Complete Guide to the DELF A2 Writing Test (2026)

1. The exam at a glance

At a glance

The writing test is the third part of the DELF A2 exam. Here's what you need to know:

Duration 45 minutes
Number of exercises 2
Length At least 60 words per exercise (120 words in total)
Goal To demonstrate that you can write about simple everyday topics in French

2. Types of exercises

There are two different exercises:

	Exercise 1 Creative Writing	Exercise 2 Written Interaction
Task Type	Describe an event or experience	Respond to a message
Format	Free text narration	Email, note, or message
Common Topics	Vacations, celebrations, daily activities	Invitations, thank-you notes, requests
Length	60 words minimum	60 words minimum

Exercise 1: Creative writing

You need to recount an event or experience in French.
For example: talk about your vacation, describe your day, or recount a celebration.

◾ Exercice

60 mots minimum

Décrivez votre dernière fête d'anniversaire. Parlez de ce que vous avez fait, qui était là, et ce que vous avez aimé.

(Describe your last birthday party. Talk about what you did, who was there, and what you enjoyed.)

Example response:

Le mois dernier, c'était mon anniversaire. C'était super ! Mes amis sont venus chez moi. On a mangé un grand gâteau au chocolat. Ma mère l'a fait, il était très bon. On a joué à des jeux vidéo et on a dansé. J'ai reçu de beaux cadeaux. Mon cadeau préféré était un nouveau livre. J'étais très content de passer cette journée avec mes amis.

English translation

Last month was my birthday. It was great! My friends came to my house. We ate a big chocolate cake. My mother made it, it was very good. We played video games and danced. I received beautiful gifts. My favorite gift was a new book. I was very happy to spend this day with my friends.

Exercise 2: Written interaction

You need to write a short message in French.
For example: an invitation, a thank-you note, an apology, or a request for information.

◾ Exercice

60 mots minimum

Vous avez reçu ce message de votre ami Thomas :

Salut !

C'est mon anniversaire samedi prochain. Je vais faire une petite fête chez moi à partir de 19h. Tu veux venir ? Dis-moi si tu as besoin de mon adresse.

À bientôt j'espère !

Thomas

Écrivez un message pour dire oui à l'invitation. Dites ce que vous allez apporter et posez une question sur la fête.

(You've received this message from your friend Thomas. Write a message to accept the invitation. Say what you'll bring and ask a question about the party.)

Example response:

Salut Thomas,

Merci pour l'invitation ! Je suis content(e) de venir à ta fête d'anniversaire samedi. Je vais apporter un gâteau au chocolat et des boissons. Est-ce que je dois apporter autre chose ? Aussi, peux-tu me donner ton adresse ? Je ne suis jamais venu(e) chez toi. J'ai hâte de fêter ton anniversaire avec toi !

À samedi,
[Votre nom]

English translation

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the invitation! I'm happy to come to your birthday party on Saturday. I'll bring a chocolate cake and some drinks. Should I bring anything else? Also, can you give me your address? I've never been to your place. I'm looking forward to celebrating your birthday with you!

See you Saturday,
[Your name]

You can write different types of texts:

A vacation postcard
An email to a friend
A forum message
A short note

Each type of text is slightly different, but all should be clear and simple.

3. What you're asked to do

To succeed, you need to show that you can:

Describe simply people, places, or events in French
- People: Say what they're like (grand, petit, gentil...)
- Places: Describe how they are (grand, beau, intéressant...)
- Events: Say what happened and what you thought
Talk about yourself
- Share things about your family, your work, what you like to do
- Use simple sentences like "J'ai deux frères" or "Je travaille dans un magasin"
Express your thoughts or feelings
- Use phrases like "J'aime...", "Je pense que...", "À mon avis..."
- Say if you're content(e), triste, surpris(e)...
Write simple messages
- Start with "Bonjour" or "Salut"
- End with "Au revoir" or "À bientôt"
- Adapt your style to the person you're writing to (friend or teacher)

Important tip: Write simple and clear things in French. Use words and phrases you know well. It's better to write short, correct sentences than long sentences with errors.

4. How you're graded

The examiners look at whether you can:

Answer the questionAddress all parts of what you're asked
Write appropriatelyUse "tu" with a friend and "vous" with a teacher
Organize your textPut your ideas in a logical order
Use the right wordsEmploy everyday French words correctly
Write without too many mistakesPay attention to grammar and spelling

5. Tips for success

Read the question carefullyUnderstand the task and address all required points.
Organize your textStart with an introduction, then develop your ideas, and finish with a conclusion. Use simple linking words et, mais, parce que, après (and, but, because, after).
Ensure clarity and appropriatenessAdapt your use of "tu" or "vous" based on the recipient, and employ everyday vocabulary accurately.
ay attention to grammarFocus on verb conjugations, agreements, and spelling.
Reread your textReview your writing to correct minor errors.

6. Writing topics to practise on

The subject changes every session, but the two task types do not. Work through these the way the exam asks: 60 words minimum, 45 minutes for both tasks together, handwritten if you can. Each one is worded the way a real exam subject is worded.

Exercise 1 — tell a story (60 words minimum)

Racontez vos dernières vacances : où, avec qui, et ce que vous avez fait.
Your last holiday: where, who with, what you did.

Décrivez une journée typique de votre semaine.
A typical day in your week.

Racontez un repas de fête en famille.
A family celebration meal.

Parlez d'un film ou d'une série que vous avez aimé récemment.
A film or series you enjoyed recently.

Racontez votre premier jour dans une nouvelle école ou un nouveau travail.
Your first day at a new school or job.

Décrivez votre quartier et ce que vous aimez y faire.
Your neighbourhood and what you like doing there.

Exercise 2 — write a message (60 words minimum)

Un ami vous invite à son déménagement samedi. Acceptez, proposez votre aide et posez une question.
Accept a friend's moving-day invitation, offer help, ask a question.

Vous ne pouvez pas aller au cours de sport. Écrivez au professeur pour vous excuser et proposer une solution.
Apologise to a teacher for missing class and propose a fix.

Vous êtes en vacances. Écrivez une carte postale à un ami : où vous êtes, le temps qu'il fait, ce que vous faites.
A postcard: where you are, the weather, what you're doing.

Vous avez acheté un objet qui ne marche pas. Écrivez au magasin pour expliquer et demander un échange.
Complain to a shop about a faulty item and ask for an exchange.

Un ami est malade. Écrivez-lui pour prendre de ses nouvelles et proposer votre aide.
Message a sick friend to check in and offer help.

Vous organisez une fête. Écrivez à vos amis : la date, le lieu et ce qu'ils doivent apporter.
Invite friends to a party: date, place, what to bring.

Pick one of each, set a timer, and write both before checking anything. Then read the two worked examples above and compare the shape of your text to theirs, not the vocabulary.

Practise with SavoirX

Real DELF A2 tasks, scored like the exam

Months of preparation come down to a few hours in one room. Practise on DELF A2 tasks until nothing on the paper can surprise you.

100+ writing tasksBuilt by our content team to the official DELF format and marking criteria.
Topics refreshed each quarter10 expert-curated writing topics, aligned with current exam trends.
Examiner-standard markingScored against the official grid, with your level estimated.
Detailed feedback on every errorWhy it costs you points, plus a model rewrite to learn from.