DILF

DILF – Diplôme initial de langue française

(Initial diploma in French language)

The DILF is a diploma for French as a foreign language that asses the beginners knowledge (level A1.1 of the Cadre européen commun de référence for languages of the Council of Europe, or Conseil de l’Europe).  It constitutes the first step toward the DELF and the DALF.

Just as the DELF and the DALF, the DILF is issued by the Department of National Education, Higher Education, and Research.

The DILF evaluates 4 linguistic skills:

  • listening comprehension
  • reading comprehension
  • spoken production
  • written production

The DILF is under the authority of the National DILF Committee (la Commission nationale du DILF) which has its headquarters at the CIEP.

 

Type of examination Duration Mark out of

Listening comprehension

  • understanding a public announcement
  • understanding a simple message
  • understanding simple instructions
  • understanding numerical information, understanding the time
25 min 35 points

Reading comprehension

  • understanding signs
  • understanding simple instructions
  • understanding basic information
  • understanding numerical information
  • recognising the type and function of simple texts
25 min 15 points

Written production

  • copying down an address, a telephone number
  • writing down a number, a price, a date
  • filling in a form
  • leaving a simple message
15 min 15 points

Spoken production

  • Interview with the panel
  • Expression activities:
    • asking for and giving a price
    • introducing people or describing places
    • expressing a need or making an appointment
    • indicating the nature of a health problem
10 min 35 points
Overall mark /100

Total duration of all tests: 1 h 15
Total mark out of 100
Overall pass mark: 50/100
Minimum score required for oral tests: 35/70