French language tests
Parlez-vous français? A French-speaking role connects your team to a francophone market of more than 300 million. But to land top candidates, you must thoroughly test French proficiency early on in the hiring process.
TestGorilla's suite of French language tests helps you assess proficiency quickly, reliably, and bias-free – across levels B1, B2, and C1 – ensuring your next hire meets your role's communication standards.
Why test French proficiency?
Greater collaboration: Employees communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Fewer faux pas, more accuracy.
Improved business outcomes: Teams produce higher-quality work with well-communicated delivery and feedback at role-specific proficiency levels.
Next-level candidates: Select appropriate French-speaking candidates before the phone and interview screenings stages.
Bias-free assessments: Remove subjectivity and assess French skills with expert-vetted language tests.
More consistent screening: Standardized tests adhering to the CEFR framework help you rank candidates fairly and reliably across hiring cycles.
When to use French proficiency tests
Use French language proficiency tests when your employees must:
Regularly communicate with team members in French, but aren't native speakers themselves.
Report to a French-speaking management team, requiring clarity and accuracy.
Engage with customers at various proficiency levels in French, particularly in areas such as customer service or project management.
Work remotely with French-speaking international partners, showing cultural and linguistic nuance.
Produce written work at appropriate French proficiency levels, such as email newsletters, legal documents, and presentations.
Measuring French proficiency across levels
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a system that measures language proficiency on a six-point scale, from complete beginner (A1) to highly advanced (C2). It covers multiple languages, including French. This standardized assessment system helps businesses compare employee language levels fairly and consistently.
Broadly, at each CEFR language level, employees can:
A1 (Beginner)
Give and understand basic instructions such as directions and quantities. Use short, basic sentences, and hold minimal-level communication with colleagues and clients.
A2 (Elementary)
Handle basic business communication in familiar situations. Understand clear, simple instructions and communicate high-level updates and issues. Execute routine tasks such as reading and answering short emails without assistance.
Learn more about A2 language proficiency
B1 (Intermediate)
Communicate common problems and procedures to different audience types. Express opinions, ask for clarifications, and contribute to meetings. Write standard work emails and reports.
Learn more about B1 language proficiency
B2 (Intermediate)
Manage more in-depth stakeholder conversations, such as gathering project requirements. Grasp a broader vocabulary and grammatical range in both written and spoken French. Comfortably provide richer detail in role-specific conversations, documents, and emails.
Learn more about B2 language proficiency
C1 (Advanced)
Deliver complex oral presentations, negotiations, and team reports. Adequately describe wider organizational goals and processes, such as strategy, targets, and workflows. Adjust communication to different audience groups and understand subtle verbal cues.
Learn more about C1 language proficiency
C2 (Advanced)
Communicate fluently and precisely in French in any professional context. Handle high-stakes communications (such as PR messages). Coordinate cross-departmental projects, lead meetings, and work confidently with different personality types and seniority levels.Â
Learn more about C2 language proficiency
Key skills assessed in French proficiency tests
Our French language proficiency assessments evaluate four main skill areas:
Grammar and vocabulary: Use correct grammar, such as conjugation and tenses, and choose context-appropriate wording.
Sentence composition: Combine French words and phrases into coherent, conversational sentences.
Reading comprehension: Extract the meaning and nuance from written text.
Listening comprehension: Understand oral communication in different French accents, at level-appropriate speeds.
You can also add custom video questions to record and assess candidates' French speaking skills.
What roles require French proficiency?
Here are some roles requiring French language proficiency:Â
International partnership manager
A B2 in French enables everyday communications such as updates and partnership renewals, whereas C1 skills support negotiations, pitching, and market research.
Advertising manager
Creating ad campaigns in francophone markets requires at least a B2 in French. C1 and C2 French skills help further segment and target different French-speaking regions and cultures.
Customer service representative
A B1-level rep can understand and answer basic queries on email and live chat. B2 skills enable effective phone support, while C1 may be needed for complex issues such as complaints or billing/technical problems.
Receptionist
An A2-level receptionist can greet visitors and provide basic guidance, whereas a B1 and above may support more complex tasks such as coordinating building security, cleaning, and bookings.
French language tests for every skill level
French B1 (Intermediate)
French B2 (Upper Intermediate)
French C1 (Advanced)
Designed and reviewed by French experts
TestGorilla’s French language assessments are crafted and peer-reviewed by French language experts to ensure test accuracy across professional backgrounds.
Lucille is a scholar of French linguistics and grammar with an educational background. She's passionate about widening access to French learning materials and developing online tests, self-assessments, audiobooks, and tailored classes.
Rachel has been teaching French for more than 20 years in countries including Canada, Luxembourg, and the UK. She teaches across the spectrum from A1 to C1. Rachel also translates from English to French and proofreads French writing.
French language tests FAQs
Get started with French testingÂ
Ready to find fluent French-speaking candidates? Start by picking the right French proficiency level (B1, B2, or C1) – then complete your assessment with cognitive ability, technical, or job-related skills tests for a holistic screening process.