They all certify your French, but they are not the same. Here is which exam does what — and which one you actually need.
Awarded by the French Ministry of Education. Like a bachelor's or master's degree, they never expire.
A snapshot of your level on the day. The result expires after 2 years and must be retaken.
So if you need to prove your French three years from now, a DELF/DALF/DCL still counts — a TCF/TEF would have to be taken again.
| Exam | Full name | Type | Levels | Validity | Mainly used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELF | Diplôme d'études en langue française | Diploma | A1, A2, B1, B2 (one exam per level) | Lifetime | Residence permits, nationality, university, general proof |
| DALF | Diplôme approfondi de langue française | Diploma | C1, C2 (one exam per level) | Lifetime | Advanced proof, university, professional |
| DCL | Diplôme de compétence en langue | Diploma | A2 → C1 (placement — single exam) | Lifetime | Professional certification, CPF-funded training |
| TCF | Test de connaissance du français | Test | Placement test (all levels) | 2 years | General proof of French level; immigration (France & Canada) |
| TEF | Test d'évaluation de français | Test | Placement test (all levels) | 2 years | General proof of French — designed by the Paris CCI |
| TEFAQ | TEF adapté au Québec | Test | Placement test | 2 years | Immigration to Québec (MIFI) |
The DELF/DALF are organised by level — each level is its own exam and diploma. The DCL is a single exam that awards a level (A2–C1) based on your performance.
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) sets six levels: A is basic, B is intermediate, C is expert. Since 1 January 2026, French residence titles require these minimum levels:
| Level | Stage | What it unlocks (from 1 Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | No longer enough on its own for a residence permit |
| A2 | Elementary | Multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) |
| B1 | Intermediate | 10-year resident card (carte de résident) |
| B2 | Upper-intermediate | French nationality (naturalisation) + civic exam; French public universities |
| C1 | Advanced | DALF C1 — advanced academic & professional |
| C2 | Mastery | DALF C2 — near-native mastery |
A separate civic exam (examen civique) is also required for these residence titles since 2026.
Centre Zenith has a 100% DELF success rate to date, and is a recognised DCL preparation centre. Start with a free level test — we'll tell you exactly where you stand.
