CEFR and DELF

What CEFR is

CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The Council of Europe launched it in 2001 and updated it with a Companion Volume in 2020. It defines six levels in three groups:

• A1, A2: basic user
• B1, B2: independent user
• C1, C2: proficient user

CEFR describes what a learner can do at each level. At A1, you can introduce yourself and answer simple questions about where you live and who you know. CEFR does not list the grammar or the words of any particular language. Each language maps the levels onto its own content.

What DELF and DALF are

DELF is the Diplôme d’études en langue française. DALF is the Diplôme approfondi de langue française. They are France’s official diplomas in French as a foreign language. The French Ministry of National Education awards them, and France Éducation international designs the exams.

• DELF covers A1, A2, B1 and B2.
• DALF covers C1 and C2.

Each level is a separate diploma. Every exam tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. A diploma does not expire.

How they fit together

CEFR is the scale. DELF and DALF are the French exams measured against it. A DELF B1 diploma certifies CEFR level B1 in French.

How the French course maps to it

The course has six bands, one per CEFR level:

• Band 1: A1 (DELF A1)
• Band 2: A2 (DELF A2)
• Band 3: B1 (DELF B1)
• Band 4: B2 (DELF B2)
• Band 5: C1 (DALF C1)
• Band 6: C2 (DALF C2)

The grammar at each level follows the CEFR content inventory for French that Eaquals and the CIEP published in 2015. The CIEP is now called France Éducation international, the body that designs DELF and DALF. Vocabulary is chosen by how often words appear in French films and books, then cut to the size each level expects.

The course teaches French level by level. It does not include DELF practice tests.

What’s available

Band 1 (A1) is available now, with 45 chapters. Bands 2 to 6 are not written yet. See the chapters on the French course page.