DALF C1 past exam papers

• Preparation Dalf C1 Gratuit
• Dalf C1 Preparation
• Preparation Dalf C1 Online

Below, you can download three complete DALF C1 sample papers. Even if the two firsts past exam papers are a little bit old, they correspond in every respect to the DALF C1 examinations. Indeed, the format, kind of tests and the assessed level are the same. Only the graphics evolved: the layout and the presentation of subjects were improved. So, the more recent subjects are better looking and more pleasant, in particular at the level of the images, than these two firsts DALF C1 sample papers. You will see this by looking at the past exam papers number 3 below.​

This is a complete method to prepare and pass the DALF C1 speaking test. This manual allows you to work independently: alone, in pairs or in small groups. It is also very useful for teachers who have to prepare learners for DALF C1. Based on concrete examples, this book provides the methodology for passing the DALF C1 speaking test.

Preparation courses for the DALF C1 and C2 examinations follow the same structure as the preparation for the DELF B2 exam. The University of Nice is the examination centre and there are usually two exam sessions per year, one in June and the other in December. 14 ways to prepare for the C1 DALF French exam 1. Do lots of exam practice. The most effective way to practice for an exam is you guessed it, by doing exam practice! Get a textbook designed for the DALF C1. It helps to get a textbook specifically designed to prepare students for the.

DALF C1 sample paper 1

The PDF document below, is a first complete DALF C1 sample paper. It contains:

• the collective tests: listening, reading and writing (pages 1 to 13)
• the candidate's instructions for the speaking test (page 14)
• the correct version and the grading scale for the listening and the reading tests (pages 15 to 17)
• the assessment grid of the writing test (pages 18 to 19)
• the examiner's instructions and the documents for the speaking test (pages 20 to 23)
• the assessment grid of the speaking test (page 24)
• the transcription of the audio documents of the listening test (pages 25 to 27)

DALF C1 sample papers 1
Below, you will find the 2 audio documents of the listening test:
DALF C1 sample paper 1 audio document 1
​DALF C1 sample paper 1 audio document 2
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DALF C1 sample paper 2

The PDF document below, is a second complete DALF C1 sample paper. It contains:

• the collective tests: listening, reading and writing (pages 1 to 8)
• the writing test for the field humanities and social studies (pages 9 to 10)
• the speaking test for the field humanities and social studies (pages 11 to 19)
• the writing test for the field science (pages 20 to 22)
• the speaking test for the field science (pages 23 to 28)
• the correct version and the grading scale for the listening and the reading tests (pages 29 to 31)
• the transcription of the audio documents of the listening test (pages 32 to 34)

​​DALF C1 sample paper 2
Below, you will find the audio document of the listening test:
​​​DALF C1 sample paper 2 audio document
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DALF C1 sample paper 3

This 3rd DALF C1 past exam papers is much more recent than the 2 sample papers presented above. Although each exam subject is unique, it will give you a good idea of the type of subject you will have on the day of the exam. Below, you can view and download all documents related to this past exam papers:
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - candidate’s document for listening and reading tests: subjects of the collectives tests (listening and reading) for the two fields: humanities and social studies & science
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - proofreader’s document: correct version and grading scale for collectives tests (listening and reading)
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - supervisor’s document: transcription of audio documents (listening)
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - candidate’s document for HSS writing test: subjects of the writing test of the collectives tests for the field humanities and social studies
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - candidate’s document for SCI writing test: subjects of the writing test of the collectives tests for the field science
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - candidate’s document for speaking test: instructions of individual test (speaking) for the two fields: humanities and social studies & science
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - examiner’s document for HSS speaking test: subjects of the individual test (speaking) for the field humanities and social studies
- DALF C1 sample paper 3 - examiner’s document for SCI speaking test: subjects of the individual test (speaking) for the field science
Below, you will find the audio document of the listening test:
​DALF C1 sample paper 3 audio document
In addition, you will find below the assessment grids of the writing and the speaking tests of DALF C1. We advise you to well this assessment grid, because it is on it that you will be assessed and marked. So, if you well control the assessment criteria and you fit them well, you will get the maximum of points.
Assessment grid of DALF C1 writing test
​​Assessment grid of DALF C1 speaking test
To prepare for the DALF C1 speaking test, we recommend our articles and videos on the DALF C1 speaking test.
You can also consult our book recommendations to prepare for the DALF C1.
The files of DALF C1 sample papers to be downloaded above are the property of the CIEP (Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques). These sample papers are the only DALF C1 past exams papers available to the public and authorized in distribution. All other sample papers are strictly confidential before, during and after examination sessions. You expose yourselves to civil and penal penalties in case of distribution of confidential sample papers.​

Prepare DALF C1 speaking test

Preparation Dalf C1 Gratuit

If you wish to prepare in depth for the DALF C1 oral production, I recommend my book “Réussir la production orale du DALF C1”. This is a complete method to prepare and pass the DALF C1 speaking test. For more information on this preparation manual of the DALF C1 oral examination, click on the link below:

* Edit (June 2021): Click here for how I actually prepared for DALF C2. Click here for how the exam day went.

Five months have passed since my last post where I wrote about how it was like taking the French DELF B2 and DALF C2 exams. So here’s an update:

I passed both exams! Now I’m preparing to take the C2 exam in a couple of months. I keep saying this, but it was just 1.5 years ago that I passed DELF A1 barely knowing how to use the present tense. I’ve come so far! But there is never an end to language learning. No time for nostalgia.

Let’s start with the results first:

DELF B2 (November 2020) results

Overall, 79.5/100.0. Not too bad, hoped to have gotten a slightly better score with the listening part. Really happy with the writing and speaking.

DALF C1 (November 2020) results

Overall, 64.5/100.0. I wouldn’t say I was too happy with the score, but I was expecting something even worse than this. About the 8.0/25.0 for the writing part, I was only able to complete the first exercise, the synthèse (summary), and didn’t even get to writing half of the second task. I could’ve done better with the speaking too.

I wish I got a breakdown of the writing and speaking parts, I would’ve loved to know how many points I got in each criteria of the evaluation sheet.

And now… time to prep up for the next challenge!

(DALF C2 prep)

The results and the overall experience of the exams have revealed my strong and not-so-strong points when it comes to these kinds of tests.

Strong areas:

Reading and listening. By having the text and/or the questions in front of me allows me to prepare and expect what is to come. The answers are all inside the text/recording, so all I have to do is to just look for the right answer.

Areas I have to work on:

Debating, explaining, writing (with hand, within a set amount of time). True, I’ve been writing on my computer most of these 1.5 years and there hasn’t been much of a debating/rapidfire-discussion session. I’ll have to work on these two points.

Dalf C1 Preparation

So having these areas in mind, how can I best prepare?

As seen on this site by the French government, and also succinctly explained by Mr. Bruno Milet in this video on youtube (please let me know if I need to take it down, I will comply immediately), the format for DALF C2 is a little different from the other DELF/DALF levels. Allow me to summarise.

As for May, I plan to do C2-specific exercises just on weekends, with my iTalki teacher, solving past papers and possible subjects that are suggested on this blog by Polyglottes (again, please let me know if I should not be mentioning/introducing other people’s works online.)

Preparation Dalf C1 Online

Saturday: interview/debate practice in the morning, reading/writing in the afternoon

Sunday: text correction and grammatical review

I plan to make another post on my French studying routine during the period starting from September 2019 all the way to April 2021, detailing the intensity/types of lessons, the resources I used, and points I struggled.

Til next time!