DELF A1 Syllabus 2026 — Full Topic-by-Topic Breakdown

The DELF A1 (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) is the beginner-level French certification that tests your ability to handle basic everyday interactions. Think of it as proving you can introduce yourself, ask for directions, order food, and understand simple written notices. The exam is split into four sections, each worth 25 points, for a total of 100. You need 50/100 to pass, with no section minimum — though you should aim for balanced preparation.

Here’s exactly what’s in the DELF A1 syllabus, broken down by section, with weightage estimates and study tips per topic.

Listening Comprehension (Compréhension Orale) — 25 points

Duration: ~20 minutes

What’s tested: Your ability to understand very simple spoken French — slow, clear, and often repeated. Audio clips are short (30 seconds to 1 minute).

Task types:

• Answer multiple-choice questions based on short dialogues (e.g., two people greeting each other)
• Match spoken information to images (e.g., “the woman is buying bread” → select correct picture)
• Listen to announcements (train station, airport) and extract basic info like time or platform number

Study tips:

• Listen to 5–10 minutes of beginner French audio daily. Podcasts like “Français Authentique” or “News in Slow French” are solid
• Practice with DELF A1 past papers — focus on identifying numbers, dates, and simple instructions
• Use mock tests to simulate exam conditions; audio is played twice, so don’t panic on first listen

Take a free DELF A1 demo mock to find out where you stand: <a href="/demo">Try the demo →</a>

Reading Comprehension (Compréhension Écrite) — 25 points

Duration: 30 minutes

What’s tested: Your ability to read and understand very short, simple texts — signs, ads, postcards, menus, or short emails.

Task types:

• Read a notice (e.g., “Library closed on Sundays”) and answer true/false or multiple-choice
• Match short texts to corresponding images or scenarios
• Extract specific information from a simple document (e.g., a train schedule or a product label)

Study tips:

• Read everyday French materials: restaurant menus, weather forecasts, classified ads. You don’t need to understand every word — just the gist
• Build a small vocabulary bank of common nouns (food, places, days, numbers) and basic verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire)
• Time yourself: 30 minutes for 4–5 tasks. Skim first, then read for detail

Writing (Production Écrite) — 25 points

Duration: 30 minutes

What’s tested: Your ability to write simple sentences about familiar topics — introducing yourself, filling in a form, or writing a short postcard.

Task types:

• Complete a form with personal details (name, nationality, date of birth, profession)
• Write a short message (e.g., a note to a friend: “I’m arriving on Saturday. See you at the station.”)
• Describe a person, object, or place in 2–3 sentences

Study tips:

• Master the present tense of regular -er, -ir, -re verbs, plus common irregulars (être, avoir, aller, faire)
• Practice writing 3–4 sentences daily about your routine: “Je m’appelle…”, “J’habite à…”, “J’aime…”
• Pay attention to basic punctuation and spelling — accents matter (é, è, ê, ç)

Speaking (Production Orale) — 25 points

Duration: 5–7 minutes (plus 10 minutes of preparation)

What’s tested: Your ability to communicate in simple, guided conversations — introducing yourself, asking basic questions, and responding to simple prompts.

Task breakdown:

1. 1Guided interview (1–2 min): The examiner asks you to introduce yourself — name, age, nationality, job, hobbies
2. 2Information exchange (2–3 min): You ask the examiner simple questions (e.g., “What time is the meeting?”) based on a prompt card
3. 3Role-play (2–3 min): You simulate a real-life situation — ordering at a café, buying a ticket, asking for directions

Study tips:

• Practice speaking out loud every day, even if it’s just to yourself. Record and listen back
• Prepare a 1-minute self-introduction — memorize it, but be ready to adapt
• Use simple question structures: “Est-ce que…?”, “Où…?”, “Quand…?”, “Combien…?”
• Do mock speaking sessions with a partner or tutor. The more you practice, the less nervous you’ll be

See DELF A1 mock-test packs and pricing: <a href="/plans">View plans →</a>

Weightage Summary

| Section | Points | Duration | Approx. Weight | |---------|--------|----------|----------------| | Listening | 25 | 20 min | 25% | | Reading | 25 | 30 min | 25% | | Writing | 25 | 30 min | 25% | | Speaking | 25 | 15–17 min | 25% |

All sections are equally weighted. There’s no minimum per section — you can pass with 50 total points even if you score low in one area, but balanced prep reduces risk.

Key Vocabulary Topics to Cover

• Personal information: name, age, nationality, profession, address
• Daily life: food, drink, clothing, weather, time, dates
• Places: home, school, work, city, transport
• Actions: common verbs in present tense (manger, dormir, lire, écrire, parler)
• Numbers: 0–100, ordinal numbers (premier, deuxième…)
• Basic grammar: articles (le/la/les, un/une/des), possessive adjectives (mon/ma/mes), negation (ne…pas)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcomplicating: Keep sentences short and simple. A1 is about clarity, not complexity
• Ignoring pronunciation: Speaking section penalizes unclear pronunciation. Practice nasal vowels (an, in, on, un) and the French “r”
• Skipping listening: Many candidates focus on reading/writing and neglect listening. Audio is played twice, but you still need practice to catch details
• Not timing yourself: Writing and reading have strict time limits. Practice with a timer

Where to next?

• Take a free DELF A1 demo mock test to assess your current level
• Browse DELF A1 mock-test packs and pricing for structured practice
• Read our complete DELF A1 preparation guide for a step-by-step study plan