The DELF B2
The DELF B2 (Diplôme d'études en langue française) assesses your ability to communicate in French clearly, independently, and with sound arguments, both orally and in writing.
The exam is made up of 4 sections, each scored out of 25 points, for a total of 100 points.
- score at least 50/100 overall;
- score at least 5/25 on each section.
| Section | Duration | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 🎧 Listening comprehension | 30 min | /25 |
| 📖 Reading comprehension | 1 h | /25 |
| ✍️ Written production | 1 h | /25 |
| 🗣️ Oral production | 30 min prep + 20 min | /25 |
| Total | /100 |
🎧 Listening comprehension — /25
Duration: about 30 minutes
You listen to several authentic audio documents, or ones inspired by real situations: interviews, radio programs, news reports, talks, etc.
You need to be able to:
- understand the general idea of a document;
- identify specific information;
- understand the speaker's point of view;
- spot arguments and examples;
- understand certain implicit information.
📖 Reading comprehension — /25
Duration: 1 hour
You need to understand and analyze one or more written documents — for example, newspaper articles, argumentative texts, or opinion pieces. Some exam centers let you move on to the written production section if you finish early, while others don't allow it. Don't hesitate to ask your exam center directly.
In particular, you need to be able to:
- identify the topic and main idea;
- understand the author's point of view;
- spot arguments and examples;
- find specific information;
- understand the logical relationships between ideas;
- interpret certain implicit information.
✍️ Written production — /25
Duration: 1 hour
You need to write an argumentative text of at least 250 words. Your goal is to take a position on an issue and defend your point of view clearly, in an organized way, and convincingly.
Your text should generally include: Introduction → Developing your arguments → Examples → Conclusion
In particular, you need to show that you can:
- organize your ideas;
- develop and justify your arguments;
- use relevant examples;
- use logical connectors;
- express and qualify your opinion;
- use sufficiently rich vocabulary;
- master B2-level grammatical structures.
🗣️ Oral production — /25
Duration: 30 minutes of preparation + about 20 minutes for the actual exam. The oral exam has two main parts.
📝 30 minutes of preparation
You're usually given two prompt documents and choose the topic you'd like to present. We'd recommend choosing the topic where you'll find it easier to give concrete examples. Some documents can be harder to understand: choose the one whose issue you understand best.
You need to analyze the document, identify the issue at stake, and prepare an outline to organize your presentation. During this preparation time, think about:
- the issue at stake;
- your position;
- your main arguments;
- your examples;
- any counter-arguments;
- the questions the examiners might ask you.
🎤 Presentation — about 5 to 7 minutes
You present your topic to the examiners. You need to:
- introduce the topic;
- bring out the issue at stake;
- announce your outline;
- develop your arguments;
- give examples;
- express and justify your opinion;
- conclude clearly.
💬 Interaction — about 10 to 13 minutes
After your presentation, the examiners ask you questions and discuss the topic with you. They may:
- ask for clarification;
- ask you to justify your opinion;
- present a different point of view;
- challenge some of your arguments.
Passing the DELF B2 isn't just about knowing French grammar.
You need to show that you can understand fairly complex documents, defend an opinion, argue your point, interact with other people, and organize your ideas clearly and coherently.
In this section, you'll find everything you need to prepare for the 4 DELF B2 skills: Listening comprehension • Reading comprehension • Written production • Oral production
Practice, identify your weak points, and progress step by step up to B2 level.