DEPLE (B1) exam-day guide
DEPLE (B1) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Bring the identity document named on your registration
The document type and name must match your registration exactly. If you registered with a passport, bring that passport, not a different ID. If you are unsure which document type your registration requires, confirm with the provider before test day; do not assume a national ID card will be accepted in place of a passport or vice versa.
Bring your admission or convocation document
Most DELF/DELP centres issue a convocation showing the time, room, and candidate number. Print it if the provider asks for a paper copy, and check the spelling of your name and the session details. If you have not received one, confirm with the provider how you will be admitted.
Confirm the exact arrival time and address of the test centre
Arrival time is usually earlier than the start of the written paper because of identity checks and seating. Check the address, building, and entrance the day before, and plan for transport delays. The exact reporting time is set by the centre, so confirm it with the provider rather than relying on a general rule.
Check which sections are on which day
The written collective tests (listening, reading, writing) are usually grouped in one session, and the individual oral test (production and interaction) may be on the same day or another day, sometimes at a different time. Confirm your personal schedule with the provider so you do not miss the oral slot.
Bring black or blue ballpoint pens and a pencil
Writing answers must be legible; use a pen for written production and a pencil for any machine-read answer sheet if the centre requires one. Confirm with the provider whether answers are recorded on a separate answer sheet and whether correction fluid is allowed; many centres do not permit it.
Leave phones and smart devices switched off and stored
A ringing or vibrating phone during the test can lead to your paper being cancelled. Switch devices off before entering the room and put them in the bag or storage area the invigilator indicates. Smartwatches are usually treated like phones.
Bring water and a small snack for between sections
Sessions can run long, and the oral slot may fall hours after the written paper. Eat and drink outside the test room and only where the centre allows it. Do not bring food or drink to the desk unless the centre permits it.
Check the listening equipment situation in advance
Listening is played from audio, sometimes through a personal headset or a room speaker. If you have a hearing condition that requires an accommodation, confirm with the provider well before the session; adjustments are not granted on the day.
Know the timing of each section
At B1 the collective tests are commonly around 1h45 in total, with roughly 25 minutes for listening, 45 minutes for reading, and 45 minutes for writing, and the individual oral test is commonly around 15 minutes with about 10 minutes of preparation. Timings are set by the official framework and can be adjusted by the centre, so confirm the exact schedule with the provider.
Prepare for the oral test format
The oral usually includes a short guided monologue based on a prompt and an interaction with the examiner. Practise speaking for the full time without notes, and practise asking the examiner to repeat or clarify in French if needed.
Plan your writing time budget
Decide in advance how many minutes to spend planning, drafting, and checking. At B1 you are expected to write a coherent text of a set length; confirm the exact word count and task type with the provider, since task formats follow the current official specification.
Verify scoring and pass requirements
The diploma is awarded on the combined result of the four sections, and a minimum overall score is required, with a separate minimum for each section under the official rules. The exact thresholds and any rounding rule should be confirmed with the provider; do not rely on memory.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: reread your convocation, verify the date, time, address, and which sections you sit on which day, and check the identity document you will bring. Contact the provider immediately if anything is wrong or missing.
Do one full timed run of the collective tests under exam conditions, including the audio played once only. Use it to fix your time allocation per section rather than to learn new content.
Review your own error patterns in writing: agreement, tense consistency, connectors, and register. Prepare a short personal checklist of the three or four mistakes you most often make and plan to check for them at the end of the writing task.
Rehearse the oral format aloud, including the preparation phase with a timer, and record yourself once to check fluency and pronunciation. Stop intensive study of new grammar at this point.
Pack the bag: identity document, convocation, pens, pencil, eraser, water, and any permitted items. Put everything by the door. Check the transport route and set two alarms.
Do light review only: connectors, useful phrases for the oral, and your personal error checklist. Avoid full mock tests the day before, as fatigue hurts listening concentration more than extra practice helps.
Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy late-night study, and aim for a full night's sleep. Confirm the next day's wake-up time and travel duration.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre before the reporting time, allowing extra margin for transport and identity checks. Do not plan to study in the waiting area; use the time to settle.
Switch off your phone and any connected watch before entering the room and store them as instructed. Keep only permitted items at your desk.
Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly, fill in your candidate details as directed, and read the instructions for each task before starting. If an answer sheet is used, check that your answers are recorded in the right place.
Read the questions before the audio starts, note key words, and answer as you listen. Do not panic over one missed item; move on and use any second listening as the format allows.
Watch the clock and keep to your planned time budget. For writing, plan briefly, write, then reserve the last minutes to check your personal error checklist and the required word count and format.
Greet the examiner in French, use the preparation time to note structure rather than full sentences, speak for the full allotted time, and ask for clarification in French if a question is unclear. Stay in French throughout.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document that matches your registration; admission can be refused if the document is missing, expired, or does not match the registered name. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before the session.
Arrive before the reporting time set by the centre. Late candidates may be admitted or refused at the centre's discretion, and no extra time is normally given; confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Phones, connected watches, and unauthorized materials must be switched off and stored outside your reach. Possession of unauthorized material during the test can lead to cancellation of your result.
Communicate only with the invigilator during the test. Do not look at other candidates' papers, do not talk, and raise your hand if you need assistance or need to leave the room.
Breaks between sections are set by the centre. Once the test has started you generally may not leave the room except with permission, and leaving may not entitle you to extra time; confirm the break and exit rules with the provider.
The four sections are scored separately and combined into an overall result, with an overall pass threshold and a minimum per section under the official rules. The exact thresholds, rounding, and resit rules should be confirmed with the provider.
Results and diploma collection are handled by the centre that registered you, and timelines vary by session. Ask the provider when and how results are released rather than relying on a general estimate.
If you have a disability or a documented condition requiring an accommodation, request it from the provider well before the session; adjustments are arranged in advance and are generally not granted on test day.