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DELF B1 registration — 2026 sessions
The DELF B1 is the level required for the 10-year resident card (2024 immigration law). It certifies the candidate's independence in most situations encountered in France. Registration is 100% online, 130 €, with monthly sessions across the Paris region (Île-de-France).
What is the DELF B1?
The DELF B1 certifies an intermediate level of independence according to the CEFR. The candidate can cope with most situations encountered when travelling, studying or working, recount an event, express a point of view and argue simply.
It is the minimum level required for the 10-year long-stay resident card since the immigration law of 26 January 2024. It is also often the minimum level required to enter a non-specialised university course in France.
The 4 DELF B1 exams
| Exam | Duration | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension (CO) | ~25 min | /25 |
| Reading comprehension (CE) | 45 min | /25 |
| Written production (PE) | 45 min | /25 |
| Oral production (PO) | ~15 min (+10 min preparation) | /25 |
| Total | ~2 h 15 min | /100 |
Minimum pass mark: 50/100 total, with at least 5/25 on each exam. If you get 4.5 in listening comprehension, even with 80 in total, you fail.
DELF B1 and residence permits
Since the immigration law of 26 January 2024, the DELF B1 is the minimum level required for the 10-year long-stay resident card. For French nationality by decree, the threshold is now set at the DELF B2 (against B1 previously).
Please note: since 2020, the oral expression part must be passed individually. A candidate who fails the oral must retake the entire exam even if the other exams are validated.
Oral production (PO) in detail
The B1 oral production takes place in 3 parts after 10 minutes of preparation:
- Guided interview (2-3 min) — you introduce yourself and answer questions about you, your activities and your plans.
- Interactive exercise (3-4 min) — role play: you resolve an everyday-life situation with the examiner (booking, making a complaint, organising…).
- Expressing a point of view (5-7 min) — you draw a short document at random, identify its theme and give your reasoned opinion, then answer questions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Answers that are too short in the guided interview — develop, give examples, do not answer with "yes / no".
- Lacking logical connectors — "first, then, because, so, but" structure your speech and earn points.
- Writing off-topic or too short in the PE — follow the instructions and the required word count (usually 160-180 words).
- Neglecting listening comprehension — B1 documents are faster than at A2; practise listening every day.
- Forgetting the 5/25 rule — one failed exam (below 5/25) fails the whole exam, whatever the average.
Am I ready for the DELF B1?
This level is right for you if you can already do most of the following:
- express myself on familiar topics and everyday situations;
- use adequate vocabulary to communicate about personal experiences and interests;
- give simple descriptions, explain my opinions, and briefly justify my choices;
- deal with common problems and understand the main points of clear texts;
- understand straightforward information in articles, messages, or conversations;
- interact with a degree of fluency in predictable situations with native speakers.
How to prepare effectively
- Listening comprehension: listen every day to France Info, RFI, podcasts in simple French
- Reading comprehension: read short articles (1jour1actu, Le Monde en français facile)
- Written production: practise writing letters, emails, short argued essays
- Oral production: prepare a 3-minute monologue on a theme (health, education, environment...) and an exchange dialogue
Free resources worth using
- TV5MONDE — Apprendre le français : videos graded by level with exercises, the closest free equivalent to exam training
- RFI — Français facile : a daily news bulletin in slowed, simplified French, with transcripts
- France Éducation International : the awarding body publishes sample papers — the only material that matches the real format exactly
A 3-month preparation plan
| Month | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Month 1 — Basics + diagnosis | A complete mock paper to spot your weaknesses. Grammar revision (passé composé/imparfait, future, pronouns, basic subjunctive). 15 min of listening comprehension per day. |
| Month 2 — Production | 1 written production per week (letter, message, short essay). 1 recorded oral monologue every 2 days. Daily reading of simple articles. |
| Month 3 — Simulation | 1 timed mock exam per week. Oral practice with a partner. Revision of recurring themes (work, health, leisure, environment, school). |
Prefer to be guided? We run a one-day DELF B1 preparation at the centre where you will sit the exam — the four tests one by one, written practice with individual feedback, and a mock oral. See the programme and the coming dates.
How to register
- From the GoDELF home page, choose the B1 session that suits you (held regularly across the Paris region).
- Complete the file + ID document + online payment (your candidate account is created automatically).
- Receive the exam notice by email.
- On the day: arrive 30 min early with your original ID document.
Frequently asked questions — DELF B1
How do I register for the DELF B1 exam?
From the GoDELF home page, select a B1 session, complete your file (civil status, ID document, photo) and pay online by bank card. Your candidate account is created automatically. The official exam notice reaches you by email around 2 weeks before the exam.
What is the DELF B1 registration fee in 2026?
The DELF B1 fee for an individual candidate is 130 € in 2026. This price covers the 4 exams, marking by examiners accredited by France Éducation International, the publication of the result and the issuing of the official diploma.
What are the DELF B1 exam dates?
Our DELF B1 sessions are held every month except in April and September. The updated list of dates open for registration can be viewed in real time on the GoDELF home page, filterable by level and by month.
Is the DELF B1 enough for French naturalisation?
No, not since 2024. The immigration law of 26 January 2024 raised the threshold for French nationality by decree to the DELF B2. The DELF B1, however, remains the minimum level required for the 10-year long-stay resident card.
What is the minimum mark to pass the DELF B1?
The minimum pass mark is 50/100, with a pass mark of 5/25 on each of the 4 exams. A mark below 5 on a single exam means the candidate fails, even if the average is above 50.
How long does it take to prepare for the DELF B1?
A candidate who has mastered A2 generally aims for B1 after 150 to 200 additional hours of French, i.e. 4 to 8 months of regular preparation. B1 introduces simple argumentation and more varied situations than A2.
Is the DELF B1 diploma valid for life?
Yes. The DELF, like the DALF, is an official diploma of the French Ministry of National Education, valid for life once obtained. Unlike the TCF or the TEF (certificates valid for 2 years), the DELF B1 never expires.
Can I take the DELF B1 online?
No. The exam takes place in person at an accredited centre. Only registration is online, via GoDELF. The 3 collective exams (CO, CE, PE) are held on the same day; the oral production is scheduled separately in an individual slot.
What happens if I fail the DELF B1?
If you fail, you can re-register for a later session as many times as necessary. Each attempt is a new registration. The marks for exams already passed are not kept: you retake the entire exam.
What ID document should I provide for the DELF B1?
A valid photo ID document: national identity card, passport, residence permit or driving licence. The name and date of birth must match exactly those of your registration.
A preparation day before this session
Next date: 11/08/2026 — a full day of practice with a trainer, written work reviewed individually and a mock oral. 60,00 €.
DELF B1 preparation →Register for the DELF-DALF with GoDELF
Centre accredited by France Éducation International — 100% online registration.