French A1 vs A2 2026: Difference, Difficulty & Which You Need

The French A1 vs A2 difference is one of the most common questions Indian students ask before starting their French language journey — and understanding it can save you months of confusion. Whether you're planning Canada PR, study in France, or simply building a multilingual career, you need to know exactly where you stand and where you're headed on the CEFR scale. At EEC, with 27+ years of experience and 50,000+ students placed globally, we offer a comprehensive French A1 course at ₹7,500 — Online Live with expert trainers. This guide breaks down the French A1 vs A2 difference across grammar, vocabulary, practical ability, exams, and immigration requirements — so you can choose the right starting point in 2026.

French A1 vs A2: Quick Comparison

The fundamental French A1 vs A2 difference comes down to depth. A1 (Découverte / Discovery) is where you learn to survive — introduce yourself, count, ask basic questions, and navigate extremely simple conversations. A2 (Survie / Survival) is where you begin to function — describe your daily routine, explain your background, handle transactions at a bank or post office, and communicate about familiar topics with some confidence. Think of it this way: at A1 you can order a coffee in Paris; at A2 you can explain to the waiter that you're allergic to dairy and ask for an alternative.

In terms of time investment, A1 requires roughly 60–100 hours of guided study (2–3 months at EEC), while reaching A2 takes a cumulative 150–200 hours (4–6 months). This means A2 is not a separate course that starts from scratch — it builds directly on A1. Every A2 grammar concept, vocabulary set, and communicative skill assumes you have already mastered A1. That's why the CEFR framework is sequential, and skipping A1 is never recommended.

What You Can Do at A1 vs A2

The practical French A1 vs A2 difference becomes clear when you look at real-life situations. At A1, your abilities are limited to the most basic interactions — but they form the essential building blocks. At A2, you gain enough independence to handle everyday life in a French-speaking environment without constant help.

A1 — What You Can Do

At the A1 level, you can introduce yourself and others, state your name, age, nationality, and profession, ask and answer simple personal questions ("Où habitez-vous?", "Quelle est votre profession?"), understand very simple written announcements, signs, and menus, fill in basic forms (hotel check-in, registration), count, tell the time, and use survival phrases like ordering food or asking for directions. You interact provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly.

A2 — What You Can Do

At A2, you can describe your daily routine, education, and work experience, handle routine transactions at a bank, shop, or post office, write short messages (emails, postcards), understand the main points of short radio or TV announcements, describe past events using the past tense ("J'ai voyagé à Lyon hier"), make simple comparisons ("Paris est plus grand que Lyon"), and communicate in predictable social situations like meeting someone new or making a complaint. You still need the other person to cooperate, but you can sustain a short conversation.

“A1 teaches you to survive. A2 teaches you to function. Together, they build the foundation for B1-B2, where you truly become independent in French.”

— EEC French Expert, Language Training Specialist

Grammar at A1 vs A2

Grammar is where the French A1 vs A2 difference becomes most measurable. A1 grammar is intentionally limited — you learn just enough structure to form basic sentences. A2 grammar introduces complexity that allows you to talk about the past, make comparisons, and use pronouns to avoid repetition.

As you can see, A2 grammar roughly doubles the complexity of what you learned at A1. The passé composé alone — learning to conjugate with both avoir and être, mastering past participle agreement — is a significant step up. This is precisely why a solid A1 foundation matters so much. Students who rush through A1 or try to skip it often struggle badly with A2 grammar because they haven't automated the basics.

Which Level Do You Need?

The answer to "which level do I need?" depends entirely on your goal. Here is a decision framework that covers the most common paths for Indian students:

Canada PR (Express Entry / PNP)

For Canada immigration, you need TEF Canada or TCF Canada at NCLC 5–7+ to earn CRS bonus points — that's roughly B1–B2 level. But you start at A1. The pathway is A1 → A2 → B1 → B2 → TEF/TCF exam. French bilingualism can add up to 50 CRS points to your profile — a massive advantage. Use the EEC CRS Calculator to see the impact.

Study in France

For studying in France, requirements vary. English-taught programs often require only A1–A2 French (plus IELTS or PTE for English). French-taught programs require B2 minimum. Campus France looks favourably upon any DELF certification, even A1.

Quebec Immigration

Quebec has its own immigration programs and requires B2 minimum in French for most pathways. This is well beyond A1 or A2, but you must start at A1 and build sequentially. Students targeting Quebec should plan 12–18 months of French study from A1 to B2. See our detailed guide on French for Quebec immigration (PEQ & QSWP) for the complete requirements. You can also explore Belgium as a Francophone study destination, and use the CRS calculator to see how French proficiency transforms your immigration profile.

Can You Skip A1?

No — you cannot and should not skip A1. The CEFR is a sequential framework by design. A2 grammar, vocabulary, and communicative competence all assume complete mastery of A1. There is no placement test that lets you "test out" of A1 and begin at A2 — and even if there were, doing so would leave dangerous gaps in your foundation.

Some students who speak other Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) may feel A1 is "easy" due to similarities. Even so, French A1 introduces French-specific phonetics, spelling conventions, and grammar patterns (nasal vowels, silent letters, liaison) that don't exist in other Romance languages. Skipping A1 means skipping these fundamentals — and they will haunt you at A2 and beyond.

For Indian students with no prior exposure to French or other European languages, A1 is absolutely non-negotiable. The French A1 course at EEC is specifically designed for complete beginners from Hindi, Gujarati, and other Indian language backgrounds. The ₹7,500 investment in A1 is the smartest decision you can make — it sets the trajectory for everything that follows.

DELF A1 vs DELF A2 Exam Comparison

If you plan to certify your level with a DELF exam, here is how DELF A1 and DELF A2 compare. Both are issued by the French Ministry of Education with lifetime validity — unlike TEF and TCF, which expire after 2 years.

The exam structure is identical — 4 sections, each worth 25 marks, pass at 50/100. The difference is entirely in content difficulty. DELF A2 listening passages are longer and faster, reading texts are more complex (short articles vs simple signs), writing requires you to compose messages rather than just fill forms, and speaking demands sustained conversation rather than rehearsed responses. For Indian students, the biggest jump is typically in listening — A2 audio is noticeably faster than A1.

EEC Offers French A1 at ₹7,500 — Your Starting Point

At EEC, we teach French A1 Online Live for ₹7,500 — small batches, expert trainers, and a curriculum designed specifically for Indian students. Whether your end goal is Canada PR, France admission, or building a multilingual career, A1 is where your journey begins. With 27+ years of experience and 50,000+ students placed globally, EEC is India's most trusted coaching institute for French and international exam preparation.

Our French A1 course covers all CEFR A1 competencies: present tense conjugation, articles, basic negation, numbers, introductions, daily life vocabulary, and simple listening and reading skills. After completing A1 at EEC, you'll have the foundation to either certify with DELF A1 or progress directly to A2 — and eventually to TEF/TCF for Canada CRS points. Pair French with IELTS or CELPIP preparation for maximum immigration advantage.

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