What’s your French level?
Try 12 real sample questions across all six CEFR levels (A1–C2) right here, drawn from a rotating 50-question bank that refreshes every few hours. Then take the full 15-minute adaptive diagnostic to get your exact level and a study plan mapped to your exam.
How the full test works
It adapts to you
Questions get harder or easier based on your answers, so it homes in on your level fast, with no slogging through 100 items.
It tests the real skills
Reading, listening, and grammar: the foundations every French exam builds on.
You get a plan
A calibrated CEFR level, your exam-score equivalents, and a personalised study path with a realistic timeline.
Sample questions at every level
Pick an answer to reveal whether it’s right and why. These rotate from a bank of 50every few hours. Hit Shufflefor a fresh set right now. If a level feels easy, try the next one; that’s roughly how the real test narrows in.
Beginner
Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, and handle everyday phrases.
Choose the correct form: « Je ___ étudiant. »
What does « bonjour » mean?
Elementary
Describe your background, routine, and immediate environment in simple terms.
Complete in the passé composé: « Hier, j’___ mangé au restaurant. »
Choose the opposite of « grand ».
Intermediate
Handle most travel situations, express opinions, and narrate events.
Imparfait vs passé composé: « Quand il ___ jeune, il jouait au foot. »
Replace with a pronoun: « Je vais à Paris. » → « J’___ vais. »
Upper-intermediate
Interact fluently, argue a viewpoint, and understand complex texts.
Subjunctive: « Il faut que tu ___ tes devoirs. »
Choose the relative pronoun: « Le livre ___ je parle est passionnant. »
Advanced
Use French flexibly for social, academic, and professional purposes.
Choose the most idiomatic connector: « Il a réussi ___ ses efforts constants. »
« Elle a beau travailler, elle n’y arrive pas. » « avoir beau » means…
Mastery
Understand virtually everything and express yourself with native-like nuance.
Which word best fits a literary register: « Un sentiment de ___ l’envahit. »
Choose the correct subjunctive past: « Bien qu’il ___ parti, on l’attend encore. »
Want your exact level?
The full adaptive diagnostic pinpoints your CEFR level and builds your study plan, free with an account.
Take the full test freeWhat your level means for your exam
CEFR levels map to scores on every major French exam, and to the Canadian NCLC benchmark used for Express Entry points.
| CEFR | TEF Canada | TCF | DELF / DALF | Canada (NCLC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 0–180 | 100–199 | DELF A1 | NCLC 1–2 |
| A2 | 181–270 | 200–299 | DELF A2 | NCLC 3–4 |
| B1 | 271–360 | 300–399 | DELF B1 | NCLC 5–6 |
| B2 | 361–450 | 400–499 | DELF B2 | NCLC 7–8 |
| C1 | 451–540 | 500–599 | DALF C1 | NCLC 9–10 |
| C2 | 541–699 | 600–699 | DALF C2 | NCLC 11–12 |
Score bands are approximate equivalences and vary slightly by skill and exam version.
Whatever your result, here’s your next step
You're starting out
You know some words and phrases but sentences are hard to form. Best move: build foundations in order (core verbs, articles, and the passé composé) before touching exam papers. Most learners here need 12–16 weeks to reach a B1/B2 exam target.
You can get by
You handle everyday situations but accuracy slips under pressure. For TEF Canada / TCF Canada PR goals (often NCLC 7 = B2), focus on closing specific grammar gaps and timed practice. Typically 8–12 weeks to a solid B2.
You're at the PR sweet spot
B2 maps to NCLC 7–8, the band that earns the most Express Entry points for many candidates. Now it's about consistency and exam technique: writing structure, listening speed, and practice exams. Often 4–8 weeks of polish.
You're advanced
You're fluent and aiming for DALF, academic admission, or maximum PR points. The work shifts to nuance, register, and eliminating the last few percent of errors. A focused few weeks of targeted drills and full-length practice exams.
Placement test FAQ
Is this test really free?▾
Yes. The sample questions here need no sign-up. The full adaptive diagnostic is included free with a free EALCH account.
Which exam should I take for Canadian PR?▾
Most PR candidates take TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Both map to the NCLC benchmark used for Express Entry points. The result table on this page shows the equivalences.
How accurate is the level estimate?▾
The sample set here is a quick taste. The full diagnostic adapts across reading, listening, and grammar to give a calibrated CEFR estimate and a study plan.
I haven't studied in years. Where do I start?▾
Take the diagnostic anyway; it finds your true starting point so you don't waste time relearning what you already know, or skipping a foundation you're missing.
Find your level in 15 minutes
Free, adaptive, and the fastest way to know exactly where you stand, and what to do next.