How to Prepare for the DELE B2 in 3 Months: An Examiner’s Plan

If you have registered for the exam and you are wondering how to prepare for the DELE B2 in 3 months, the short answer is: yes, it is possible, as long as you already have a solid B1 base and follow a plan. As an official DELE and SIELE examiner, I see that the candidates who pass are not always the ones who study the most hours. They are the ones who know the exam, train each test with the right technique and arrive with a clear head.

In this article I share the plan I follow with my students: what the exam looks like, what to work on each month and the mistakes I see most often when I mark.

What the DELE B2 exam looks like

The DELE B2 has four tests. The first three take place on the same day, and the speaking test is usually on a different day (before or after). Always check your exam summons.

How you pass the DELE B2

The maximum score is 100 points, and the tests are grouped in pairs:

• Group 1: reading comprehension + written expression and interaction (maximum 50 points).
• Group 2: listening comprehension + oral expression and interaction (maximum 50 points).

To get an “Apto” (pass) you need at least 30 points in each group. The groups do not compensate for each other: a very high score in reading and writing will not save a weak speaking test. That is why your plan has to cover all four skills, not just your favourite ones.

Before you start: are 3 months enough?

Three months is realistic if you are already comfortable at B1 level and what you need is to consolidate B2 and learn how to do the exam. If you still struggle to talk about the past or to use the subjunctive, you will need more time.

My advice: do a complete mock exam on day one, with real timing. It will show you where you are and which group worries you most. You can download free sample exams from the Instituto Cervantes exams website.

Month 1: diagnosis and a solid base in grammar and vocabulary

The first month is for building the foundations. Don’t worry about exam technique yet.

• Key B2 grammar: the subjunctive (present and imperfect), conditional sentences, reported speech, past tenses, por vs para and ser and estar.
• Connectors: learn to organise your ideas with sin embargo, por lo tanto, en cambio, aunque, siempre y cuando… (here is a summary of conditional connectors).
• Vocabulary by topic: work, health, the environment, technology, education, housing and leisure come up very often.
• A daily routine: 45 minutes a day is better than five hours on Saturday.

Month 2: technique for each test

In the second month you train how to answer each task. Practise one part at a time, with a timer.

Reading comprehension

• Read the questions first and then the text, so you know what information to look for.
• Watch the clock: about 15–20 minutes per task. If a question gets you stuck, move on and come back at the end.
• Wrong answers do not lose points: never leave a question blank.

Listening comprehension

• Use the time before each recording to read the questions and underline key words.
• Listen to Spanish radio, podcasts and interviews with different accents.
• After practising, read the transcript and listen again: it is the best way to train your ear.

Written expression and interaction

• In task 1 you write a text (for example, a letter or an email) based on a recording: take notes while you listen.
• In task 2 you choose between two options, such as an opinion article or a review: choose the one that lets you use your vocabulary best.
• Respect the word count, cover every point the task asks for and use the right register (formal or informal).
• Prepare a fixed structure: introduction, development with connectors and conclusion.

Oral expression and interaction

• In task 1 you assess several proposals on a topic and give your opinion; in task 2 you describe a situation based on a photograph; in task 3 you talk about the data from a survey or a short text.
• Use the 20 minutes of preparation well: write down ideas and connectors, but don’t write a full text to read out.
• Practise out loud with someone who asks you questions and interrupts you, as the examiner will.

Month 3: mock exams and fine-tuning

• Do one complete mock exam a week with real timing, no dictionary and no phone.
• After each mock exam, write your mistakes in a list and review it every day.
• Ask someone to correct your writing and your speaking: without feedback, we keep repeating the same errors.
• In the last week, don’t learn anything new. Here is what to do the week before your DELE exam.

An example study week

The most common mistakes in the DELE B2

When I mark, these are the mistakes I see again and again:

1. Not answering everything the writing task asks for: if it asks for three things, you need to cover all three.
2. Memorising a text for the speaking test: examiners notice immediately, and it hides your real level.
3. Poor time management in reading comprehension, leaving the last task unfinished.
4. Using the wrong register: writing a complaint in a very informal tone, or the other way round.
5. Only preparing your favourite skills and forgetting that the two groups are passed separately.

Want to prepare for the DELE B2 with an examiner?

My students pass because we work on the exam exactly as it is assessed. For example, Jenny went from DELE A2 to DELE B2 in 6 months preparing with me.

If you want a plan adapted to your level and your exam date, book your free trial class or find out more about my DELE & SIELE exam preparation.

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