How to Pass the DELF B1 Exam (Without Losing Your Mind)

delwoda
7 days ago
5 min read

So, you’ve decided to take the DELF B1 exam. Maybe you dream of living in France, maybe you want that official diploma for your studies or career, or maybe (let’s be honest) you simply need it for French nationality. Whatever your reason, here’s the good news: the B1 exam is totally within your reach. It’s built for learners who can already handle French in everyday situations and just need to prove it. (Don’t worry, surviving actual French people isn’t on the test!)

The bad news? Well… there’s a lot to prepare. Four different skills, lots of practice, and yes, quite a bit of grammar. But don’t panic: with the right strategy, you can walk into the exam room confident (and maybe even smiling).

In this article, I’ll walk you through the structure of the exam, share practical tips for each section, and give you a roadmap to prepare efficiently. Spoiler: you don’t need to study for 5 hours a day. Small, smart steps work much better.

(And don’t miss the bonus section at the end, where I share my favorite free resources to keep practicing on your own!)

What Exactly Is the DELF B1 and how to pass it?

The DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) is an official diploma recognized worldwide, delivered by the French Ministry of Education. The B1 level proves you are an independent user of French. You can:

understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters,
deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling or living in France,
produce simple connected text on familiar topics,
describe experiences, events, dreams, and briefly give reasons and explanations.

Sounds good? It is! And for now, it’s the level required for French nationality applications (They will soon require a B2 level, so hurry up!)

The exam has 4 sections, each worth 25 points:

Listening (Compréhension orale) – 25 minutes
Reading (Compréhension écrite) – 45 minutes
Writing (Production écrite) – 45 minutes
Speaking (Production orale) – 15 minutes

To pass, you need at least 50/100 overall, and at least 5/25 in each skill. Which means: even if one section is not your best, your strengths can compensate. Phew.

Part 1: Listening (How to pass the Compréhension orale)

Picture this: you’re in the exam room, the audio starts… and suddenly the speakers talk faster than a Parisian waiter during the lunch rush. Don’t panic! This part is all about strategy.

You’ll listen to three documents, usually a dialogue on everyday life (easy warm-up), a personal story or anecdote, and a short radio report on a social topic (which can be more challenging).

Each audio is played twice, and questions are multiple choice.

Tips to succeed:

Read the questions before listening. You’ll know what to listen for.
Focus on keywords, not every word. You don’t need 100% comprehension.
Watch out for negatives. “Ne… pas” and “sans” change everything.
Answer every question. No penalty for wrong answers.

Daily practice: Listen to short French content (RFI, podcasts, YouTube, Instagram TikTok). One minute a day is better than nothing.

Part 2: Reading (How to pass the Compréhension écrite of the DELF B1 exam)

This section gives you two or three texts, from relatively short information to a longer article. Don’t worry, nobody expects you to read Victor Hugo in French.

Tips to succeed:

Start with the questions. They guide your reading.
Pay attention to connectors like mais, donc, cependant. They change meaning.
Don’t get stuck on unknown words. Focus on the general idea.
Practice with real texts. Ads, blogs, short news articles.

Quick win: Train yourself to skim and scan. It’s not literature, it’s an exam.

Person writing on a piece of paper with a pen

Part 3: Writing (How to pass the Production écrite)

This is where many candidates panic. “160 words? In French?! Without Google Translate?” Relax. It’s not a novel, it’s just structured communication. The tasks are practical: writing an email, giving advice, expressing an opinion, or telling a story.

Tips to succeed:

If it’s more like an essay, make a quick plan: Intro → 2 ideas with examples → conclusion.
Use connectors (d’abord, ensuite, en conclusion).
Respect the format. If it’s an email, add a polite formula. Use “tu” or “vous”, depending on who you are writing to.
Check your basics. Agreements, verb endings, accents.
Learn expressions used to start and end emails

Pro tip: Write short, clear sentences. Mistake-free simplicity is better than complex errors.

Part 4: Speaking (How to pass the Production orale)

Now comes the fun part: talking to a real human! The speaking test has three stages:

Directed interview: introducing yourself, talking about hobbies, family, plans, and sometimes answering some basic questions.
Interaction: roleplay a real-life situation (suggesting an activity, asking for info, complaining about a product…).
Expressing an opinion: reacting to a document, giving your opinion with arguments.

Tips to succeed:

Keep it simple. Short sentences are fine.
Prepare key vocabulary about yourself and daily life.
For the opinion part: during the 10 minutes prep time, write down keywords and the first and last sentences (in French or in your own language).
Use connectors. They make you sound structured (and they’ll love it!).
If you forget a word: Describe, reformulate, or use a synonym.

Training idea: Record yourself for 1 minute per day on a topic. Listen back, notice mistakes, and repeat.

How to Prepare Without Burning Out

Short sessions are better than marathons. 15–20 minutes daily beats 3 hours once a week.
Mix passive and active learning. Listen to podcasts, but also write and speak.
Use real-life materials. Blogs, videos, articles, ads.
Collect useful phrases. Reuse them in speaking and writing.
Simulate exam conditions. Practice with a timer.

Final Words (and a Friendly Warning)

Here’s the reality: from 2026, you’ll need B2 for nationality applications. Translation: don’t wait until the last minute. Start preparing yourself today (and I really mean TODAY!) and try to pass the next DELF B1 exam in your town in fall 2025.

If you want to prepare seriously and with guidance instead of random YouTube videos, check out my DELF B1 Preparation Program. It combines structured training (self-learning), real exam strategies, personalized corrections, and one-on-one sessions with me on Zoom.

Ready to feel confident on exam day? Check out my DELF B1 Preparation Program

Remember: passing B1 is not about perfection. It’s about strategy, practice, and confidence. And with the right preparation, you can definitely do it.

Bonne chance!