Test your French level for free, in 2 minutes

Answer 3 questions out loud and measure your real level on the official European scale (CEFR, A1 to C2). Find the one thing to work on to get your French moving.

Start the free test (2 min)
  • 100% free
  • No credit card
  • Instant result

Your result, two minutes from now

You thought

B1

Intermediate

You are

B2

Upper intermediate

The breakdown

Grammar
B2
Vocabulary
B2
Flow
B1
Pronunciation
B1
Pace
A2
A sample result. Yours will depend on what you say.

How it goes

3 very quick steps. Under 2 minutes, timed.

  1. Make your call

    Pick the sentence that best describes the level you're at today. It's the starting point for measuring the gap between how you feel and where you actually are.

  2. Speak out loud

    Answer 3 simple questions with your voice. Recording stops on its own (20 s for the first question, 40 s for the next two).

  3. Get your detailed report

    See your estimated level on the CEFR scale (A1 to C2) and the breakdown of your skills. You'll know exactly what's holding you back (B2 grammar but an A2 pace, say).

Your result

A full report you can act on straight away

Your estimated CEFR level, the gap with your own guess, and the one piece of advice that gets your speaking moving.

Your grammar is ahead of your speaking. It's the most common thing to get stuck on, and practice is all it takes to clear it.

What level do you give yourself in French?

The scale

The 6 levels, explained without the jargon

We use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the official A1 to C2 standard. Here is what each level looks like in practice, the moment you speak:

  • Beginner

    A1

    I know a few words and set phrases, but I can't hold a real conversation yet.

  • Elementary

    A2

    I get by in simple everyday situations (ordering, asking for directions), as long as I can speak slowly.

  • Intermediate

    B1

    I get through everyday exchanges, but I still hunt for words and I avoid anything too complicated.

  • Upper intermediate

    B2

    I'm comfortable talking about almost anything, work included, and I can express and defend an opinion.

  • Advanced

    C1

    I speak fluently and spontaneously without hunting for words, even on subjects I barely know.

  • Bilingual

    C2

    I speak as naturally as in my own language, catching every nuance, every bit of irony and humour.

Why test speaking?

Understanding a language is one thing. Speaking it is another.

You probably follow most of what you read and hear, but the moment you have to speak, the words jam? That's true of 80% of learners.

The usual tests measure what you know about the language.

This spoken test measures what you can actually say in it.

In 2 minutes you find out the gap between your level on paper and what you can really get across.

The method

How this 2-minute estimate works

A quick read of your speaking, against the CEFR grid.

  1. 5 skills, each looked at on its own

    Fluency, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and pace: every one is graded separately. Your overall level comes out of those 5 pillars, so you can see exactly what to work on.

  2. An impartial AI, working from the CEFR

    Your recording is transcribed, then analysed by an AI trained on the official descriptors of the European framework. Your own guess is never passed to it: the assessment stays neutral.

  3. Why 2 minutes is enough

    You don't need a 3-hour exam to find out where you stand. 3 targeted questions (an off-the-cuff answer, a story in the past, an argument) and under 2 minutes out loud are enough for a faithful picture of your real level.

This tool gives an indicative estimate. It is not an official certifying exam such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Common questions

We answer your most common questions

Is it really free?

Yes, 100% free and no card. Estimating your level and the detailed breakdown skill by skill cost you nothing.

Does the test accept Québécois French?

Yes, and it accepts Belgian, Swiss and West African French alongside Parisian. The grader is told which varieties are standard before it hears you, so a Montreal accent or a Québécois turn of phrase costs you nothing.

How is this different from the DELF or the TEF?

The DELF and the TEF are official exams, with a centre, a date and a fee, and immigration files accept them. This is a free estimate of your speaking level alone, in two minutes. Plenty of people use it to decide whether they're ready to book one of those, and if you're after CLB 7 in French for Canada, that page goes through the threshold in detail.

Will French pronunciation drag my level down?

Pronunciation is one of five skills graded separately, so an accent shows up in its own line rather than pulling the whole letter down. What is graded is whether you're understood without effort, not whether you sound French.

How accurate is the AI speaking assessment?

It's a carefully built teaching estimate, based on the CEFR criteria. It doesn't replace an official exam for an immigration or university file, but it's ideal for an honest picture and for knowing exactly what to work on.

Do I get an official certificate?

No. An official diploma (TOEIC, DELF, DELE) needs an approved exam centre, a supervised session and a fee. This test has another job: giving you an instant, free read on your speaking in under 2 minutes.

What is a B2 speaking level?

B2 means you speak comfortably about most subjects, work included, and you can defend an opinion without preparing your sentences in advance. You still make mistakes, but they don't get in the way of being understood.

How long does the online speaking test take?

Under 2 minutes of recording. Counting the language you pick and your guess at the start, count on 3 minutes flat.

What do I need to take the test?

A web browser and a microphone: the one in your phone or your earbuds is plenty. Somewhere quiet where you can speak out loud undisturbed is ideal.

Can I take the test on my phone?

Yes, perfectly. Most people take it straight from their phone.

I'm a beginner, is it worth it?

Absolutely. The first question is deliberately easy so that everyone can say something. You can also show the instructions in your own language if you need to.

Which languages can I test?

English, Spanish and French (the three languages PalVivo runs in today).

What happens to my recording?

Your recording is only used to produce your analysis. It is deleted from our servers as soon as your result exists, or after 7 days at the most if you never come and get it. To run that analysis, the audio is sent to Google's Gemini AI. As part of its AI services, Google processes that clip and may use it anonymously to train and improve its speech technologies. Either way, your clip is never sold and never made public: your results stay strictly private, unless you choose to share them yourself.

What happens after the test?

Your results are saved. All you have to do is confirm when you're free, about a minute, and PalVivo matches you with a native partner and books your first 30 or 60 minute session. You can also share your result and dare your friends to find out their real speaking level.

What now?

Knowing your level is good. Moving it is better.

Your report shows you exactly what is holding you back. The only thing that gets your speaking moving is practising regularly, for real, without being afraid of getting it wrong.

That is exactly what PalVivo is for: easy conversations with native speakers who are learning your language.

Create a PalVivo accountSee how it works

So, what level do you give yourself?

Two minutes to find out whether you're right.

What level do you give yourself in French?

Which language do you want to test?