DELF B1 and B2 France 2026: French Language Test for Residency and Citizenship: What Expats Really Need to Know to Feel at Home
- Up your French
- Oct 15
- 9 min read
You moved to France for love, family, or a new life — and somewhere between the café conversations and the prefecture visits, you realized something:“I can manage” with French is no longer enough.
From January 2026, you’ll need level B1 for residency and B2 for French citizenship. Maybe that sounds intimidating — especially if you still hesitate before making a phone call or joining a group conversation.
But here’s the truth:this exam isn’t just paperwork. It’s a turning point — a way to finally feel at ease in French, to speak up confidently, and to belong here on your own terms.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to understand the DELF B1 and B2 exams, how they work, how to register, and how to prepare efficiently — even if you still feel more A2 than B1.
Because the DELF isn’t only about a certificate. It’s about proving to yourself that you can live, think, and dream in French.
Let’s look at what the DELF really means, how it works, and how you can prepare for it with confidence.
1. Why the DELF B1 and B2 Matters for Expats in France
The DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) is an official diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education (through France Éducation International). Unlike the TEF or TCF, the DELF is valid for life.
Here’s what the two key levels mean:
B1 proves you can manage everyday life in France: handling paperwork, talking to your child’s teacher, explaining a problem at the bank or at work and describe your opinion clearly. It shows you can live independently and take part in French society.
B2 demonstrates that you can go further: discuss complex ideas, debating, studying, or working in French with confidence. It’s the level that opens doors to higher education, professional growth, and citizenship.
👉 In short: B1 means you’re ready to live in France on your own terms. B2 lets you expand your horizons and participate fully in public and professional life.
2. How to Register for the DELF Exam in France (or Abroad)
First and most important, you must register for a specific level, either DELF B1 or DELF B2!
You can take the DELF B1 or B2 exam almost anywhere in the world — there’s always a center not far from you. In France, registrations are handled directly by approved exam centers (often Alliances Françaises, Instituts français or local universities).
Here’s what to know before you sign up 👇
📍 Where to take the Delf exam
You can register:
at your local Alliance Française or Institut Français, or even a Language school of French
or at another certified DELF exam center in your region.
If you’re not sure where to go, you can find the full list on the official France Éducation International website.
⏰ When to register
DELF exams are organized several times a year (usually every 3-4 months).
⚠️ Be careful: registration closes about 4–6 weeks before the exam date. If you want a specific month, plan early — seats fill up fast.
💶 How much Delf B1 or Delf B2 costs
The registration fee depends on the center, but you can expect:
DELF B1: around €120–150
DELF B2: around €150–180
💡 Tip: If you’re preparing for French residency or citizenship, it’s worth confirming your deadline with your local préfecture before registrating.
3. What to Expect in the DELF B1 and B2 France Exams: Structure, Formats, and Content
The DELF B1 and B2 exams both assess the four key skills — listening, reading, writing, and speaking — but each level measures how independently and naturally you can use French in real life. You’ll find the same structure at both levels, but with different types of tasks and more demanding expectations.
⚠️ Listening & Reading: Two Formats of Delf Still in Use
France Éducation International currently uses two valid formats for the listening and reading tests:
Older format: a mix of multiple-choice and short written answers.
New format: multiple-choice only (MCQ), with more documents but shorter tasks.
Both formats are equally official — you won’t know in advance which one you’ll face, so it’s best to prepare for both.
In all cases, the materials come from real-life or media sources — extracts from radio shows, news reports, interviews, or public announcements. You’ll hear or read several short documents and answer questions about their meaning, tone, or opinion expressed.
At B1, the focus is on understanding general ideas and key details: you recognize familiar contexts like transport, work, or daily life.
At B2, the tasks are longer and denser: you identify points of view, arguments, and nuances — often in social or cultural debates.
✍️ + 🗣️Writing and Speaking: From Everyday Use to Argumentation
The writing and speaking tests reflect the same progression:
B1: express your ideas clearly and politely in familiar contexts (e.g. a letter, a simple opinion, a request).
B2: structure your ideas logically to defend a point of view — whether in a formal email, an article, and a short debate with the examiner.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s showing that you can communicate with precision and confidence, not just survive in French.
🧭 In short
The structure of the DELF B1 and B2 stays the same: 4 parts testing how you understand and express yourself.
The content evolves from everyday comprehension to argumentation and analysis.
The format can vary, but both versions are valid — prepare for both to feel confident.
🎯 The DELF doesn’t test memorized grammar — it checks how you handle real French in real situations.
Composition of DELF B1 and B2 France
4 parts:
listening comprehension 25 points
reading comprehension 25 points
writing 25 points
speaking 25 points
Pass mark:
minimum 50 points/100 + no score < 5 points
4. What’s Expected at DELF B1 vs B2 (With Examples)
The DELF doesn’t just test your French — it measures how well you can live, think, and interact in French at each stage of independence.
At B1, you show that you can manage daily situations on your own.
At B2, you prove that you can discuss ideas, defend opinions, and take part fully in French life — both socially and professionally.
DELF B1: Independent User in Everyday Life
You can:
understand the main ideas of familiar topics (work, travel, studies, leisure),
deal with common situations in shops, at the post office, or with your landlord,
write short messages or letters to share information or express an opinion,
speak about experiences and give simple reasons or explanations.
📝 examples of topics covered during the DELF B1 exam
Listen to a short radio announcement about a local event and answer factual questions.
Read a short article about healthy habits and pick out key information.
Write a short message to a service provider about a delivery problem.
Take part in a role-play where you have to explain or negotiate politely.
🎯 Goal: show that you can function in French without constant help.
DELF B2: Confident and Independent Communication
You can:
understand complex texts or audio (press articles, debates, radio interviews),
follow arguments, opinions, and implicit meanings,
speak clearly and spontaneously in discussions or presentations,
write a well-structured argument, connecting ideas logically and defending your view.
📝 examples of topics covered during the DELF B2 exam
Listen to a radio debate about environmental choices and summarize the speakers’ opinions.
Read an article discussing social media and identify arguments for and against.
Write a 250-word essay answering “Does technology simplify or complicate our lives?”
Present your opinion on a given statement and debate it with the examiner.
🎯 Goal: show that you can participate fully in conversations, work, or studies in French — with precision and nuance.
🧭 DELF B1 and B2 France: From understanding to nuance
As you move from B1 to B2, the difference isn’t about “harder topics” — it’s about how deeply you can process ideas, organize your thoughts, and adapt your language to context. Here’s a clearer view of how each skill evolves:
Skill | B1 | B2 |
|---|---|---|
🎧 Listening | Understand main ideas and specific info from short, clear audio (radio, announcements, everyday topics). | Follow arguments and viewpoints in longer radio programs, reports, or interviews. |
📖 Reading | Identify meaning and details in short practical or news texts. | Interpret opinions, tone, and structure in press or essay-style texts. |
✍️ Writing | Produce simple texts (letters, notes, short opinions). | Write structured, reasoned arguments (essays, articles, formal letters). |
🗣️ Speaking | Describe experiences, handle routine exchanges, express simple opinions. | Present and defend a viewpoint, interact spontaneously and persuasively. |
5. How to Prepare for the DELF B1 and B2 Effectively
Passing the DELF isn’t just about learning more vocabulary — it’s about training smartly and building habits that make French a natural part of your days.
🎧 Train your ear for real-life French
Don’t limit yourself to exam tracks. Mix authentic materials — radio news, podcasts, short videos — with practice tests.Focus on identifying tone, opinion, and intent, not just words.
👉 Tip: for B1, aim for short and clear content; for B2, add debates or interviews with native speakers.
📖 Read with purpose
Read short articles or posts on topics you care about — lifestyle, culture, or current events. At B2, try to notice how authors connect ideas or express disagreement.
👉 Tip: underline linking words like cependant, tandis que, pourtant — they are gold in the exam.
✍️ Write a little every week
Even 10 minutes of writing can sharpen your expression.Start with practical emails, then move to small opinion paragraphs. At B2, practice writing short essays (200–250 words) with a clear structure: introduction, two arguments, conclusion.
👉 Tip: always reread — clarity and organization matter more than fancy vocabulary.
🗣️ Speak daily, even not perfectly
You don’t need a partner to improve — record yourself answering typical questions, time your responses, then listen back. At B2, simulate debates or short presentations aloud.
👉 Tip: it’s okay to make mistakes; what matters is how well you keep the conversation flowing.
⏳ How long does it take to reach B1 or B2?
It’s hard to give an exact number — everyone learns at a different pace.
Progress depends on many factors: your native language, the time you can dedicate each week, the intensity of your study, and how much you use French outside class.
Still, some official references give a general idea.
According to the OFII (Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration), once level A1 is mastered in the four skills, about 150 hours of structured study are needed to reach A2, and another 150-200 hours to reach B1.
From there, learners usually need at least 250 additional hours — including personal practice — to reach B2.
These figures are only a guide, not a rule. What matters most is regular exposure, feedback, and consistency — not the stopwatch.
6. When advice makes the difference to your success in the DELF exam
You can prepare for the DELF on your own — and many do.
But what most expats discover along the way is that consistency, feedback, and motivation are often harder than grammar or vocabulary.
Maybe you already understand what you read and hear, but speaking feels like a mountain.
Or you study in bursts, then stop when life in France gets busy.
That’s where expert guidance changes everything — not because someone teaches you more, but because they help you build a rhythm, stay accountable, and use your French with purpose.
🌱 My Daily Mentoring Program
In this program, you get more than lessons — you get a structure that fits your real life in France:
daily short tasks combining listening, writing, and speaking,
clear feedback that shows what separates B1 from B2,
realistic practice with both DELF formats (old and new),
and steady support so you stay focused until exam day.
Over the past years, every student who followed this process has passed their exam — not because they became perfect, but because they trained with consistency and clarity.
🎯 You don’t need to study harder — you need to study smarter, with someone who knows exactly how to get you from where you are to where you want to be.
🌟 Stories from Expats Who Made It
Every DELF journey is different — but the feeling at the end is the same: relief, pride, and a quiet confidence. Here are two stories from expats who took the leap.
Jojo “I had only a few months to get ready for the exam. Florence helped me focus on what really mattered — structure, time, and confidence. Her patience and feedback made me believe that I could actually do it. I passed with excellent results and, for the first time, I feel comfortable using French every day.”
Sam “I was practicing French randomly and didn’t know how to organize my study time. Florence built a clear plan around my goals and my daily schedule. We moved from general French to DELF tasks step by step — and that process helped me reach a grade I’m truly proud of.”
These stories aren’t about perfect students — they’re about regular expats who found a method that fits real life.When you combine daily practice with clear guidance, progress becomes visible — and passing the DELF stops feeling like luck.
Conclusion — The DELF: A Door to Feeling at Home in France
Preparing for the DELF isn’t just about checking a box for 2026.
It’s about finally feeling fluent in your own life — at work, with your neighbors, or in a simple conversation at the bakery.
Every word you learn brings you closer to ease, freedom, and belonging. So don’t think of the DELF as a test to fear — think of it as a pathway to confidence. You’re not just proving a level; you’re proving to yourself that France can truly be home.
🌿 Ready to Start?
If you want to prepare with structure and motivation — without losing yourself in grammar books —you can join my Daily Mentoring Program: a personalized system that helps expats reach their DELF goals one step at a time.
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Because your French journey should feel personal, clear, and possible. 💙
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