How to Prepare for DELF/DALF Exams

The DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) and DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) exams are official language certifications that are issued by the French Ministry of Education.

The exams are recognised internationally and also serve as proof of your French language proficiency levels for academic and professional usage.

In this blog, we will discuss how you can prepare for these exams in an effective way.

Understand the Exam Levels and Structure

The DELF and DALF exams are divided into different levels by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The DELF exam includes A1, A2, B1 and B2 levels. On the other hand, the DALF exam consists of two more levels which are C1 and C2 levels and they both represent an advanced level or we can say native level proficiency.

Each level of both the exams tests the four major skills which are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Also, the difficulty of the levels increases with each passing one. Like, the A1 level may consist of some basic greetings and all while the C2 level includes advanced grammar and fluency in formal and informal sentences. So, it is better to thoroughly understand all the levels along with their difficulty.

Evaluate Your Current French Skills

Before you decide which level to take, you should assess your current French language abilities across all four skills. If you are new to French then the A1 and A2 levels will be best for you.

However, if you can already write essays, hold conversations and understand French audios then B2 or higher may be appropriate for you. This self-evaluation will help you to focus on the areas that need more improvement and create a focused study plan.

Create a Practical Study Plan

It is very crucial to have a proper timetable for better exam preparation. You can assign fixed time slots to each of the four major skills so that none of the skills is neglected.

You can start with small and basic goals such as learning a few words, reading for half an hour, listening to some French news and writing short paragraphs in French but do not forget to thoroughly revise your schedule before the exam.

Expand Your Vocabulary and Grammar

It is undeniable that a rich vocabulary helps you to express your ideas clearly in all four sections of your DELF/DALF exams. You should make a habit of learning new words daily and focus on some common themes like:

• Travel

• Education

• Food

• Work

• Family etc.

If you learn some new words so note them down immediately and keep revising their meaning, correct pronunciation etc. You must strengthen your grammar along with the vocabulary by focusing on verbs, tenses, rules etc. Correct grammar shows your accuracy in communication and adds value to your answers.

Focus on Listening Skills

Listening skills are one of the most challenging parts of both the exams especially if the speaker is speaking too fast or using some unfamiliar words. So, you can listen to some French audio daily to improve your listening skills.

The most interesting way to improve your listening skills is by watching French TV shows or movies with subtitles. However, do not just watch them try to understand the main message as well.

Strengthen Reading Ability

Reading also helps you to improve your vocabulary, grammar and comprehension. You can start by reading some beginner-level articles or even short stories. Then, you can gradually move to the more advanced materials such as reports, essays, novels etc.

While reading if you see an unfamiliar word then just underline it and try to guess its meaning by reading the whole sentence. Also, after reading the whole context try to conclude it in your own words as it helps to improve both reading and writing skills.

Develop Writing Skills Step by Step

Writing in the French language requires good structure and clarity. You can start writing short sentences at first and slowly move towards the complex sentences. Also, each level in the DELF/DALF exam expects you to write in the specific writing formats.

Like, the B2 level may ask you to write a short email and on the other hand C2 may ask you to write an argumentative essay. You should always revise your work to spot any errors, grammatical mistakes, punctuation etc. after writing.

Build Fluency in Speaking

Speaking can be difficult if you are not used to express your thoughts in real-time. The speaking section of both the exams involves interviews or presentations depending on your level. You can practice speaking in French by talking to someone about your daily routine, describing your interests and giving your opinion on social issues.

If possible, practice with a language partner or a friend who knows French so it can help you speak naturally during the test and improve your confidence.

Practice with Sample Tests

The another undeniable fact is that solving practice question papers is one of the best ways to prepare for DELF/DALF exams. You should attend one mock test every week to track your progress and manage your time well to solve more questions in less time.

It is highly advisable to review your performance after every test and look at the answers where you went wrong and work on them. You can also make a note of the frequent errors so that you can avoid repeating the same mistakes in the exam.

Stay Consistent and Motivated

Everyone knows that the consistency is the key to success. For exams like DELF/DALF, you have to keep yourself motivated to learn French because regular efforts bring better results than irregular hard work for long hours.

That means it is better to study for 30 minutes a day instead of studying for long hours once a week. Also, take small breaks during the study sessions to avoid burnout and stay motivated.

Final Thoughts

You should focus on all the important four skills and keep tracking the progress before the exam to improve the weak areas. However, if you feel like you still need the help of an expert, then you can join a French language course for your desired level.

The J & C Language School offers structured training, experienced teachers and flexible learning options for DELF/DALF exams. So, if you are a student, a professional or want to learn French as a hobby, we can help you to achieve your French language goals.