What is the DELF/DALF pass mark?

Every DELF and DALF level is scored out of 100, split into four components of 25 marks each. You pass with a total of at least 50 out of 100, but you must also score at least 5 out of 25 on each of the four components. Falling below 5 on any one component fails the whole exam regardless of your total.

How do DELF and DALF levels map to CEFR?

The mapping is direct and official. DELF covers the lower four levels: A1, A2, B1, and B2. DALF covers the top two: C1 and C2. Passing a given diploma certifies that exact CEFR level, which is why French universities and immigration offices accept the diploma name as proof of level.

Why is there a per-component minimum?

The 5-out-of-25 floor stops a candidate from passing while being completely unable to perform one of the four skills. Someone with perfect reading but no speaking ability would still fail, because the diploma is meant to certify balanced communicative competence at the level.

Which DELF or DALF level do universities require?

Most French-taught degree programmes ask for DELF B2 as a minimum, and many selective or postgraduate programmes prefer DALF C1. Always check the specific institution, since some accept B1 for certain courses and others require C1 across the board.

Is the diploma valid forever?

Yes. Unlike many language tests, the DELF and DALF diplomas have lifetime validity and never expire. Once you pass a level the certification stands permanently, although individual institutions may still ask for a recent result for their own policy reasons.

DELF/DALF Score to CEFR Converter

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The DELF and DALF diplomas are the official French proficiency certifications from France’s Ministry of Education, and each one certifies a single CEFR level. This converter totals your four component marks, applies the official pass rules, and tells you exactly which CEFR level a passing result represents.

How it works

Every level is marked out of 100, divided into four equally weighted components of 25 marks: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. There are two conditions to pass. First, your total must reach at least 50 out of 100. Second, and easy to overlook, you must score at least 5 out of 25 on every single component. A strong total cannot rescue a component below the 5-point floor, so the tool checks both rules and tells you which, if either, you missed.

The CEFR mapping is fixed rather than calculated. DELF certifies the lower four levels (A1, A2, B1, B2) and DALF the top two (C1, C2). Passing the diploma for a level is itself the proof of that CEFR level, which is why institutions accept the diploma name directly.

Tips and example

Suppose you sit DELF B2 and score 22 in reading, 20 in listening, 4 in writing, and 18 in speaking. Your total is 64, comfortably over 50, yet you fail, because writing is below the 5-point minimum. This is the most common way candidates are surprised by a fail, so spread your preparation across all four skills rather than leaning on your strongest. Remember that once passed, the diploma never expires.