DILF, DELF, and DALF French Proficiency Tests

DILF, DELF, and DALF French Proficiency Tests DILF, DELF, and DALF are a set of official French proficiency tests administered by the Centre international dà ©tude pà ©dagogiques. DILF is an acronym that stands for  Diplà ´me Initial de Langue Franà §aise, the DELF is the  Diplà ´me dÉtudes en Langue Franà §aise  and the DALF is the Diplà ´me Approfondi de Langue Franà §aise. In addition to allowing you to opt-out of a French universitys language entrance exam, having one of these French certifications looks good on your CV. If you are interested in obtaining an official document proclaiming your French language skills, keep reading. Test Difficulty Levels In regards to advancement, the DILF is the primer certification for the French language qualification and precedes the DELF and DALF. Although the DILF, DELF, and DALF are the French equivalent of the English proficiency test or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), there is quite a difference between these two testing systems. The TOEFL certification, which is offered by Educational Testing Services, requires that candidates take a two to four-hour test, after which they receive a TOEFL score indicating their level of proficiency. In contrast, DILF/DELF/DALF certifications consist of multiple levels. Rather than give test takers a score, DILF/DELF/DALF candidates work to obtain one of seven diplà ´mes from the Ministà ¨re de lÉducation Nationale, de lEnseignement Supà ©rieur et de la Recherche: DILF A1.1DELF A1DELF A2DELF B1DELF B2DALF C1DALF C2 Each of these certificates tests the four language proficiencies (reading, writing, listening and speaking), based on the levels of the Cadre Europà ©en de Rà ©fà ©rence pour Les Langues. There is no score for the tests; the French speakers proficiency is identified by the highest certificate s/he has obtained. The diplomas are independent, meaning you do not need to take all seven. Proficient French speakers can start at whatever level they qualify for, however advanced the level might be. Younger French learners are offered similar, but separate, tests: DELF, Version Junior, and DELF Scolaire. Studying for the Tests The DILF is for non-francophone candidates who are 16-years-old or older. On their website, sample tests are available for listening, reading, spoken and written French comprehension. If youre considering taking this test, youll be able to get a sneak peak of the materials on which youll be tested by visiting the DILF website.   Access is also provided to DELF and DALF test takers to sample topics according to each test level. Current information regarding test dates, test fees, test centers, and schedules is also information on the site, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. The tests can be taken in about 150 different countries, providing convenience and accessibility to several French learners.   The Alliance Franà §aise and many other French schools offer DILF, DELF and DALF preparation classes as well as the exams themselves, and the Centre National dEnseignement Distance offers correspondence courses in DELF and DALF preparation.