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The language tests for some people applying for French residency cards and citizenship are set to become more difficult after the government deemed the current requirements 鈥渋nsufficient to integrate鈥� foreigners into French life.

The tougher language tests are currently awaiting a government decree to come into effect - which must be published before January 1, 2026. 

Once that has happened the difficulty will effectively be one level higher (for those not exempt), meaning for renewable residency, people must show an A2 certificate and a B1 for long-term residency and B2 to qualify for French nationality.

Currently, applicants do not need to pass French language proficiency to obtain one-year residency and need an elementary A2 level for long-term residency and intermediate-level B1 for French nationality.

Check here to see if you will have to take the tougher language tests when they come into effect. For more information on what type of certificate you need see here.

How much harder is a B2 language test - my experience

The difference between B1 and B2 is not just having more fluidity in all aspects of the language. It is often graded very differently. 

American Peyman Pejman, who lives in Cannes, told The Connexion how he was surprised by his low score in the written part of the B2 - and asked the examiner to explain. He explains in his own words below:

I took my A2 exam (see here for examples of questions asked) when I applied for long-term residency and passed successfully with a high overall grade of about 80-some percent. By 2023 I was ready to apply for citizenship and sat down to take the B1 exam. Likewise, I passed with an overall grade of more than 80 percent.

To take a little diversion, I confess, somewhat embarrassingly, that I have never taken formal French language courses, except for a couple of beginner classes in the 鈥�90s. 

Everything I know, I have taught myself by reading grammar books, endless references to dictionaries to look up words, using online sites to learn verb conjugation, and listening to French-language news programs. 

I decided a few years ago that I was going to retire in France. I am an American and while, like so many other compatriots, am conflicted about what is going on these days, I have no intention of giving up my US nationality. Better to add than subtract, I tell myself.

I decided to work more seriously on my French skills. I 鈥渇elt鈥� that I was 鈥渂etter鈥� than B1 but needed proof, as much to myself as to the 鈥渟ystem.鈥� 

So, I studied with a proper book and CD, did all the exams and continued to do the other things I was doing. By the way, I also studied with the books for the A2 and B1 exams. I recommend them.

My disappointing exam results

The results of the B2 exams were an eye-opener, and this is where I hope I can share some useful tips and experiences.

I still passed the one-on-one oral presentation and reading comprehension with as good a grade as I had in the previous exams. 

My oral comprehension was low but that is because in the intervening years I have lost my hearing and could not really hear the soundtrack the examiners were playing in the large amphitheater-style room. 

I ticked the multiple-choice boxes somewhat (not completely) randomly and surprised myself by getting the minimum grade that I needed in the section.

The real surprise was in the writing test.

In the B1 exam, my grade for the production d'茅crit was 23/25. Imagine my surprise when the grade plummeted to 5/25 in B2! Still, I was pleased that I had passed the B2 as a whole so I was not going to argue.

Why I scored so low in the written test

I asked for a meeting, making it clear that I was not contesting the examiner鈥檚 judgement, just wanted to learn what I had done wrong so I could improve when time comes for C1.

This is where knowledge can be power, for those of you reading.

The examiners told me that in B1, it is acceptable to write the way you think or speak, as long as the grammar, vocabulary, and syntax are correct.

In B2, however, examiners judge a text based on how a French person would write it. In other words, you must be thinking like a French, having learned writing like a French. A tiny example:

If a real estate agent wants to bring someone to see your apartment, in English, they would say something like, 鈥淚 would like to confirm the meeting 鈥︹�� 

In French, it would likely be something like, 鈥淛e me permets de vous informer que 鈥︹�� The 鈥渓ogic鈥� or the 鈥渟yntax鈥� would not come easily unless one formally studied the language for an extended period of time.

So, for those of us wanting to integrate into the French society, be part of this country, have more French friends, feel easier to communicate with them 鈥搇et alone pass the required residency and citizenship test-- cutting corners, like I have been doing, might not be a good idea.

This is not to sound the alarm bells. Many of us, by virtue of having lived here for a while, have better inner skills than we give ourselves credit for. The most important thing is to want it.