Bonjour!
You have to take the DELF exam for personal or professional reasons, to demonstrate your French skills but you don’t know the differences between B1 and B2 French exams ?
If you are not sure what level skill to choose, our DELF tutor will assess you to find the specific level you would need to qualify for. At French via skype, we offer online French courses in preparation for the DELF B1 and B2 exams, guaranteeing you 100% success! In this post we will examine the differences between DELF B1 and B2
The DELF B1
At the DELF B1 level, you are a candidate who is already more comfortable with the language. Your level is described as “independent”. You can manage in everyday situations and you can also give your opinion, understand a discussion, or interact with other people.
The DELF B1 exam lasts around 1h30 and is divided in 4 parts :
Listening comprehension: 25 minutes
Comprehension questionnaires dealing with several recordings (played twice).
Reading comprehension: 35 minutes
Comprehension questionnaires dealing with several written documents:
- extract useful information concerning a particular task
- analyze the contents of a document of general interest
Written expression: 45 minutes
Express personal opinions on a general topic (essay, letter, article, etc).
Oral expression: 15 minutes (10 min preparation for the 3rd part)
Test in three parts:
- guided conversation (2 at 3 minutes)
- interactive exercise (3 at 4 minutes)
- expressing an opinion on a document designed to elicit a reaction (5 at 7 minutes)
The DELF B2
The DELF B2 is the last level tested by the DELF (then levels C1 and C2 are assessed using the DALF). As a French user, you have a good level of independence in the language. You are able to argue a point of view, or even negotiate by giving good arguments. You are able to recognize when you are making a mistake. But you are comfortable speaking.
The DELF B2 is longer than the B1, and they last 2h30 in total and consists of four tests:
Oral comprehension : 30 min
comprehension questionnaires dealing with several recordings (played twice maximum).
Written production : 1h
taking a personal stand (contributing to a debate, formal letter, review of a film/book).
Reading and comprehension : 1h
Comprehension questionnaires dealing with several written documents.
Oral production : 20 min (30 min preparation)
Stating and defending an opinion based on a short document designed to explicit a reaction.
You would have understood that there are differences between DELF B1 and B2 which are significant, going from B1 to B2 is indeed a big leap in your learning of French, in terms of complexity and sophistication in each test that this either in oral or written comprehension and expression. The DELF B2 level indicates more advanced linguistic competence and an ability to express oneself and converse in a more complex way in often formal contexts.
Why take the DELF exam?
Having a DELF certificate will facilitate your professional or personal integration into a French-speaking environment:
- DELF allows you to validate, improve and enhance your ability to communicate: it is very rewarding on a CV;
- DELF B1 is necessary for residency or citizenship applications in some countries like Switzerland, or Luxembourg ; to validate certain diplomas; or to enhance your resume for job application.
- DELF B2 is required to join a university course in France and in francophone countries, many universities and employers require candidates with B2 skills.
The higher your DELF level, the more you can claim quality skills and optimize your integration into a French-speaking living environment.
You are motivated and you feel ready to prepare for the DELF exam ?
At French via Skype we specialize in preparing for DELF B1 and B2. Our DELF French tutor provides online French lessons via Skype, Zoom or Teams covering all aspects of the DELF exams and guarantees you the best marks in the DELF exam, knowing exactly what difficulties can be for candidates preparing for examinations of this type.
At French via Skype, we are happy to support French students taking the DELF exam to guarantee their success since 2014.
Below are some testimonials from students who prepared for DELF B1 and B2 exams with us.
“ I undertook 11 months of lessons to prepare the DELF B1 with Laure and was amazed by how much my French improved over this time. I had not studied French since high school, and prior to these lessons, could not have imagined being able to hold a conversation in French. Laure’s interactive and engaging lessons quickly became a highlight of my week. Laure emphasises practicing speaking the language - all our lessons were conducted completely in French and even during casual conversation, she encouraged discussion of sociopolitical issues. She has a lot of experience in preparing students for the DELF exams and her expertise in this area shone through during lessons as she guided us through the syllabus in a relatively short period of time. I highly recommend Laure for anyone considering learning French - she’s an extremely effective teacher and she gave me the confidence to continue developing my skills in the language.”
Dr Dana Lee
(DELF B1) - Melbourne, Australia 2022/2023
"Having studied French for several years in high school, I took up re-learning the language and preparing for the DELF after my undergraduate medical studies to maintain my connection and interest with the French culture. Laure was fantastic as a teacher and mentor during this experience, and was a highly supportive, encouraging and engaging teacher. Her lessons were structured around the exam topics in such a way that I could not have felt better prepared going in. On a personal note, her flexibility to reorganise certain lessons around my work schedule, as well as her weekly homework tasks to keep our knowledge and learning to the highest standards were highlights of working and learning with her, making for a very enjoyable and smooth studying experience alongside working full-time. I was able to pass my DELF B1 exam despite being out of touch with the language for over 7 years prior to Laure’s lesson- a true testament to her ability as a teacher, and would have no doubt recommending her to future students as one of the best options to prepare for your DELF exam, irrespective of your level!”
Dr Abhi Shekhsrinivas
(DELF B1) Melbourne, Australia 2022/2023
“ Achieving a pass grade on the DELF B2 examination was a prerequisite for my doctoral program. Having spent half a decade studying French in a North American high school, I was confident that self-study would suffice. However, the reality was more challenging than anticipated, and I found myself floundering on my first attempt with a disappointing score in the 40s. That's when I enlisted the help of Laure. With her in-depth expertise and professional demeanor, she swiftly discerned my weak points and devised an astute, targeted plan to help me overcome them. Her assignments were also well curated to improve my skills and rigorous enough to have me studying 7 hours a week to keep up. Although I hesitated initially at the cost, her lessons showed me that it was well worth it. In just eleven sessions, Laure remarkably helped me boost my score by approximately 30 points, culminating in a pass mark of 71.5 at my second attempt. My primary obstacle was my speaking ability, a skill I hadn't had the chance to hone in years. I also struggled with key grammatical structures vital for the exam. Laure didn't merely teach me how to succeed in the DELF exam, but she also substantially elevated my overall French language proficiency. Should I dare to take on the DELF C1 exam, I would unquestionably reach out to Laure without a second thought. For anyone endeavoring to excel in a French language examination or aspiring to enhance their French speaking abilities, Laure can definitely help."
Yuri Han, PhD student
(DELF B2) Seoul, South Korea, 2022/2023
" I started learning French through group classes when I first moved to Geneva, but as I started to advance, I wanted to focus more intensely with grammar, writing and conversational skills. Laure immediately understood what I needed to work on as I explained that I would like to take the DELF exams and that French is critical for my career in the UN. She prepared me very well with the exam's reading and writing exercises, and fortunately, I was able to pass my DELF B1 exam. As I continue to work with her, I appreciate that she is a patient, very structured, and motivating teacher -- I would recommend Laure to anyone who wants to improve on French! "
Tomoka Nakamura
(DELF B1) UN staff, Geneva - Switzerland 2018/2019/2020
If you are interested in arranging DELF tuition, French via Skype offers several online DELF French courses designed to your needs and schedule to obtain the best grades for the desired exam as much as feeling confident throughout the exam.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at French via Skype If you want to discuss your requirements with us, we will then be pleased to come up with a teaching plan for you.
À bientôt !
