· 8 min read
French Language Test: DELF, DALF or TCF?
By Language Lab editorial team
The official French tests compared: DELF and DALF diplomas that last for life, and the TCF test valid for 2 years. Formats, timings, results and which to take.
France has two kinds of official French language test. The DELF and DALF are diplomas: you enter for one level, from DELF A1 to DALF C2, and if you pass it is valid for life. The TCF is a test: one sitting places you on a six-level scale, and the certificate is valid for 2 years. The TCF's three mandatory papers are multiple choice and take 1 hour 25 minutes; with the optional writing and speaking tests it takes up to 2 hours 37 minutes. Results reach the test centre within 15 working days, or 10 on computer. France Éducation international says the DELF B2 allows you to obtain French nationality and opens French universities. Check which test your application names before you book.
Diploma or test: the difference that matters
| DELF and DALF | TCF tout public | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A diploma for one level | A test that places you on a scale of six levels |
| Issued by | France's Ministry of National Education | Set by France's Ministry for National Education; marked by France Éducation international |
| Levels | DELF A1, A2, B1, B2; DALF C1, C2 | All six CEFR levels in one test |
| Validity | For life | 2 years from the date the results are issued |
| Who it is for | Adults and older teenagers | Anyone aged 16 or over whose native language is not French |
| When | Ask an approved exam centre | Sessions organised throughout the year by approved centres |
| Result | A diploma for the level you entered | A level on the six-level scale |
DELF and DALF
The DELF tout public, the version for adults, consists of four independent diplomas matching the first four levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A1, A2, B1 and B2. The DALF covers the two advanced levels, C1 and C2. Both are official diplomas issued by the Ministry of National Education, recognised worldwide and valid for life.
| Diploma | CEFR band | What it is used for |
|---|---|---|
| DELF A1, A2 | Basic user | Certifies the two basic levels |
| DELF B1 | Independent user | Certifies the first independent level |
| DELF B2 | Independent user | Allows you to obtain French nationality; allows entry into French, European or Francophone universities and certain grandes écoles |
| DALF C1 | Advanced | Increasingly asked for university entry |
| DALF C2 | Advanced | The highest level: understanding and expression on all subjects without difficulty |
Younger candidates take separate versions, called Prim or junior/scolaire, in which the exercises use topics that suit children and teenagers.
The TCF: what is in the test
The TCF tout public has three mandatory multiple-choice tests and two optional tests. Each multiple-choice question has four possible answers and one correct answer.
| Test | Mandatory? | Format | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | Yes | 29 multiple-choice questions | 25 minutes |
| Grammar comprehension | Yes | 18 multiple-choice questions | 15 minutes |
| Reading comprehension | Yes | 29 multiple-choice questions | 45 minutes |
| Written skills | Optional | 3 exercises | 60 minutes |
| Verbal skills | Optional | 3 exercises, one-on-one with an examiner | 12 minutes, 2 of them for preparation |
- Total time: between 1 hour 25 minutes and 2 hours 37 minutes, depending on how many tests you sit.
- On computer the multiple-choice part has 91 questions. The 15 extra questions are not counted in your score.
- All tests are available on computer except the speaking test, which is taken face to face with an examiner.
- Results reach the test centre within 15 working days of France Éducation international receiving the papers, or 10 working days on computer if you sat only the multiple-choice tests.
- You collect the certificate from the centre where you sat the test.
One current restriction: from the sessions of 1 September 2026, requests to have the writing and speaking tests re-marked are not being accepted, for a period of about a year.
Who recognises the TCF
France Éducation international lists the bodies that recognise the TCF tout public: the Ministry of Higher Education, the Department for Integration and Nationality Acquisition at the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Culture, Québec's immigration ministry, university authorities, language centres and employers. Taken with the mandatory written skills test, it is the official test recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Culture for the admission procedure known as the DAP.
Which one should you take?
- You want a qualification for life: DELF or DALF. A TCF certificate expires after 2 years.
- You do not know your level, or need a result soon: TCF. One sitting gives you a level, and sessions run all year.
- You are applying for French nationality: France Éducation international names the DELF B2. Confirm the level and accepted proofs for your own application.
- You are applying to a French university: the DELF B2 or DALF C1, or the TCF with the written test, depending on the procedure.
- You are applying to immigrate to Québec: its immigration ministry is among the bodies that recognise the TCF. Check its current requirements.
How to prepare
France Éducation international's advice is practical. The TCF is not based on a course programme; it measures your general ability to use French.
- Learn the format and timings before the day, and read through example tests.
- Immerse yourself as often as you can: reading, television, radio, conversation.
- For listening, it recommends practising with RFI's Le français facile.
- For the mandatory tests, it recommends the TCF practice on TV5MONDE.
- In the exam, do not waste time taking notes in the multiple-choice tests, and manage your time in grammar, reading and writing.
The speaking test is short and done live with an examiner, so it rewards people who have practised speaking under time pressure. Language Lab's French course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, which gives you that practice between lessons.
Frequently asked
What is the official French language test?
There are two families, both from France's education ministry. The DELF and DALF are diplomas for a single level, from A1 to C2, valid for life. The TCF is a test that places you on a six-level scale, with a certificate valid for 2 years.
How long is the TCF valid?
Two years from the date the results are issued. The validity date is printed on the certificate. DELF and DALF diplomas are valid for life.
How long does the TCF take?
Between 1 hour 25 minutes and 2 hours 37 minutes. The three mandatory tests take 25, 15 and 45 minutes; the optional written test takes 60 minutes and the speaking test 12 minutes.
What French level do I need for French citizenship?
France Éducation international states that the DELF B2 allows you to obtain French nationality. Check the current requirement and accepted certificates for your own application with the French authorities.
Is DELF or TCF easier?
They work differently. In the DELF you sit the exam for one level that you choose in advance. The TCF reports the level you reached on a six-level scale, so it suits people who are unsure of their level.
How long do TCF results take?
Results are sent to the test centre within 15 working days of France Éducation international receiving the papers, or within 10 working days for computer sittings of the multiple-choice tests only.
Can I take the TCF on a computer?
Yes. All tests are available on computer except the speaking test, which is taken face to face with an examiner.
Sources: France Éducation international, DELF tout public, DALF and TCF tout public. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: The Saône and Quai Saint-Vincent, Lyon, from Fourvière, Otourly / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
