The DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) is the advanced French diploma awarded by the French Ministry of Education. It comes in two independent levels matching the top of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): C1 and C2.

Good news: you don’t need the C1 to take the C2. You can register directly for the level you want, without proving you passed any previous exam.

Like every level, the DALF C2 assesses the four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. At C2, they are combined into two exams: a written one, taken with other candidates, and an oral one, alone with two examiners.

The DALF is designed for people who do not hold a French public secondary or higher-education diploma. Some may still take it, for example students of accredited French schools abroad, or people whose host country or university requires them to prove their French level according to the CEFR.

The DELF and DALF are the official French language diplomas, recognised internationally and valid for life. According to the handbook, they can help you:

• Boost your career: they strengthen your employability and support career progression.
• Study abroad: they open the door to courses at French, European and French-speaking universities, and some grandes écoles.
• Complete official procedures: they are taken into account for some residence permits in France and in certain French-speaking countries, and for French citizenship applications.

The C2 is the top of the scale: it shows you can use French with the precision and ease of a highly educated speaker.

Check first: most universities and administrations ask for a lower level (often B2 or C1). Before you start preparing, check the level actually required by the institution you are applying to. You may not need the C2, or it may be exactly what sets you apart.

The handbook gives three simple criteria. Choose the DALF C2 if you can:

• Convey fine shades of meaning precisely, using a wide range of qualifying expressions (plutôt, en quelque sorte, dans une certaine mesure…) with reasonable accuracy.
• Master idiomatic and colloquial expressions, and be aware of what they imply.
• Backtrack and rephrase smoothly when you hit a difficulty, so that the other person barely notices.

Not sure yet? Have your level assessed by one of our teachers

The quickest way to know where you stand: book a free 15-minute online assessment with one of our native, experienced French teachers. They will evaluate your level, tell you honestly whether the DALF C2 is within reach, and suggest the best way to prepare.

Book my free 15-minute assessment

You can also take the TCF, a test that places you on the CEFR scale, as France Éducation international suggests, or try the free level tests from RFI and TV5Monde.

The written exam: 3 hours 30 minutes

You receive a file of documents of about 2,000 words and choose one of two subjects. You then write a structured text (an article, an editorial, a report, a speech…) of at least 700 words: you can write more, but never less. For a complete worked example, read our DALF C2 written exam model on the regulation of artificial intelligence.

• Read both subjects, then choose the one you want to keep.
• Read the file carefully to understand its theme.
• Take the position the subject asks for: defend your point of view, but also qualify it.
• Use the documents, and add your own arguments and examples.

Your text is assessed on five criteria:

The oral exam: 1 hour of preparation, 30 minutes with the jury

You listen twice to a recording of about 15 minutes, with a 3-minute break in between. You then have one hour to prepare, before a session of up to 30 minutes with two examiners, in three parts:

1. Summary of the recording5 to 10 minutes. Present the document, its theme and its central issue, without leaving out any main or secondary idea.
2. Personal developmentAbout 10 minutes. A reasoned point of view on the issue raised by the document, with your own ideas and examples.
3. Debate with the juryAbout 10 minutes. Defend, clarify and qualify your position, with new arguments and examples.

Two good surprises: a monolingual French dictionary is allowed in both exams at C2 level. And in the debate, don’t hesitate to disagree with the examiner: the exam is about arguing a position. Phrases like « je comprends ce que vous dites, mais… » or « je ne suis pas d’accord avec vous, parce que… » are welcome.

• Register with an approved exam centre: each one sets its own dates and fees. You then receive an official notice with the place, date and time.
• Arrive 30 minutes early, with a valid photo ID (no photocopy, no digital ID) and your notice. Bring a non-erasable blue or black pen for the written exam.
• Stay anonymous: never sign your paper or use your real name in your answers. Use a made-up name instead.
• Results come within two months at most. Every paper is marked by two assessors, and you can consult your paper for one year.
• If you fail, you can register again for the next session, as many times as you like, once you have your results.

Fraud is a criminal offence in France. It can lead to the cancellation of your results, a ban of 1, 2 or 5 years, and, in the most serious cases, criminal penalties.

The DALF C2 is not just a language test: it rewards your ability to think, argue and qualify your ideas in French.

Frequently asked questions