Exam preparation
The DELF B1 shows you can manage in French in everyday life. The four papers, the scoring, sample topics, registration and a simple way to prepare for the DELF B1 exam.
By Équipe DELF B2 · · 8 min read
The DELF B1 exam leads to the official diploma showing that you can manage in French in everyday life: you understand the main points of a clear message, you can tell a story, explain a plan and give your opinion with simple arguments. This guide walks through the DELF B1 exam paper by paper, the scoring, sample topics, registration and a way to prepare. If you are still choosing a level, also read our DELF B1 vs B2 comparison.
The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) is awarded by the French Ministry of Education. Papers and rules are designed by France Education international. There are six diplomas, one for each level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): A1, A2, B1 and B2 for the DELF, C1 and C2 for the DALF.
B1 is the first step of the "independent user" band. The DELF B1 shows that you can live, study or work in French in familiar situations without constant help. The diploma is valid for life and independent of the others: you do not need the A2 to register for the B1.
There are several versions: tout public (adults), junior and scolaire (teenagers) and professional. The level and the diploma are the same; only the topics of the documents change.
The DELF B1 exam has four papers, each marked out of 25. The first three are taken as a group, one after the other; the speaking test is individual, sometimes on another day.
| Paper | Length | Mark | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 25 min | /25 | Listen to short recordings (announcements, radio, conversations) and answer questions |
| Reading | 45 min | /25 | Read informative and practical texts and answer questions |
| Writing | 45 min | /25 | Write a text of at least 160 words expressing an opinion |
| Speaking | About 15 min + 10 min preparation | /25 | Interview, role play, then an opinion on a document |
Allow about 1 h 55 for the group papers. Two formats of the comprehension papers are currently in use; in the new format the questions are multiple choice. Ask your centre which one you will sit and practise on that format.
You hear several recorded documents: an announcement, a voice message, a radio extract or a conversation. Topics stay close to daily life: leisure, work, travel, shopping, health. You must pick out the main information, the speaker's intention and sometimes a few precise details.
Tip: read the questions before each recording. They tell you what to listen for. On the first listening, get the topic and the situation; on the second, check your answers.
In the DELF B1 exam, texts are longer than at A2 but stay clear: a simple press article, an information page, adverts to compare. A classic task asks you to choose, among several offers, the one that fits a person's needs. Another is based on an article: you identify the topic, the facts and the author's opinion.
Tip: 45 minutes go quickly. Start with the task that looks easiest, underline the key words in the questions and find them (or their synonyms) in the text.
You write one text of at least 160 words in 45 minutes. The task almost always asks you to describe an experience and give your opinion: reply to an article on a forum, write to a friend or a newspaper, react to a project in your town.
Examiners check that you followed the instructions, that the text is coherent, that you can express and justify an opinion, then grammar, vocabulary and spelling. A simple plan is enough:
Use varied linking words (d'abord, ensuite, par contre, c'est pourquoi, en effet), the passé composé and imparfait to tell a story, and the conditional to make suggestions. Writing fewer than 160 words costs marks: count them.
The DELF B1 speaking test lasts about 15 minutes and has three parts:
Tip: for the third part, jot down a short plan (issue, two arguments, an example, conclusion) rather than a full text. The examiner assesses how spontaneously and clearly you speak, not how well you read.
Each paper is marked out of 25, so 100 points in total. To pass the DELF B1 exam you need:
The minimum per paper is the most common trap: a candidate can score 60/100 and still fail with 4.5/25 in a single paper. So don't neglect any skill. The DELF B2 uses the same scale; our article on a good DELF B2 score explains in detail how the points add up.
To give you a concrete idea, here are topics of the kind set in the DELF B1 exam (written by us, modelled on the official papers):
France Education international publishes official DELF B1 sample papers, with recordings and answer keys. They are the best way to learn the exact format.
You do not register with France Education international but with an approved exam centre: an Alliance Française, an Institut français, a university or a language school. Each centre sets its own session dates, registration deadlines and fees. Sessions run several times a year, depending on the country. Register early: places go quickly in big cities. Our DELF B2 registration guide covers the steps, which are the same for the B1.
The DELF B1 is often requested for administrative procedures in France, for some vocational courses and by employers. It shows that you are independent in daily life. French universities and citizenship applications usually require a higher level, often B2. Rules change: always check the exact level required for your procedure on service-public.fr or with the institution concerned.
Effective preparation comes down to four steps:
Moving from a solid A2 to B1 usually takes several months of regular work, depending on how much French you hear and use.
If your goal requires B2 (university, citizenship, some jobs), the DELF B1 will not be enough. Before registering, test yourself: on delfb2.net, DELF B2 test no. 1 is free, timed and marked paper by paper. Scoring consistently above 50 to 60/100 suggests you can aim straight for the B2. Below that, the DELF B1 exam is a useful step to get comfortable with the format. Our DELF B1 vs B2 comparison helps you decide.
The DELF B1 confirms that you can manage in French in everyday life. The DELF B1 exam takes about 1 h 55 for the group papers, plus about fifteen minutes of speaking. You need 50/100 and at least 5/25 per paper. Practise on the official samples, write 160-word texts regularly, speak out loud and finish with mock exams. And if your level is already close to B2, test yourself before you choose.
About 1 h 55 of group papers (listening, reading, writing), then a speaking test of about 15 minutes, with 10 minutes of preparation for its last part.
At least 50/100 overall and at least 5/25 in each of the four papers. A mark below 5/25 in any paper means you fail, even with a good total.
The writing paper asks for one text of at least 160 words in 45 minutes, usually expressing and justifying an opinion: a message, a letter or a blog post.
No. Like all DELF and DALF diplomas, the DELF B1 is valid for life. Some procedures may still require a higher level, such as B2.
No. Each diploma is independent: you can register directly for the DELF B1, or for the DELF B2 if your level allows it.
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