Free DELF resources are scattered and vary a lot in quality. This guide lists the ones that actually help for DELF A2, B1 and B2, and says what each one gives you.
Preparing for a different exam? The same guide exists for TCF Canada and for DALF C1.
Sample Papers With Answers: The Free PDF Packs
If you came here for a worked paper rather than a list of links, start here. Each file holds three things: the complete guide laid out for paper, a task in the current official format with a model answer, and a blank answer sheet ruled to the real timing and word count. Free, no sign-up, and free to pass on.
Official past papers are published free by France Éducation international, and the next section covers where to find them. Use both. Whichever you work from, do the task on the blank sheet, timed, before you read the model: comparing only teaches you anything if you have your own attempt to set beside it. Each pack page sets out the full method.
For A2: there is no PDF pack at this level yet. The DELF A2 writing guide carries the task types with written examples, and the official A2 sample from France Éducation international gives you the full paper.
Official Free Resources from France Éducation international
France Éducation international (formerly CIEP), the organization that creates DELF exams, provides official sample papers for free. These are the only materials written by the same people who write your exam, so they belong at the top of any free study plan.
Where to Find Official Sample Papers
Website: france-education-international.fr
How to Use Official Samples
Limitation: Official samples are limited (usually 1-2 per level), and there's no feedback on your writing or speaking - just the criteria.
Free Practice by Skill and Level
Each skill has a different free-resource landscape. Reading and listening are well served; writing is where the free options thin out quickly.
Reading Comprehension Practice
Tip: For DELF-specific practice, prioritize official samples over general comprehension exercises.
Writing Practice
Writing is the hardest skill to practice for free because you need feedback on your work.
Better option: SavoirX gives you two free corrections scored against the DELF criteria - much more useful than practicing without feedback.
If you want a finished answer to measure yours against: DELF B1 corrected sample answer (PDF), DELF B2 corrected sample answer (PDF), TCF Canada writing sample (PDF). Each is a model answer in the official format plus a blank timed answer sheet — not a marked copy of your own writing.
Listening Comprehension Practice
DELF-Specific Tip: Official audio samples are recorded in testing conditions (clear audio, controlled pace). Real-world audio from RFI or podcasts is harder - practice with both.
Check the date before you trust a free paper. Free DELF material circulates for years on file-sharing sites and old blogs, and some of it predates the current exam format. Before you spend an hour on a downloaded paper, confirm it matches the task types and word counts described for your level below. When in doubt, use the sample on the France Éducation international site instead.
Level-Specific Free Resources
The task types change noticeably between A2, B1, and B2, so the resource that suits one level can be close to useless at another.
DELF A2 Free Practice
Where to get material: Start with the official A2 sample from France Éducation international. For volume, TV5Monde grades its exercises by level, which suits a little every day. For listening, RFI's Journal en français facile is slowed down and comes with a transcript.
For writing at this level, the DELF A2 writing guide breaks down both tasks with worked examples, and DELF A2 vocabulary covers the themes that come up most.
DELF B1 Free Practice
Where to get material: The official B1 sample from France Éducation international still comes first. RFI Savoirs wins on volume for B1 comprehension, which makes it good daily training. For reading, switch to the real French press (Le Monde, Le Figaro): B1 texts have stopped being textbook French, and adapting now costs far less than adapting in the exam.
For writing, download the DELF B1 corrected sample answer (PDF). B1 is a single 160-word task in 45 minutes, but the text type varies, so prepare each one you might be given: the B1 writing guide covers the paper, and the letter, article and short essay are handled separately. DELF B1 vocabulary is the base for all of them.
DELF B2 Free Practice
Where to get material: The official B2 sample from France Éducation international first, as always. For listening go straight to French podcasts and interviews — B2 tests exactly the audio that has no teaching voice and will not slow down for you. For reading, Courrier International's editorials are the argumentative shape B2 asks you to handle.
For writing, the DELF B2 corrected sample answer (PDF) breaks a full letter down paragraph by paragraph, so you can see where each part of the argument sits. The B2 writing guide covers the paper, and the two formats are prepared separately: the argumentative essay and the formal request letter. See also a fully annotated script and DELF B2 vocabulary.
Free vs. Paid Practice: What's the Difference?
Free materials cover the exam format and let you work under real conditions. What they do not include is feedback on your own writing — that you arrange yourself, with a tool or a person, or you pay for it.
What Paid Platforms Add
Reality Check: Free resources are sufficient for understanding the exam format. But if writing is your weak point (it is for most students), you'll improve much faster with feedback on your work.
How to Create a Free Study Plan
If you are preparing entirely on free resources, three months is a workable shape: diagnose in the first month, build skills daily in the second, simulate the exam in the third.
When to Consider Paid Resources
Free resources become limiting when:
- You've used all official samples
- You're making the same writing mistakes repeatedly
- You don't know why you got questions wrong
- You want to track progress systematically
At this point, a little feedback — the two free corrections on SavoirX, or a paid plan — is worth more than continuing with none.
Making the Most of Limited Free Practice Tests
Since official samples are limited, maximize their value by taking the same paper three times with a different purpose each time.
Affordable Alternatives to Fully Free
If you have a small budget, these options provide much more practice:
Best Value Strategy: start with all free official resources, use your two free corrections for writing feedback, and upgrade to paid only in the final month before your exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free DELF B1 practice tests?
The best free DELF B1 practice tests are the official samples from France Éducation international (france-education-international.fr). These include reading and listening sections with answer keys, plus writing prompts with scoring criteria. For additional practice, RFI Savoirs offers B1-level comprehension exercises that complement official materials.
Are free DELF practice tests enough to pass?
Free practice tests help you understand the format and assess your level, but they're limited in quantity. Most students benefit from additional practice, especially for writing where feedback is essential. You can pass with free resources if your French level already meets the requirements, but if you need to improve, you'll progress faster with more practice materials and feedback.
How do I get feedback on DELF writing practice for free?
Options for free writing feedback include: language exchange partners, Reddit's r/French community, or the two free corrections on SavoirX. The challenge with exchange partners and Reddit is that feedback isn't DELF-specific. AI platforms that score against DELF criteria provide more exam-relevant feedback.
How many practice tests should I do before my DELF exam?
Aim for at least 5-10 full practice tests before your exam. Space them out: do one test weekly for the last 2-3 months, saving 2-3 tests for the final two weeks for intensive timed practice. If you can only access 1-2 free official samples, supplement with paid resources or use those samples multiple times with different focuses (speed, accuracy, analysis).