Yes. A1 is made for complete beginners. Join the A1 course, practise daily, and sit the exam when mock scores are steady.
DELF A1 Classes in Kolkata: Preparation for the First French Diploma
DELF A1 is the first French diploma. It proves you can use simple, everyday French. Our A1 course takes three to four months and roughly 60 to 80 class hours, which builds the French that DELF A1 is based on.
We run French classes in Kolkata from A1 to C2. This page answers the questions people ask before they start DELF A1 preparation: what the exam tests, how long it takes, and who really needs it.
One thing first. LNS does not conduct or register students for DELF. You sit the exam at an authorised centre. We teach the French and train you for the paper. Then our own internal exam and LNS certificate close the course.
Table of Contents
What is DELF A1, in simple words?
DELF stands for Diplôme d’études en langue française. It is a French-government diploma set by France Éducation international. A1 is the lowest level on the CEFR scale.
Pass it and you hold proof that you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions, and understand short, slow French about everyday things.
It is not a test of fluent talk. It is a test of the first small steps. That is why a complete beginner can aim for it.
Who actually needs DELF A1?
Not everyone. Be honest with yourself before you pay an exam fee.
- Students applying to study in France. Some programmes and visa steps ask for a French level. A1 is often only the starting proof, so check what your university wants.
- Canada PR applicants. DELF A1 does not count for Express Entry. For that you need TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Read our TEF Canada and TCF Canada preparation page if that is your goal.
- School students. A diploma is a nice thing to have on a profile. Our guide for parents explains how French fits into school life.
- Adults who want a goal. Many people learn better when a date is fixed. An exam date works like a deadline.
If you only want to speak French for travel or work, you can skip the exam and still take the A1 course. The diploma is optional.
What does the DELF A1 exam test?
Four skills. Each one is marked out of 25, so the full paper is 100.
| Skill | What you are asked to do |
|---|---|
| Listening | Understand short recordings: announcements, simple messages, everyday talk. |
| Reading | Understand short notices, messages, menus and signs. |
| Writing | Fill in a form and write a very short note, like a postcard or a message to a friend. |
| Speaking | Talk about yourself, ask simple questions and take part in a short role-play. |
To pass you need 50 out of 100 overall, and at least 5 out of 25 in each skill. The diploma does not expire.
The exact timings and task types can change. Always check the current paper on the official exam body’s website or with your exam centre before you book.
How long does it take to get ready for DELF A1?
Three to four months if you start from zero. That is our normal A1 course, around 60 to 80 class hours.
If you already know some French, a placement check may let you finish faster. If you are working full time, plan for a slower pace. The week-by-week A1 plan shows what each fortnight looks like.
What matters more than hours in class is twenty minutes a day at home. Listening and speaking fade fast without it.
What do you learn in the course before the exam?
We teach A1 French first. The exam is built on top of it.
- Alphabet, sounds and the nasal vowels
- Greetings, numbers, dates and time
- être and avoir, regular verbs, articles and gender
- Asking questions, saying no, giving simple directions
- Food, shopping, family, the city and daily routine
In the last weeks we switch to exam practice: timed listening, reading drills, a short writing task each week, and speaking practice with a trainer who plays the examiner.
What is the LNS certificate, and how is it different from DELF?
At the end of the course LNS holds its own internal exam and gives its own institute certificate. It shows you completed the level with us.
DELF is different. It is an external diploma from the French government’s exam body, taken at an authorised centre. The two do not replace each other. Many students take the LNS course first, then decide if they want DELF as well.
Where do I take the DELF exam?
At an authorised DELF–DALF centre. The exam body keeps an official list of centres by country and city. Dates, seats and fees are set by the centre, so ask them directly. We do not control any of those.
A good plan: finish A1, ask us for a mock paper, and book the exam only after you score comfortably in practice.
What does the A1 course cost at LNS?
Our current fee for each French level is on the course fees page. Ask for the batch and mode you prefer (classroom or online) at the demo class. Exam fees are separate and are paid to the exam centre.
Check what is included before you decide: books, mock papers and extra practice sessions. Ask every institute the same question.
What comes after DELF A1?
A2, then B1 and B2. Each is a separate DELF diploma. B2 is the level that most study-abroad and Canada plans aim for. If that is your goal, look at our DELF B2 classes page to see the full road from A1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually no. A1 is the first step. Most study programmes ask for B1 or B2. Check the exact rule of your university and the French consulate before you plan.
No. DELF diplomas are valid for life.
Fifty out of one hundred in total, with at least five out of twenty-five in every skill.
No. LNS runs the French course and exam preparation only. You register yourself at an authorised exam centre.
Yes. Our online batches cover the same A1 syllabus. Speaking practice is done live with a trainer.
No. Canada’s Express Entry accepts only TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. DELF A1 is too low a level to help in any case.
A1 is about yourself and the present. A2 adds the past and future, and longer simple conversations.
Yes. There is a junior version of DELF for school-age learners. Ask the exam centre which paper suits your child’s age.
Your photo ID and the call-up paper (convocation) from the centre. Confirm the full list with the centre.
Ask us at the demo class. Batch changes depend on seat availability.
When you score above the pass mark in at least two full mock papers, and your speaking feels calm. We will tell you honestly.
Start your A1 French course
Come to a free demo class and see how an A1 session runs. We will also tell you honestly whether A1 is the right starting point, or whether you should join a level higher.
Call 62891 24658 or write to contact@lnsacademy.in. We are at 108, Majumder Para, 1 No Airport Gate, Kolkata 700079.
Full course details are on our French classes in Kolkata page. For free routes before you decide, read free vs paid French learning.
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Book Your Free Demo Class — Here Is How to Start
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