Language test preparation in France for international students

A certificate confirming the command of French is required for every foreign student who wants to study, work or obtain a temporary residence permit, a residence permit and citizenship. The Ministry of Education recommended two exams: DELF and DALF. The exams differ in academic level.

• DELF is aimed at foreigners with a level not lower than C1;
• DALF can be passed both by beginners and those who speak the spoken language, can freely communicate in it in different situations (academic level B2).

DELF is also divided into categories by the age of students. Teenagers (12 - 18 years old) take DELF junior, adults are tested according to the standard programme. DELF and DALF in France are equivalent to IELTS in Great Britain and the world. Certificates obtained as a result of the examination are recognized in all French-speaking countries.

In addition to DELF and DALF, two more certificates are recognized. They can be obtained by foreign students who successfully passed the TEF and TCF tests: the essence is similar to DELF and DALF, allowing to confirm the level of language proficiency.

To pass these tests, it is necessary to prepare competently: to update knowledge, develop the necessary skills, get acquainted with the methodology for performing typical tasks. All this provides for profile courses - these are currently offered by several educational centers. These include:

• Day schools;
• Private boarding schools and houses;
• Language centers.

The first two types are open for teenagers. Adult students can choose programs offered by language centers. The latter are located in large, tourist-interesting cities of the country. This allows to combine the academic program with cognitive and/or entertaining, so students can get acquainted with history, culture, and sights of France.

SMAPSE experts have prepared a list of TOP-10 French language schools that offer preparation programs for language exams in France. You will find boarding schools, specialized centers for adults. You can choose an educational institution by location, type of program (priority test) - the corresponding filters are found on the left panel of the catalogue.

SMAPSE also offers individual selection of educational institutions and programs. You can contact SMAPSE specialists by email or via online chat.

For French-taught courses, foreign students must prove their level of French through an official exam assessed on the CEFR scale. There are four widely accepted certificates as DELF, DALF, TCF and TEF, and the right choice depends on the goal: study, work, residence or citizenship.

For university admission, level B1 or B2 is recommended, B2 is required for first-year admission within the DAP procedure, and some programs ask for a higher level, C1 or C2.

The TEF (Test d'évaluation de français) has been provided since 1998 by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry and assesses written and oral French. It is built from 1 to 5 modular tests aimed at assessing reading comprehension, listening comprehension, vocabulary and structure, written expression and oral expression. A TEF certificate is valid for two years from the test date.

The TEF comes in versions matched to the objective:

• TEF Études &mdash entering a school or university,
• TEF Canada &mdash immigration and citizenship in Canada,
• TEF Québec (TEFAQ) &mdash immigration to Quebec,
• TEF IRN &mdash applying for a 10-year resident card or naturalisation in France.

The TEF is recognized internationally by the French ministries of National Education, Higher Education and the Interior, by the Canadian immigration ministry, the Quebec immigration ministry and the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration. The TEF IRN has been recognized by France Compétences since October 1, 2024, which makes it financeable through the CPF, and the TEF IRN evolves from April 1, 2025.

Foreign students who enrol in French-taught courses must confirm their level of French with an official exam result. The accepted exams are the DELF, the DALF, the TCF and the TEF, all assessed on the CEFR scale. A level of B1 or B2 is recommended for most programs, while B2 is required for admission to the first year under the DAP procedure. Some selective programs requires a higher level, C1 or C2, so it is worth checking the exact requirement before applying.

Students who prefer to study in English also have a wide choice. More than 1,600 higher education courses in France are taught in English and listed in the dedicated «Programs taught in English» catalogue, which makes it possible to begin studies without an advanced French level and improve the language alongside the degree.

For courses taught in French, foreign students must prove their language level with an official exam such as the DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF, assessed on the CEFR scale. Level B1 or B2 is recommended for most programs, while B2 is required for admission to the first year under the DAP procedure. Selective and specialized courses may ask for a higher level, up to C1 or C2. A valid DELF or DALF certificate allows applicants confirm their French without passing an additional entrance language test, so preparing for these exams in advance directly supports university admission in France.