218. DELE C1 Reading Comprehension Test: Format, Tasks, and Expert Tips

Welcome DELEcasters!

This is Episode 218 in English, based on the original Spanish Episode #86. If you’d like to listen to it in Spanish, you can find it on my website deleexam.com, on Spotify, or on Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the first part of the DELE C1 written exam:
👉 The Reading Comprehension Test.

Let’s explore what to expect, how to prepare effectively, and my best exam-day strategies.

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🧠 What Is the DELE C1 Reading Comprehension Test?

The DELE C1 reading section assesses your ability to understand written texts in Spanish—including recognizing implicit meanings, attitudes, and intentions.

• ✍️ You’ll complete 5 tasks
• ⏱️ You’ll have 90 minutes
• 🧩 There are 40 questions in total

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🔍 General Tips for the DELE C1 Reading Test

Many of these tips also apply to the B2 reading section, but at C1, you’ll need even stronger comprehension and inference skills.

Before the Exam

1. Know the format. Understand the structure of the C1 reading test and how each task works.
2. Do timed mock tests. Practice full exams with a timer. Track your time and aim to improve your speed and focus.
3. Practice active reading. Read articles, essays, and academic texts in Spanish regularly. Focus on understanding tone, opinion, and complex vocabulary.
4. Expand your advanced vocabulary. This is key to identifying the correct answers. If you’re in my Vocabulary Club, use the vocab lists in each episode.
5. Use official practice exams. You’ll find sample tests in prep books and online. Get familiar with the types of texts and questions.
6. Target your weak points. Focus extra practice on the tasks you find most difficult.

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During the Exam

1. Read the entire text first. This gives you a general idea before diving into the questions.
2. Manage your time. Spend around 15–18 minutes per task, but adapt based on your strengths.
3. Understand each question. Make sure you know what’s being asked before scanning the text for the answer.
4. Mark question numbers in the text as you find relevant information.
5. Underline keywords and useful phrases—especially those that help you answer specific questions.
6. Think in context. Your answer should match the overall meaning of the text.
7. Make inferences. Sometimes the correct answer isn’t stated directly. Learn to spot paraphrases or implied ideas.
8. Guess if needed. Wrong answers do not subtract points, so it’s better to try than leave it blank.
9. Stick to the text. Don’t rely on personal knowledge—always answer based on what’s written.

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🧾 Breakdown of the DELE C1 Reading Tasks

✅ Task 1: Long Text with Multiple-Choice Questions

You’ll read a 650–750-word text (usually official or professional documents) and answer multiple-choice questions (items 1–6).

What you might see:

• Instructions
• Contracts
• Reports
• Policies or agreements

Tips:

• Stick to the 18-minute mark max. You can always review later.
• Get familiar with these types of documents so you can predict where to find key info.
• Read the questions first to guide your reading.
• If unsure, eliminate unlikely options to improve your chances.

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🧩 Task 2: Reordering Paragraphs

You’ll get a 550–650-word literary or narrative text with 6 missing fragments (items 7–12). You’ll receive 7 options (A–G)—one of which is extra.

Common texts include:

• Blog entries
• Travel journals
• Newspaper articles
• Short stories or plays

Skills tested:
Understanding structure, tone, and logical flow of a complex text.

Tips:

• Look for connectors, pronouns, verb tenses, and narrative voice (first/third person).
• Identify cause-effect relationships.
• If a paragraph confuses you, skip it and return later—other paragraphs might help.
• Read the full text again once completed to ensure logical flow.
• One fragment doesn’t belong—spot it by tone or content difference.

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📖 Task 3: Academic or Opinion Article with Multiple Choice

You’ll read a 550–650-word specialized article and answer 6 multiple-choice questions (items 13–18).

Text types include:

• Academic papers
• Essays
• Opinion pieces
• Magazine reports

Skills tested:
Identifying author opinions, implied meanings, and attitudes.

Tips:

• Read questions first.
• Highlight keywords and find synonyms or paraphrased versions in the text.
• This task requires nuance—practice distinguishing between explicit and implicit meaning.

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📚 Task 4: Match Short Texts with Statements

You’ll read 6 short academic texts (100–150 words each) and match them to 8 statements (items 19–26). Some texts will match more than once.

Text types:

• Conference summaries
• Research abstracts
• Thesis descriptions
• Bibliographic notes

Tips:

• Two of the texts must be used twice.
• Focus on specific and relevant information—avoid choosing vague or general content.
• As in other tasks, train yourself to recognize paraphrasing and different wording of the same idea.

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🧠 Task 5: Fill-in-the-Blank with Vocabulary and Grammar

You’ll read a 375–425-word academic or professional text and complete 14 gaps (items 27–40) by choosing the correct word or structure.

What’s tested:

• Connectors
• Verb tenses & moods (subjunctive/indicative)
• Collocations
• Lexical precision

Tips:

• Plan your time so you don’t rush this final task.
• Read the full text once for general understanding, then go back and choose your answers.
• Pay attention to the words around the gap—they often provide clues.
• Always read all three options (a/b/c) and eliminate the wrong ones.
• Watch out for connector + verb combinations and verb tense consistency.

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🎯 Final Notes on the DELE C1 Reading Test

• 📌 Total number of items: 40
• 🏆 Maximum score: 25 points

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🧭 Your Next Steps

Ready to practice? Here’s how to move forward:

• Explore advanced Spanish reading materials (blogs, opinion articles, research papers).
• Join my Vocabulary Club or check out deleexam.com for free resources.
• Want more help? My DELE C1 prep books and podcast episodes are packed with real examples and strategies.

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: