The four papers and the marking

Like every DELF, B1 has four papers, each marked out of 25: listening, reading, writing and speaking. You need 50/100 overall and at least 5/25 in every paper. Since the format was harmonised, the listening and reading papers are entirely multiple choice: nothing to write out, but more questions, and shorter ones. The group session (the first three papers) lasts about 1 hour 55.

The speaking test comes in three parts: a guided interview where you introduce yourself, an interactive task (role play: making a complaint, organising something with a friend…), and giving your point of view on a short document.

Typical exam topics

Writing (around 160 words): “You took part in a cultural event that made an impression on you. Describe your experience on a forum and explain why you recommend it.” The winning trio at B1: telling a story in the past + describing + giving your opinion, with simple reasons to back it up.

A typical speaking role play: “You bought a device that does not work. You go back to the shop to ask for an exchange or a refund. The sales assistant (the examiner) refuses at first.” You are assessed on your ability to interact, not on winning the negotiation: ask questions, react to what the examiner says, stay polite but keep pushing.

The tips that actually win points

In the listening paper, read the questions BEFORE the recording starts: they tell you what to listen for. In writing, count your words, because a text that is too short loses marks, and check that you have done everything the instructions ask for (tell the story AND explain AND recommend, for example).

In the speaking test, do not recite a presentation learned by heart: examiners spot it immediately and follow up with questions you did not prepare. Train instead to talk about your own topics (work, family, plans) in a flexible way. And above all: when you do not understand a question, ask “Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?”. That is a communication skill they reward, not a mistake.

How long does it take to prepare?

For a student with a solid A2, allow 3 to 6 months of regular work to be comfortable at B1, including 4 to 6 weeks spent specifically on the exam format: past papers, timed practice, mock speaking tests. Regularity (30 minutes a day) beats long weekend sessions by a wide margin, especially for listening, which improves through repeated exposure.