The C1 level is challenging and the DALF exam is a C1-C2 level exam. Start practicing months before- yes, that's right, months, not days. Tip#2 Manage your time and set aside regular study sessions.
C1, your French CEFR level is “advanced”
You can express yourself spontaniously and fluently. Your use of French is efficient and flexible in all areas of your life: professionnal, social, accademic. You can speak about just about anything, including complex topics in a well structured way.
C1 level: 700 to 800 hours of learning. At this level, you might be able to communicate in most situations, being fluent in French. C2 level: 1000 to 1200 hours of learning. This level is focused on mastering the language, making you able to communicate in really specific situations and fields of study.
SKILLS AT LEVEL C1
He/she can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for the right expression. He/she can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
C1 – Advanced or Effective Operational Proficiency: When a French language learner acquires this level of CEFR he becomes proficient a user. Here, he can: Understand a wide variety of high demanding longer texts and conversations, and recognize implicit meaning.
C1 English (Advanced)
Level C1 corresponds to users who can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. They can use language flexibly and effectively for all purposes.
C1 and C2 French Levels
Communication is fluent, appropriate and well organized—you develop ideas in speech clearly and coherently.
The C1 level would allow for full autonomy in a native English-speaking country. According to the official CEFR guidelines, someone at the C1 level in English: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning.
The highest level on the CEFR scale is C1, which is close to the level of English proficiency of native speakers.
A well-educated native English speaker is technically at a C2 level. Relatively few English learners reach this level because their professional or academic goals do not require it.
The exam is exhausting, difficult and really tests your English level. If you are not a true C1 level English student with the right strategies, you won't pass. For this reason, don't take the test if you are not sure about your level or if your teacher advises against it.
On the CEFR, French C1 means you can understand longer and challenging texts, speak fluently without searching for words and expressions, and understand implicit meanings. The advanced C1 student is also able to use French for business and academic purposes.
The main difference between the two tests is the level of English that they allow you to achieve. C1 Advanced is targeted at the C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), while C2 is targeted at the C2 CEFR level. C2 Proficiency is therefore the more difficult of the two exams.
B2 is the level where a student is considered fluent since their knowledge is advanced but not proficient.
B1 is synonymous with good language skills. B2 is synonymous with very good/fluent language skills. C1 is synonymous with business fluent language skills. C2 is synonymous with (almost) native language level.
Candidates who have secured a C1 Advanced grade C, having scored between 180 and 192 on the Cambridge English Scale, are at Level C1 of the CEFR and can be expected to be comparable in ability with candidates who have secured 6.5 or 7.0 in IELTS.
English test C2 (Proficiency)
Can express themself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
In summary, C2 level is considered the highest level of proficiency in the CEFR framework, and it's considered as a near-native speaker level of proficiency, but not equivalent to the proficiency of a native speaker.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has six levels, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for users who are proficient in the language.
A native speaker's language is their first language. This usually means that it dominated their youth and is therefore the language they do their thinking in (though there are some exceptions). A native speaker is more than fluent — they correctly and easily use their first language.
Overall, the hardest thing about learning French is oral comprehension (listening). This is due to variations in vernacular, the urgency of listening, our brains' resistance to the spoken word, and silent letters.
French is a Category I language, so it's relatively easy to learn for native English speakers. It will take approximately 580 hours or 23 weeks of study to reach complete French fluency.
Duolingo French, despite their claims, is best for beginners. It will help users with A1/A2 competency if used as part of a broader learning program. B1/B2 level learners may find Duolingo helpful to test themselves and keep their language circuits firing at opportune moments.