The CEFR has six levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), C1 and C2 (proficient user). France certifies French with the DELF at A1–B2 and the DALF at C1–C2, official diplomas that France Éducation international says are valid for life. At B1 you cope while travelling; at B2 you talk with native speakers without strain.
- CEFR levels
- Six, from A1 to C2
- Official French diplomas
- DELF (A1, A2, B1, B2) and DALF (C1, C2)
- Validity
- For life, per France Éducation international
- To pass a DELF
- 50 out of 100, with at least 5 out of 25 in each paper
- Contos stories
- A1 to B2
What can you do at each French level?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the Council of Europe's scale for any language. France Éducation international, which presents the DELF and DALF, describes each DELF in plain "I can" terms. Here are the four levels Contos covers, summarised from both.
| Level | CEFR description (summarised) | Choose this DELF if you can… (summarised) | Contos moves you up at |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Everyday expressions for concrete needs; introducing yourself; simple exchanges if the other person speaks slowly and helps | Introduce yourself and others, fill in a form, write a short postcard, buy something and pay | Start here |
| A2 | Frequent expressions about family, shopping, local area and work; simple routine exchanges | Manage everyday errands and transport, tell a past event, say what you like and why, link ideas with et, mais, parce que | 500 known words |
| B1 | Main points of clear standard input on familiar matters; coping while travelling; describing experiences and plans | Tell a story or experience, give and justify an opinion, follow the main points of the news, cope with the unexpected while travelling | 1,500 known words |
| B2 | Main ideas of complex text; interaction with native speakers without strain for either party; clear, detailed writing | Defend a view with arguments and examples, weigh pros and cons, correct your own mistakes, grasp the gist of current-affairs documents | 4,000 known words |
Above B2 come C1 (using the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes) and C2 (understanding virtually everything with ease), certified by the DALF. Contos stories stop at B2; by then most learners can move on to native novels, films and radio.
How do the DELF and DALF work?
The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) and DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) are France's official diplomas in French as a foreign language, aligned with the CEFR. Key points from France Éducation international:
- Six diplomas, independent of each other. The DELF tout public is four separate diplomas (A1, A2, B1, B2) and the DALF two (C1, C2). Younger learners can take Prim or junior versions with age-appropriate topics.
- Valid for life. France Éducation international describes both as recognised worldwide and "valable à vie". Its DALF page adds that the diploma is issued by France's Ministry of National Education.
- Four papers, 25 points each. Listening, reading and writing are taken in a group; speaking is one-to-one with two examiners.
- Pass mark. At least 50 out of 100 overall and at least 5 out of 25 in every paper. Below 5 in any paper is an automatic fail.
- What they open. France Éducation international says the DELF B2 can be used for French nationality, and that the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, give access to French and other universities and some grandes écoles.
| DELF tout public | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking (plus preparation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 20 min | 30 min | 30 min: a form and a message of 40+ words | 5–7 min (+10) |
| A2 | 25 min | 30 min | 45 min: two texts of 60+ words | 6–8 min (+10) |
| B1 | 25 min | 45 min | 45 min: one text of 160+ words | 15 min (+10) |
| B2 | 30 min | 1 hour | 1 hour: one text of 250+ words | 20 min (+30) |
The reading paper doubles from 30 minutes at A1 to an hour at B2, and the writing grows from filling in a form to a 250-word argued text. Reading stories at your level is direct practice for the first; the second needs writing practice of its own.
What does each level look like on the page?
Descriptors are abstract, so here is one story told four times. The Contos flagship series, The Building at No. 14, is written separately at each level: the same Paris building above a café, the same concierge Madame Lefèvre, the same young woman arriving with a single suitcase. These lines are from chapter 1 at each level.
Camille arrive à l'immeuble avec une valise.Camille descend l'escalier avec sa valise.Il regardait par la fenêtre quand Camille est arrivée avec sa valise bleu foncé, presque noire.Elle porte un long manteau gris, les cheveux attachés, l'air de quelqu'un qui a pris une décision difficile.Notice what changes. A1 is one present-tense sentence of everyday words. A2 is still short, but the chapter opens on a time cue, Lundi matin (Monday morning), and swaps the article for a possessive: sa valise. B1 sets two past tenses against each other: regardait (imparfait, the background) and est arrivée (passé composé, the event), with the agreement -e on arrivée. B2 returns to the present but packs a description and a relative clause, qui a pris une décision difficile, into one sentence. Across the free chapters, sentences average about 5 words at A1, 7 at A2, 11 at B1 and 12 at B2.
How do you find your French level?
For a certificate, sit a DELF or DALF. For reading, a quicker test works: read a chapter written for one level and notice how often you stop.
- You hardly stop and you want to keep going: a good level for building speed and fluency.
- You tap a few words per paragraph but follow the plot: the right level for learning new words.
- You lose track of who did what: drop a level. Harder text teaches less, not more; choosing your level explains why.
Contos doesn't test you: you choose a level when you start and it moves you up as your known words grow. For how long each level usually takes, see how long it takes to learn French.
Read chapter 1 of The Building at No. 14 at A1. If it feels easy, try the same chapter at A2.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Is B1 French fluent?
Not in the everyday sense. B1 means you can manage most situations while travelling and talk about familiar topics with some effort. The CEFR places interaction with native speakers without strain at B2.
Do DELF and DALF diplomas expire?
No. France Éducation international describes both as recognised worldwide and valid for life, so a DELF you passed years ago still stands as a diploma.
Which DELF level do I need for French nationality?
France Éducation international says the DELF B2 can be used for French nationality applications. Requirements change, so check the current rules for your own case before you book an exam.
Do I have to take the DELF levels in order?
No. France Éducation international presents the four DELF tout public diplomas as independent of one another, so you can register for the level that matches you without holding the one below.
What level are Contos French stories?
Every Contos series is written for one level from A1 to B2, and the flagship, The Building at No. 14, is written at all four. Chapters 1 and 2 of every series are free to read.