DELF level A2 exam preparation guide for adults

Alliance Française Vancouver is the official center for the DELF exam in Vancouver. To help our students succeed in their DELF exams, we have created a series of articles that provide tips to think about and work on as part of the DELF A2 exam preparation.

The DELF A2 level exam is divided into a collective or group section and an individual part. The group section lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes, and 18 minutes for the one-on-one session.

The collective part covers oral comprehension, written comprehension, and written expression.
The individual test covers oral expression only.

This article covers the DELF A2 level, specifically for adults. There is also a test for children and teenagers, called DELF Prim’ and Junior, which will be covered in another post.

You will also be able to download a DELF A2 exam sample paper to practice.

Suggestions for oral comprehension

Read the instructions of each exercise carefully before starting.

After listening to the recording for the first time, remember the most critical information as it will help you answer the questions (theme of conversation, who is talking, dates, if they are using the formal or informal way of speaking to each other).

Questions will follow the order of the audio recording.

If you don’t understand a word, try to understand the overall context of the situation.

If you can’t answer one question after listening to the audio the first time, try answering the other questions, you will have additional time after the second time you listen to the audio to go back to the questions you left unanswered.

After listening to the recording for a second time, verify all your answers.

Advice to consider for the written expression examination process

Pay attention to how you write: your answers should be easy to understand.

Read the instructions of each exercise carefully.

Use an extra piece of paper to write down your ideas or prepare your draft.

Write simple and short sentences with words that you know.

Use words like “et”, “mais”, and “parce que”, to connect ideas.

Reread the text once you have finished to verify spelling and grammar.

Count the number of words. Once you know the number, write it on the lower part of the exam.

For the oral expression, consider

If you don’t know a word, use a synonym that you know.

If you don’t understand what the examinator is saying, ask him to repeat or talk slowly. It’s OK to do that! Example: " Excusez-moi, je ne comprends pas " / "Est-ce que vous pouvez répéter / Est-ce que vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ?"

These are some general tips to consider for your exam; however, practicing by doing simulation exams is highly beneficial to ensure a positive outcome in your DELF exam.

You can also download a DELF Tout Public A2 sample preparation exam here: