DELF/DALF, Exam Preparation

DELF/DALF Exam Preparation

Since 2006 Agape School of Education has been preparing students for DELF/DALF from DEFL PRIM to DALF Levels

What Is Delf/dalf?

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DIPLOMAS

The DELF and DALF are official diplomas from France’s national Ministry of Education. They are valid for life, awarded and recognized around the world.

An evaluation of second-language proficiency:

The DELF and DALF officially certify the ability of students to use the French language in real-life situations based on the six competence levels identified within the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFRL) for Languages, an international standard.

At each level, five skills are assessed: listening, reading, writing, oral presentation and oral/conversation.
The exam topics are pre-tested to reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity in the world. Any item identified as ambiguous or that may lead to various interpretations is eliminated. You will be evaluated according to the same international standards as in any other centre worldwide.

THE VALUE OF DELF AND DALF

Today French is an official language in almost 50 countries. It is spoken by more than 200 million people on five continents. It is the official language of the United Nations as well as many other international organizations.

Advantages for postsecondary education:
• Access to a university in France (B2 or higher level)
• A diploma recognized internationally by francophone postsecondary

A real asset for your résumé, an aid to professional advancement:
• Added opportunities to work in a francophone region or country or in a bilingual environment • A wide range of attractive career opportunities around the world.

Access to higher responsibilities
• Access to advancement within many careers

DELF TOUS PUBLICS
DELF Tous Publics is designed for individuals who wish or need to receive official certification of their French second language proficiency level. It is available at the A1, A2, B1 and B2 levels.

The advantages of DELF Tous Publics:
• International student and professional mobility
• Integration into a university in France or a francophone university (level B2, sometimes C1)
• Official certification of French second language proficiency level
• International reference for life

ADVANCED

By the end of this level, students should be equipped with the capacity to express oneself accurately on a wide-range of topics, the ability to express oneself

in familiar situation and the ability to deal with non-routine information.

ASOE Levels Listening – Speaking Reading Writing
Advance 4 DALF C2
  • Able to advice on/ handle complex, delicate or contentious issues such as legal or financial matters, to the extent that he/she has the necessary specialist knowledge.
  • Able to understand jokes, colloquial asides and cultural allusions.
  • Conversation skills will be taken for granted – Able to engage in debates and exposé with a high level of articulation and clarity.
  • Able to understand reports and articles related to his/ her work – includes complex ideas expressed in complex language. 
  • Able to access all sources of information quickly and reliably.
  • Ability to engage with various mediums and language nuances – Newspapers, Magazines, Books, Higher order literary work, Difficult texts etc. 
  • Able to record meeting notes / minutes accurately.
  • Able to engage fully in meetings and seminars. 
  • Able to make accurate and complete notes during lectures, seminars or tutorials.
  • Able to produce reports / articles  /well balanced expositions with a high level of articulation and clarity.
Advance 3 DALF C1
  • Able to advise on or talk about complex  / sensitive issues with an understanding of colloquial references.
  • Able to deal confidently with hostile questions.
  • Able to talk about complex or sensitive issues without language awkwardness.
  • Able to understand documents, correspondences and reports, including fine points in complex texts.
  • Able to understand a tenancy agreement in detail: technical details and its  main legal implications
  • Able to write letters on any subject with good expression and accuracy.
  • Able to take full meeting notes or seminars with a good expression and accuracy.
Advance 2 DELF B2
  • Able to follow through abstract arguments by providing well-balanced arguments and drawing well-thought conclusions.
  • Able to understand correspondence expressed in non-standard language. 
  • Able to cope with the rigour of an academic discourse: displaying an appropriate reading speed, an ability to extract information from various media and understand non-standard correspondences.
  • Able to handle a wide range of routine and non-routine situations, for example, professional services requested from colleagues or external contacts.
  • Able to write a communicative essay with high level of clarity.
Advance 1
  • Able to contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area of work 
  • Able to maintain a casual conversation with: a good degree of fluency, a range of expression, an ability to cope with abstract expressions, ability to engage cultural topics.
  • Able to cope with the rigour of an academic discourse: displaying an appropriate reading speed, an ability to extract information from various media and understand non-standard correspondences.
  • Able to understand complex opinions / arguments expressed in formal newspaper.
  • Able to prepare / draft professional correspondence
  • Able to take reasonably accurate notes in meetings to write a communicative essay
  • Able to write letters regarding most subjects with limited clarity and vocabulary.
INTERMEDIATE

By the end of this level, students should be equipped with the capacity to achieve most goals and express oneself on a range of topics and the ability 

to express oneself in a limited way in familiar situations and to deal in a general way with non-routine information

ASOE Levels Listening – Speaking Reading Writing
Intermediate 4 DELF B1
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparation for international examinations
  • Conversation skills will be emphasised – Able to engage in debates and exposé at intermediate level.
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparation for international examinations.
  • Able to engage with various mediums – Newspapers, Magazines, Books, Literary works etc. at intermediate level.
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparationfor international examinations
  • Able to produce reports  / extract information from articles at intermediate level.
Intermediate 3
  • Able to keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics – such as current news, personal / professional experiences and events. 
  • Able to receive and convey most messages that are likely to require attention during a normal work day. 
  • Able to present on a familiar topic clearly, and answer predictable or factual questions.
  • Able to understand detailed information, for example a wide range of culinary terms and abbreviations in accommodation advertisements. 
  • Able to understand most correspondence, reports and factual product literature that one is likely to come across. 
  • Able to scan through texts for relevant information and grasp its main points.
  • Able to write a request/enquiry letter to a hotel regarding the availability of services – facilities for the disabled or the provision of a special diet.
  • Able to deal with all routine requests for goods or services. 
  • Able to make simple notes that will be of reasonable use for essay or revision purposes.
Intermediate 2
  • Able to express opinions on abstract / cultural matters in a limited way and pick up nuances of meaning / opinion. 
  • Able to offer advice to clients within own field of work regarding simple matters.
  • Able to understand instructions during classes and assignments given by a teacher or lecturer.
  • Able to understand newspaper articles, routine letters from hotels and letters expressing personal opinions.
  • Able to understand the general meaning of non-routine letters and theoretical articles within own field of work. 
  • Able to understand – with aid – basic instructions and messages, for example computer library catalogues.
  • Able to write about personal experiences and express opinions on a limited range of predictable topics.
  • Able to take down reasonably accurate notes at a meeting / a seminar / a dictated lecture where the subject matter is familiar and predictable.
Intermediate 1
  • Able to express opinions on abstract  / cultural matter in a limited way of offer advice within familiar situations.
  • Able to understand instructions or public announcements.
  • Able to understand routine information and articles, and the general meeting of non-routine information within a familiar area.
  • Able to write letters or make notes on familiar or predictable topic matters.
BEGINNER

By the end of this level, students should be equipped with the recognition of basic knowledge and basic ability to communicate / exchange information 

in a simple way, the capacity to interact  in a simple way: self-introductions and provide descriptive discourses and the ability to deal with simple, 

straightforward information and begin  to express oneself in familiar contexts.

ASOE Levels Listening – Speaking Reading Writing
Beginner 4 DELF A2
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparation for international examinations
  • Conversation skills will be emphasised – Able to engage in debates and exposé at beginner level.
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparation for international examinations.
  • Able to engage with various mediums – Newspapers, Magazines, Books, Literary works etc. at beginner level.
  • All contents covered and revised for the past 3 levels in preparation for international examinations.
  • Able to produce reports/ extract information from articles at beginner level.
Beginner 3 DELF A1
  • Able to understand basic instructions on class times, dates and room numbers, and on assignments to be. 

 

  • Able to express likes and dislikes in familiar contexts using basic language such as “I don’t like…”
  • Able to understand straight forward information, short reports or product descriptions on familiar matters that are expressed in simple languages and predictable contents. For example, labels on food, standard food menus, road signs and messages on automatic cash machines.
  • Able to read basic notices and instructions.
  • Able to complete most forms related to personal information. 
  • Able to extract times, dates, schedules and places from notices on classroom board or notice board.
Beginner 2 Mock Exam**
  • Able to ask simple questions of a factual nature and understand answers expressed in simple language. 
  • Able to receive and convey simple routine messages, for example, “Friday meeting 10 am”.
  • Able to understand simple notices and information, for example in airports, on store guides and on menus. 
  • Able to understand simple instructions on medicines and simple directions to places.
  • Able to leave very simple messages for a host family or write short simple “thank you” notes.
  • Able to write simple routine request to a colleague, for example, “Can I have 20x please?”
Beginner 1
  • Able to understand basic instructions or participate in a basic factual conversation based on a predictable topic.
  • Able to understand basic notices, instructions or conversation on specific information.
  • Able to complete basic forms, and write notes based on times, dates, schedules and places.
Assessment type
For International & ASOE Levels Listening Comprehension Oral + Speaking Reading Comprehension Writing
  • Listening comprehension questionnaires dealing with three or four very short recordings on everyday life.
  • Maximum 3 minutes of recording, played twice. Teachers are allowed to read the transcript
  • Oral examination divided into three parts: Guided conversation, exchanging information, and role-play.
  • Comprehension questionnaires dealing with four or five written documents.
  • Two parts: Filling in a record, a form. Writing simple phrases on everyday topic.
  • Writing types include: Forms, Postcards, Emails (both formal and informal), Essays and Compositions.

Explanatory Notes

* Corresponding International Levels in this table depicts the 7 most common languages taken at Agape School of Education. Each language follows the official framework set by its respective language organisations:

French DELF/ DALF : Diplôme d’études en langue française / Diplôme Approfondi de langue françaiseDiploma in French Studies / Diploma in Advanced French, 

** Mock exams are conducted by ASOE 6 weeks before the actual international exams. If a score of 80% and above is attained, students would be encouraged to sit for the exams. 

We can also prepare for TEF, DILF, TCF, etc.

Three Types Of Delf

There are three major adaptations of the DELF offered in Singapore by the French embassy, namely, DELF Primaire, DELF Junior/Scolaire and DELF/DALF Tout Public. Agape School of Education has had an excellent record over the past 15 years in preparing students to sit for the DELF/DALF examinations.

We are proud to say that with our coaching our students have scored 100% for the DELF Prim and 99% for the DELF/DALF examinations.

DELF Prim

This section of the DELF is designed for children at the elementary-school level and consists of three levels.

Level Description

A1.1 A new level for the very first steps

A1 Understanding and using basic phrases

A2 Communicating in simple conversation

The DELF topics tested here are adapted to suit the children’s interests and age. Children are taught the basic foundations of the language and encouraged to keep up their interest in learning.

DELF Junior and Scolaire (Secondary)

DELF scolaire is equivalent to DELF Junior, but it is designed to be offered to adolescents at the secondary school level by education systems as an integral part of the curriculum. It consists of four levels, adapted for these students.

Level Description
A1 Understanding and using basic phrases
A2 Communicating in simple conversation
B1 Understanding the main points of familiar everyday situations
B2 Communicating fluently without strain and understanding complex familiar situations

Students who reach the level B2, are eligible for entry into any university in France or a French-speaking country. These qualifications can also be used as a credit for schools in England and as an entry requirement to INSEAD. INSEAD requires applicants to have a practical level of knowledge of a second language and a basic level of understanding of a third language. If you intend to apply for INSEAD, using French as your entry or exit language, contact Agape School of Education to find out how we can help you!

DELF/DALF Tout Public (Adults)

DELF/DALF Tout Public is designed for adults who wish or need to receive official certification of their proficiency in the French language. It consists of six levels of accreditation.

Level Description
A1 Understanding and using basic phrases
A2 Communicating in simple conversation
B1 Understanding the main points of familiar everyday situations
B2 Communicating fluently without strain and understanding complex familiar situations
C1 Using language fluently and flexibly over a wide variety of situations
C2 Near-native fluency and grasp of the language.

Students who reach the B2 level are eligible for entry into any university in France or a French-speaking country. Students who progress to the DALF are considered to have a native proficiency in the language. For courses on the DALF levels C1 and C2, please contact the school for more information.