10 tips to prepare for a French exam (DELF, DALF, TCF)

French language exam is coming, time to get ready! As the official French language exams center in Hong-Kong, Alliance Française de Hong Kong offers over 1000 official certification programmes each year, including DELF Prim, DELF Junior, DELF, DALF, TCF, TCF Canada. All of these examinations are harmonised within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and are internationally recognised by foreign ministries responsible for education. From the 2025 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) onward, the stipulated official language examination of French is (i) Diplôme d’Études de Langue Française (DELF) or (ii) Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF), provided by Alliance Française de Hong Kong, issued by the French Ministry of Education. 

Here are 10 ways to be well-prepared for your French exam!

1/ Take a French course

It is necessary to take a French course in order to prepare for your French exam. Alliance Française de Hong Kong offers a wide range of French classes for kids and adults from beginner to advanced levels (A1 to C2). If you already have some knowledge of French and/or have taken French lessons in the past, AFHK's placement test will help us determine which course is the right one for you. Alliance Française de Hong Kong's French courses include Adults French classes, Teens French classes (age 11-16), Kids French classes (Kids 1: age 6; Kids 2: age 7-10) and Preschoolers French Classes (age 3-5).

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2/ Attend a French workshop

French workshops can contribute to strengthening specific competences such as French Grammar, French Pronunciation or simply help you prepare for French exams. Some focus on specific language themes and topics, such as French Philosophy, French Arts and Civilisation or French Literature.

Alliance Française de Hong Kong offers workshops for all level with some which are specially developed for French exams preparation, including for DELF, DALF and TCF. Find out more about our workshops!

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3/ Take mock exams

Alliance Francaise de Hong Kong's mock exam is a great opportunity for you to correct the little mistakes that can make a big difference on the D-day. The Mock Exams (A1, A2, B1, B2) will be assessed by DELF-accredited teachers and personal feedbacks will be provided individually at the end of the day. Our mock sessions are open to everyone, whether you plan to take the real exam or simply want to assess your progress in the language.

4/ Study past DELF, DALF and TCF exams

Other than taking mock exams, studying past exams is also an effective French exam preparation method. By doing post papers, you will get used to the structure of the paper and the expected answers, work on your time management, and analyse where you stand regarding the exercises you’re confident with or not. Sample papers are provided for each level on the France Education International (formerly CIEP) website.

5/ Have conversations with native French speakers

Talking with a native French speakers will help you improve your oral comprehension, making you more confident in speaking French and helping you adapt the accent. Being familiar with French can not only make you more comfortable with the language, but also give you an idea about the French culture and the French way of thinking. All of AFHK's teachers are native from France (or French Speaking countries), or having grown in a French-speaking environment, our French native teachers all hold a degree for teaching French language.

Alliance Française de Hong Kong also organises workshops focusing on speaking and phonetics for different level French learners. Check the workshops here and enrol now! 

6/ Watch French films

Watching films is one of the most interesting and easiest ways to learn French. If you are a French-learning beginner, you can turn on the Chinese/English subtitles first to fully understand the content of the film. Then rewatch the film with French subtitles and record the vocabularies and phrases that you do not know, and review them in the future.

Many French films are available at the Alliance Française de Hong Kong library, feel free to borrow your favourites and learn French with our community. Allliance Française de Hong Kong also provide regular ciné-club events and the annual Hong Kong French Film Festival!

7/ Read French books

Reading is one of the best ways to learn French, even from very early on in your French learning journey. It builds your vocabulary and helps you get a better hold of the language’s grammar and sentence structure. Visit the AFHK library and enjoy an extensive collection of media in French as well as in translation, including our French-Chinese bilingual magazine Paroles, classic and contemporary French literature, French learning resources, etc. You are more than welcomed to reserve it online.

Alliance Française de Hong Kong also organises French language workshops on French literature and culture (Focus on Littérature et Culture) for level B2+ students. Join us now! 

8/ Visit French websites and social media

Reading a book or watching a movie can be difficult to plan during your day, when you only have a few minutes breaks. So you can use those times to consult websites, platforms, or social media.

For example, AFHK manages Student Portal which are platforms for students where you can retrieve course materials, chat with teachers and other students, and do your homework.

You can also follow Alliance Française de Hong Kong on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to stay informed about AFHK French courses calendar, events and activities, French culture and learning tips!

9/ Read French press

Reading newspapers is a good mix between reading a book and consulting the media because on one hand you will improve your reading and writing skills, and on the other hand you will know more about the hot topics in France and the French culture.

You might find some of the daily broadsheets too challenging so one way is to read the press which is aimed at children and teenagers. For example, Le Petit Quotidien or 1 Jour 1 Actu are easy to read.

Come and leaf through those at the library, and feel free to ask our librarians for some advice!

10/ Use support tools correctly

Translation websites or automatic keyboards need to be used but in a smart way to be sure those tools are really helping you improve your language skills and not doing the work for you.

For example, you are suggested to use a recognised translation website such as Word Reference, and avoid translating entire sentences, focus only on the word you struggle with. Keep in mind that you won’t have those tools during the exam so you need to develop your own automatisms. 

We hope these tips will help you feel confident with your exams! Feel free to share your personal tips in the comment box below.

Learn French with Alliance Française de Hong Kong 

Alliance Française de Hong Kong organises a wide range of French courses and French cultural workshops, including learning french with journal and French cinema! Don't hesitate and learn French with us. 

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