The main French tests
Here are the main officially recognized French language tests and diplomas, how they differ, what they measure, how they’re scored (learn more about the CEFR levels here), how long they last, and where they’re accepted.
Key Differences in Difficulty
DELF/DALF is often considered "fairer" because you can prepare for a specific level. If you know you are B1, you only study B1 material.
TCF/TEF can be stressful because they cover everything from A1 to C2 in one sitting.
However, they are "fail-proof" in the sense that you will always walk away with some level (e.g., if you aim for B2 but do poorly, you might still get a B1 certificate).
Must do!
Before your test, make sure you fully understand how it will be conducted.
Know when you need to listen, read (maybe out loud), or speak.
When you need to take notes. (learn to take quick notes).
When you need to record yourself reading out loud or speaking.
Learn to be creative in your answers (and give details) regardless of the question you are asked.
You might want to watch some YouTube videos about the test and learn as much as possible. You do not want to be surprised out there.
My tips: think fast, take notes short enough to not lose too much time, but detailed enough in case the following question is on the document you just saw, but you can’t go back to read it/listen to it/see it again.
The result of the test will not only depend on your French level, but
also on how prepared you are for the test.
Now, knowing all that, I created a short quiz so that you can gauge your French level.
Feel free to check it out!
Test your French
Also, I invite you to send me an email or book a call with me to discuss your needs as well as your goals.