Free · No sign-up · Updated for 2026
DELF Score Calculator: Did You Pass? (With the 5/25 Rule Built In)
Every DELF diploma (A1, A2, B1 and B2) is scored the same way: four skills worth 25 marks each, 100 in total. You pass with 50 out of 100 overall, but only if you also score at least 5 out of 25 in every single skill. That second rule is what fails most candidates: a strong total can’t rescue a section that fell below 5. Enter your four marks below to see instantly whether you passed, by how much, and which section (if any) held you back. 15+
Years of Teaching French
2400+
Students Trained for French
242+
French Batches from 2014-2026
DELF / DALF Score Calculator
Enter your four section marks (each out of 25). You pass with 50/100 overall and at least 5/25 in every skill.
A DELF/DALF diploma needs 50/100 overall and at least 5/25 in each skill. Confirm your official result on your attestation.
How DELF Scoring Actually Works
Every DELF exam tests the same four competencies, each marked out of 25:
| Skill (épreuve) | French name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Compréhension de l’oral | /25 |
| Reading | Compréhension des écrits | /25 |
| Writing | Production écrite | /25 |
| Speaking | Production orale | /25 |
| Total | /100 |
Two conditions decide your result, and you need both:
- A total of 50/100 or higher, and
- At least 5/25 in each of the four skills.
Miss either one and the diploma is not awarded. There is no compensation between the overall total and the per-section floor — they are separate gates. This is the single most misunderstood part of DELF scoring, and it is why we built the minimum-per-section check directly into the calculator above.
The 5/25 Rule That Fails Passing-Looking Scores
The per-section minimum is deliberately low, but candidates still trip over it because they prepare unevenly. Three worked examples show how it plays out.
- Example 1 — a high total that still fails. Listening 20, Reading 22, Writing 18, Speaking 4. That’s 64/100 — comfortably above the pass mark — but speaking sits below 5, so the diploma is not awarded. A 64 means nothing if one skill breaks the floor.
- Example 2 — every section clears 5, but the total falls short. Listening 10, Reading 10, Writing 12, Speaking 13 = 45/100. No section is disqualifying, but the overall total is under 50, so it’s a fail on the first condition.
- Example 3 — a pass by the narrowest margin. Listening 5, Reading 13, Writing 16, Speaking 16 = 50/100, with the weakest section exactly on the 5 floor. Both conditions are met, so this one passes.
The lesson our DELF candidates hear from the first class: protect your weakest skill first. It is far cheaper to lift a 4 to a 6 than to chase two extra marks in a section you’re already strong in. Check all our French calculators.
DELF vs DALF: Same Rule, Different Levels
The scoring logic is identical all the way up the ladder. DALF C1 and C2 also use four skills of 25 marks each, pass at 50/100, and require a minimum of 5/25 per skill. So whether you are sitting DELF A1 or DALF C1, the two-condition test is the same — only the difficulty of the tasks changes.
One practical difference: at B2, C1 and C2 the productive skills (writing and speaking) are where most candidates lose marks, because the tasks demand argument and nuance rather than simple exchange. The calculator works for every level; just enter the four marks from your convocation or result sheet.
What Each Section Tests
Knowing where marks come from helps you read your result.
- Compréhension de l’oral (listening): recorded audio with comprehension questions. Marks are objective, so this is often a candidate’s steadiest score.
- Compréhension des écrits (reading): texts with questions; also objectively marked.
- Production écrite (writing): an examiner grades your text against descriptors, so preparation and structure matter more than vocabulary.
- Production orale (speaking): a live examiner interview. This is where nerves cost marks and where the 5/25 floor is most often broken.
Because writing and speaking are examiner-judged, they carry the most variability — which is exactly why they deserve the most practice.
H2 — Your Result, and What It’s Worth
A DELF or DALF diploma, once earned, is valid for life — there is no expiry, unlike TEF Canada or TCF Canada results, which lapse after two years. That makes DELF a permanent proof of your French level for study, work and many immigration routes.
For Canadian immigration specifically: Quebec accepts DELF and DALF results for its selection programs, but federal Express Entry does not. IRCC only recognizes TEF Canada and TCF Canada for the CRS and category-based draws.
If Canada PR is your goal, see our TEF Canada score chart and TCF Canada score chart to understand which test the federal system reads, and our Quebec French points calculator for the provincial route where DELF is valid.
FAQs for the DELF Score Calculator
What is the passing mark for DELF?
50 out of 100 overall, plus a minimum of 5 out of 25 in each of the four skills. You must satisfy both conditions; a high total does not compensate for a section below 5.
Is the DELF pass mark the same for A1, A2, B1 and B2?
Yes. Every DELF level uses the same rule — 50/100 overall and 5/25 minimum per skill. Only the difficulty of the tasks changes between levels.
Does DALF use the same scoring as DELF?
Yes. DALF C1 and C2 are also marked out of 100 across four skills of 25, pass at 50/100, and require 5/25 in each skill.
Can I fail DELF even with more than 50 marks?
Yes. If any single skill scores below 5/25, the diploma is not awarded even when your total is well over 50. This is the most common reason a passing-looking score is refused.
How long is a DELF diploma valid?
For life. There is no expiry date. This is a key difference from TEF Canada and TCF Canada results, which are valid for two years from the test date.
Is DELF accepted for Canada immigration?
Quebec accepts DELF and DALF for its selection programs. Federal Express Entry does not — it recognizes only TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Choose your test based on the route you are applying under.
Where do I find my four section marks?
On your official result sheet (attestation de réussite) or convocation, each skill is listed separately out of 25. Enter those four numbers into the calculator.
Preparing for DELF? Aim above the floor, not just at it. LanguageNext runs DELF preparation from A1 to B2 with the same trainer throughout, batches of 6 to 10, and mock exams that catch weak sections before test day. ₹14,000 per level · Sector 18, Noida · live online across India. Explore our DELF preparation course.
Author and sources block
Built and reviewed by Vikash Gupta, founder and lead French trainer at LanguageNext, teaching French and Spanish for 15+ years with 3,550+ students trained across DELF, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, DELE and SIELE.
Sources: DELF/DALF scoring rules from France Éducation international (the body that administers the DELF/DALF diplomas). LanguageNext is a language training institute. Link: FEI