DELF B1 guide
DELF B1 listening (Compréhension de l’oral): format, question types and tips
The DELF B1 listening section lasts about 25 minutes and is marked out of 25. You hear three recordings — up to 6 minutes of audio in total — and each one is played twice. Two official formats exist: in one, every question is multiple choice; in the other, some questions need a short written answer.
Updated October 2026
What you hear
The three recordings are everyday or media French spoken at a natural pace. France Éducation International describes them as:
- a dialogue about an everyday situation, for example friends planning a party or a traveler talking about a trip;
- a radio show or recording on a work-related topic;
- a radio show or recording on an everyday topic, such as a report or an interview.
You cannot pause or replay a recording yourself. The first listening is for the general situation — who is speaking, where, about what — and the second for the details the questions ask about.
The two official formats
Both formats are used in official sessions, and you do not choose which one you get. France Éducation International states that neither format makes the exam easier or harder.
- What differs
- Recordings
- Format of sample paper 1
- 3, each played twice
- Format of sample paper 2
- 3, each played twice
- What differs
- Points in the sample paper
- Format of sample paper 1
- 7 + 9 + 9
- Format of sample paper 2
- 6 + 8 + 11
- What differs
- Questions
- Format of sample paper 1
- Multiple choice, three options
- Format of sample paper 2
- Multiple choice and short written answers
| What differs | Format of sample paper 1 | Format of sample paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Recordings | 3, each played twice | 3, each played twice |
| Points in the sample paper | 7 + 9 + 9 | 6 + 8 + 11 |
| Questions | Multiple choice, three options | Multiple choice and short written answers |
In the sample papers, questions are worth 1 to 2 points each. For written answers, spelling and grammar are not marked unless they seriously impair understanding, and the examiner accepts any rewording or answer consistent with the question.
How to approach each recording
- Before the recording: read every question and underline the key words. They tell you what to listen for — a place, a reason, an opinion.
- First listening: identify the situation and the speakers, and answer the questions you are sure about.
- Second listening: fill in the gaps and check the answers you were unsure about.
- Multiple choice: the wrong options often repeat words from the recording in a different sense. Choose by meaning, not by the word you recognize.
- Short written answers: a few words are enough. Write the information, not a full sentence, and never leave a question blank.
Qui ? — une personne, un métier, une relation (sa sœur, un collègue…)
Où ? — un lieu (à la gare, chez des amis…)
Quand ? — un moment, une date, une fréquence (le samedi, dans deux semaines…)
Pourquoi ? — une raison (parce que, car, à cause de, grâce à…)
Quel est l’avis de… ? — une opinion (il trouve que, elle regrette que, c’est dommage…)Common mistakes
- Trying to understand every word. At B1 the questions target the main information and clearly stated details.
- Answering from general knowledge instead of what the speaker says.
- Missing a change of mind: speakers often say « oui, mais… » or correct themselves, and the question often concerns the final decision.
- Spending too long on one question and missing the start of the next part of the recording.
How to practice
Train with recordings in exam conditions: two listenings, no pause, questions read beforehand. France Éducation International publishes a sample paper in each format with audio and answer key.