French Exams Explained: DELF, DALF, TCF and TEF — Which One and When
Sooner or later every serious learner meets the alphabet soup: DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF. They overlap, they’re all official — and they serve different masters. Here’s the map. The two families Diplomas (DELF/DALF) — you pass a level, you keep it for life . Tests (TCF/TEF) — they photograph your level today; results expire after…
What you'll learn
Sooner or later every serious learner meets the alphabet soup: DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF. They overlap, they’re all official — and they serve different masters. Here’s the map.
The two families
- Diplomas (DELF/DALF) — you pass a level, you keep it for life.
- Tests (TCF/TEF) — they photograph your level today; results expire after 2 years.
DELF — the workhorse diploma (A1–B2)
One exam per CEFR level, four papers each: listening, reading, writing, speaking (25 points each, 50/100 to pass, minimum 5/25 per paper). DELF B2 is the famous one — the standard ticket into French universities. Preparing it? We wrote a realistic DELF B2 study plan.
DALF — the advanced diploma (C1–C2)
Same family, higher altitude: essays, syntheses, long presentations. C1 exempts you from language tests at most French universities — including selective programs. Lifetime validity makes it the best long-term investment if you’re settling into a francophone career.
TCF & TEF — the snapshots
- TCF (France Éducation international) — multiple-choice core + optional speaking/writing. Required flavours exist for Québec immigration (TCF Canada) and French nationality (TCF IRN).
- TEF (CCI Paris) — the other snapshot, equally accepted; TEF Canada is the classic Canadian immigration route.
- Choose by the authority you’re applying to — immigration offices name the exact test they want. Check their list before booking anything.
Which one should YOU take?
- University in France → DELF B2 (or DALF C1 for selective programs).
- Canadian immigration → TEF Canada or TCF Canada — exactly as your program specifies.
- French nationality → since the 2024 immigration law (in force January 2026), naturalisation requires B2; the carte de résident requires B1. TCF IRN is the test built for these applications — check the level currently listed for your procedure.
- Job market / CV → DELF B2 reads best to employers; it never expires.
- Just measuring progress → skip the fees: our free level test and the A1–B2 roadmap do the job.
Practical numbers
- Cost: roughly €100–200 per DELF/DALF sitting, €80–180 for TCF/TEF, varying by country and options.
- Sessions run several times a year at Alliance Française centres and accredited schools worldwide.
- Results: a few weeks for tests, up to 2–3 months for diploma certificates.
How to prepare (whatever you chose)
All four reward the same training: real listening (video lessons daily), timed writing practice, and speaking with correction — the paper everyone fails alone is the oral. That’s exactly what lessons with Xavier are for: exam-format speaking practice with a native examiner’s ear.
Quick practice
Play the Quiztap to start · quick practice from this material
🎯 Diploma for life, score for a dossier
Choose by what the paper is FOR: a qualification you keep forever → DELF/DALF (pass/fail, valid for life). A number for an immigration or university dossier → TCF/TEF (a snapshot score, typically valid two years). Then train the exam FORMAT as deliberately as the French itself.
The French you will hear in the exam room
Every DELF, DALF and TCF session runs on the same instruction phrases. Knowing them cold saves real minutes and real nerves on the day. Tap 🔊 and shadow.
Drill it: B1 or B2 — read the grids first · the vrai/faux-justifiez trap · the French CV
✍️ Your turn: exam-room reflexes
« cocher » means…? (the box)
Show answer
To tick/check a box — cochez la bonne réponse is the multiple-choice instruction.
« Vous disposez de 30 minutes » = ? (formal avoir)
Show answer
You have 30 minutes at your disposal — disposer de = to have available. Exam French loves it.
Rédiger vs écrire — why rédiger on the paper? (register)
Show answer
Rédiger = to compose/draft a structured text. It signals they grade organisation, not just sentences.
What does une épreuve mean here? (not a hardship)
Show answer
A test section/paper: l’épreuve orale, l’épreuve de compréhension écrite. (Elsewhere it does mean an ordeal — the exam room merges both.)
Why is « justifiez votre réponse » the most dangerous instruction? (half the points)
Show answer
In vrai/faux-justifiez items, a right box with a wrong or missing justification scores ZERO — the justification IS the answer.
FAQ
I’m between two levels — which DELF do I book?
Book the level you pass at 70%+ in a timed mock, not the one you hope to reach by exam day. A strong B1 certificate outshines a failed B2 attempt — and DELF levels never expire, so nothing stops you taking B2 next session.
How long are the results valid?
DELF and DALF: for life — they are diplomas. TCF and TEF: about two years — they are snapshots, which is exactly why immigration services ask for them fresh. Check your dossier’s requirement before paying for either.
Drill it with a game
Play the Quiztap to start · quick practice from this material
🎬 This article in 20 seconds
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