Hello DELEcasters!
This episode is based on episode 78 in Spanish, which you can listen to or read on my website DELEexam.com, on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Today I’m going to walk you through the first written test in the DELE B2 exam:
👉 The Reading Comprehension Test.
This part of the exam evaluates your ability to understand written texts in Spanish. It has 4 tasks, and you have 70 minutes in total to complete them all.
General Tips for the Whole Reading Test
Let’s start with some overall strategies:
- 🕒 Do full mock exams and time yourself to see how long you take. Keep track of your progress!
- 📌 Many students spend too much time on Task 1, then rush through the rest. Try to allocate 15–20 minutes per task, but adapt based on your strengths.
- 🧠 Practice with a variety of sample exams so you get used to the format. The task types don’t change—only the texts do!
- 📚 Focus more on the tasks you find difficult.
- ❌ There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so if you don’t know, guess!
- ❓ Read the questions before reading the text—this helps you spot the key information faster.
- 🔍 The correct answer is often a paraphrase of a phrase in the text. All parts of the answer must be correct—not just one.
- 🧾 Don’t use your personal knowledge to answer. Base everything on the text only.
- ✏️ Underline phrases that match each question. Write the question number next to them in the text.
Task 1: Multiple-Choice Questions on a Long Text
You’ll read a text of about 450 words, usually from a public or professional context, and answer 6 multiple-choice questions (items 1–6, options a/b/c).
Tips for Task 1
- ✅ Read the questions and answer options first to focus on what to look for.
- 📖 Practice with synonym or definition exercises—questions often reword things from the text.
- 🕐 If you’re running out of time, mark your best guess—no negative marking!
Task 2: Matching Questions with Personal Texts
You’ll read 4 short texts (around 150 words each), written in a personal tone, where people share experiences, opinions, or anecdotes.
Then, you’ll answer 10 questions (items 7–16) like “Who says that…?”, and match them to the texts (A, B, C, D).
Tips for Task 2
- 👀 All texts talk about the same topic, so pay close attention to key words or ideas.
- ✏️ Read the questions first and underline keywords. Then do the same with the texts. Look for matches.
- 🔁 Watch for synonyms and paraphrasing in the texts and questions.
- 🎭 Pay attention to the speaker’s intent—sometimes sentences have a double meaning.
- 🧩 If you’re unsure, underline key phrases in both the question and the texts and look for connections.
Task 3: Reordering Paragraphs in a Text
You’ll be given a text with six missing sections (items 17–22) and eight possible fragments (A–H). That means two extra fragments that don’t fit.
Tips for Task 3
- 🔍 The two incorrect options often seem to fit but are slightly off-topic or have a different tone.
- 🔗 Pay attention to connectors, pronouns, and transition words that link ideas. For example, if the text refers to something feminine, the next part should match in gender.
- 🧠 If you’re stuck on one paragraph, skip it and return later—another fragment might help.
- 📖 Once you’ve placed all the pieces, reread the whole text to make sure it flows naturally.
- 🍀 Don’t leave any blanks—guess if needed. You might get lucky!
Task 4: Grammar and Vocabulary Cloze Text
You’ll read a text of about 400–450 words, with 14 blanks (items 23–36). For each blank, choose the correct option (a/b/c). The texts are usually from public, academic, or professional sources, like blogs or newspaper articles.
This task is the most grammar-heavy in the entire exam. You might be tested on:
- Prepositions
- Indefinite adjectives
- Verb tenses (including all subjunctive forms)
- Ser vs. estar (Spanish usage)
- Pronouns
- Past tenses (especially pretérito perfecto: he hablado, has visto, etc.)
Tips for Task 4
- 🧭 If you’ve managed your time well, you should have enough time left—plan for this.
- 🧠 If possible, read the entire text once for context, then go back and choose your answers.
- The title can help you understand the general topic.
- ❌ Wrong answers do not subtract points, so always mark something!
- 🔎 Always read all three options—you can often eliminate two easily.
- 🧩 Look closely at the words before and after each blank. That can help you spot what’s missing (a verb, connector, adjective, etc.).
Final Thoughts
📚 The Reading Comprehension Test is all about strategy, attention to detail, and a solid understanding of vocabulary and grammar.
Don’t forget:
- Practice timing.
- Learn to recognize paraphrasing.
- Trust the text—not your background knowledge.
And remember: even native speakers make mistakes when rushing. Stay calm, and you’ll do great.
And, if you want to prepare for the DELE exam, at any level or study Spanish language , you can contact me through this CONTACT FORM:
Prepara el DELE conmigo
Cursos DELE en grupo o clases individuales online
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Soy examinadora acreditada por el Instituto Cervantes de todos los niveles del DELE: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 y C2.