on the format or version set on the day.
- DELF A1 - listening 20 min, reading 30 min, writing 30 min (a form and a message of at least 40 words); collective papers 1 h 20. Speaking 5 to 7 minutes in three parts, with 10 minutes of preparation in total (none for part 1, 5 minutes each for parts 2 and 3).
- DELF A2 - listening 25 min, reading 25 or 30 min, writing 45 min (two texts of at least 60 words each); collective papers 1 h 35 or 1 h 40. Speaking 6 to 8 minutes in three parts, with 10 minutes of preparation in total (none for part 1, 5 minutes each for parts 2 and 3).
- DELF B1 - listening 25 min, reading 35 to 45 min, writing 45 min (one text of at least 160 words); collective papers 1 h 45 or 1 h 55. Speaking 10 to 15 minutes in three parts, with 10 minutes of preparation for the third part only.
- DELF B2 - as described above.
- DALF C1 - listening about 40 min, reading 50 min, writing 2 h 30 (a synthesis of 200 to 240 words and an essay of at least 250 words); collective papers 4 h. Speaking up to 30 minutes, a presentation followed by a debate with the jury, after 1 hour of preparation.
- DALF C2 - only two papers, each out of 50. The written paper lasts 3 h 30: you produce a structured text such as an article, editorial, report or speech from a file of documents of about 2,000 words. The oral paper combines listening and speaking: a report on an audio document, a personal development of the issue it raises and a debate with the jury, up to 30 minutes after 1 hour of preparation. The pass is 50/100 overall, and a mark below 10/50 in either paper is eliminatory.
A French monolingual dictionary lent by the centre (not your own) is allowed only in the DALF C1 speaking paper and in both DALF C2 papers; no other paper allows one.
Tout public, junior, scolaire and Prim
Choosing the right version is your responsibility:
- Tout public - for older adolescents and adults. According to the Swiss DELF-DALF centre (Fondation Esprit Francophonie, an FEI partner), DALF C1 and C2 exist only in this version.
- Junior and scolaire - for young people of secondary-school age. FEI's manuals cover tout public, junior and scolaire together, with the same papers and timings; junior and scolaire topics come from teenagers' personal and school lives. According to the Swiss DELF-DALF centre (Fondation Esprit Francophonie, an FEI partner), the diploma is identical and carries no "DELF Junior" mention.
- DELF scolaire in France - for newly arrived non-French-speaking pupils in the French school system for less than four years. It covers A1, A2 and B1 only, and registration is free through the schools.
- DELF Prim - for children at elementary school, at levels A1.1, A1 and A2, with themes suited to young learners; FEI's Prim manual says the Prim diploma has the same value as the tout public and junior diplomas, and FEI's rules allow a single examiner for the Prim speaking test.
Exam day rules worth knowing
- Arrive 30 minutes early with your convocation and a valid, non-digital identity document bearing a photo and signature.
- Write in black or blue pen, and keep the paper anonymous: never sign it or use your real name in answers.
- You may leave the room during the collective papers only after the first hour.
Results, retakes and diploma validity
Your centre announces the results date. Under FEI's candidate rights, results arrive within a reasonable time, at most two months. Collective papers have two correctors and the speaking test two examiners (one for Prim), and you may consult your paper whatever the result, as your centre arranges. The jury's decision is final except for a material error or irregular exam conditions.
If you pass, your centre can give you a provisional certificate of success; you later collect the official diploma, printed on secure paper and valid for life.
If you do not pass, you can register for the next session. There is no limit on attempts, but you must have your results before registering again. For fees and session dates, contact your nearest accredited exam centre. If an organisation asks for TEF or TCF rather than a DELF diploma, the TEF and TCF Canada guide covers those tests.
Quick answers
How long is the DELF B2 exam?
The collective papers take 2 h 30 (listening 30 minutes, reading 60, writing 60). Speaking is separate: up to 20 minutes after 30 minutes of preparation.
What is the DELF B2 passing score?
At least 50 out of 100 overall and at least 5 out of 25 in each of the four papers. A mark below 5 in any paper is eliminatory.
Is DELF junior different from DELF tout public?
FEI's manuals give both the same papers and timings, with topics adapted to teenagers. According to the Swiss DELF-DALF centre (Fondation Esprit Francophonie, an FEI partner), the diploma itself is identical.
Does a DELF or DALF diploma expire?
No. FEI's candidate manual says the diploma is valid for life.
Is DALF C2 marked the same way as the other levels?
No. C2 has two papers out of 50 each; you need 50/100 overall and at least 10/50 per paper.
