The DELF A2 (Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Francaise – niveau A2) certifies that you can understand and use everyday French in familiar, routine situations — shopping, reading short notices, writing brief messages, and participating in simple conversations. It is the second level in the DELF/DALF framework and is commonly required for certain French visas, school admission in French-speaking countries, and as a stepping stone on the path to B1 and B2. This guide covers the complete exam format, syllabus, and preparation approach.
DELF A2 – Key Facts
Feature
Details
Official name
DELF A2
CEFR level
A2 — Elementary level
Total exam time
1 hour 40 minutes (listening included)
Modules
4: Comprehension de l’oral, Comprehension des ecrits, Production ecrite, Production orale
Total marks
100 (25 per module)
Pass mark
50 out of 100 (minimum 5 out of 25 per module)
Validity
Lifetime — no expiry date
Common uses
France long-stay visa support, school admission in Francophone countries, Belgium integration, personal milestone
Module 1 – Comprehension de l’oral (Listening): 25 Minutes
Task
Audio Type
Format
Marks
Task 1
5 very short recordings (e.g. voicemail, shop announcement, short conversation)
Match each audio to a picture or situation — select from 3 options
7
Task 2
Slightly longer dialogue in a familiar context (e.g. making an appointment, buying a ticket)
Answer 4–5 comprehension questions; True/False or short answer
8
Task 3
Short radio feature or practical dialogue (e.g. weather, instructions)
Guided note-taking or specific information questions
10
Module 2 – Comprehension des ecrits (Reading): 30 Minutes
Task
Text Type
Format
Marks
Task 1
Short notices, signs, advertisements, or website pages
Match texts to categories or statements; True/False
5–7
Task 2
A short informational text (e.g. magazine article, leaflet, email)
Answer 5–6 comprehension questions; multiple choice or short answer
8–10
Task 3
A short document with practical information (e.g. programme schedule, application form)
Extract specific details; guided questions
8–10
Module 3 – Production ecrite (Writing): 45 Minutes
Task
What You Write
Word Count
Marks
Task 1 – Fill in a form
Complete a registration or personal information form with provided details — name, address, profession, purpose of visit, preferences
N/A (form completion)
5
Task 2 – Write a short message or letter
Write an informal message, postcard, or short letter (e.g. invite a friend, describe a place you visited, respond to an invitation)
Approximately 60–80 words
10
Task 3 – Write a short structured text
Write a slightly more developed piece (e.g. describe your daily routine, recommend a place, write about your preferences)
Respond to examiner questions on familiar personal topics: yourself, your daily life, your likes and dislikes, your family, your plans
2–3 minutes
Task 2 – Monologue: describe a picture or situation
Describe a picture card; talk about what you see; say what you think is happening
2 minutes
Task 3 – Role play
Carry out a simple transactional dialogue with the examiner (e.g. buy a train ticket, make an appointment, return a product)
3–4 minutes
DELF A2 Syllabus – Grammar and Vocabulary
Grammar Area
What Is Expected at A2
Verbs
Present tense (regular and common irregular verbs); recent past (passe recent); near future (futur proche); perfect tense (passe compose) with avoir and etre
Nouns and articles
Definite, indefinite, and partitive articles; plural forms; gender agreement
Adjectives
Agreement in gender and number; position (before/after noun); common descriptive adjectives
Describe situations; role play; short paragraphs; spontaneous responses needed
Vocabulary
~500 most common words
~1,000–1,500 words; broader range of everyday and transactional vocabulary
Grammar
Present tense, basic questions, simple negation
Past tense (passe compose); near future; pronouns; more connectors
DELF A2 preparation requires approximately 80–120 hours of study for a complete beginner, or 40–60 hours for someone who already holds DELF A1. The writing and speaking modules are where most candidates lose marks — practise writing short texts daily and speaking aloud on everyday topics. languagetest.in provides DELF A2 mock tests for all four modules with scoring and model answers.
