How to prepare for level B1 of the DELE exam

If you are thinking of learning Spanish in Madrid, one of your main priorities should be to take the DELE exam. This exam certifies that you have the necessary level, that you have the knowledge and linguistic skills necessary to communicate and understand other people. It is becoming increasingly common for you to apply for jobs.

A first step to know your spanish level can be our online spanish test. If you want to go directly to how to prepare for the B1 DELE exam, read on.

So, let's see how you can prepare for level B1 of the DELE exam. As a tip, from Academia Contacto we recommend you to sign up for our DELE preparation course.

Level B1 of the DELE exam

The B1 Spanish diploma certifies that the student can:

  • Understand the main points of the texts, both oral and written, as long as they deal with known matters related to work, study or everyday life.
  • It can be used in most situations and contexts.
  • Can produce simple, coherent texts on familiar subjects of personal interest, such as experiences, wishes, plans, aspirations...

Structure of the DELE B1 exam

Test 1 is reading comprehension

It evaluates whether they know how to extract the main idea from a text, whether they know how to extract essential ideas and identify information from texts, locate specific information, reconstruct a text and identify and select grammatical structures.  

  • Task 1) Read nine short texts and relate six of them to the six short statements that correspond to them.
  • Task 2) Read a text and answer six questions with three answer options each.
  • Task 3) Read three texts and relate them to the questions.
  • Task 4) Read an incomplete text and select from the eight available fragments, the six that complete it.
  • Task 5) Read a text with six spaces. Choose one of the three options

The second test is a hearing compression test

It will observe whether the student knows how to grasp the main idea of a text, extract detailed information from a monologue, understand the main idea of an informative text, grasp the general idea of monologues, recognize specific information in informal conversations.

  • Task 1) the student will hear six short messages and must answer six questions. There will be three options.
  • Task 2) The student will have to listen to a monologue and answer six questions. He will have three options.
  • Task 3) The student will have to listen to six news items and answer six questions. He or she will have three choices.
  • Task 4) The student will have to listen to six monologues or short conversations. After that, he will have to relate it to the corresponding statements. There will be 9 available.
  • Task 5) The student will listen to a conversation and will have to relate the statements to the person expressing them.

The third test is written expression and interaction

It analyses whether the student is capable of writing a simple and cohesive informative text and whether he or she is capable of writing a descriptive or narrative text that expresses opinion and provides information of personal interest.

  • Task 1) The student will have to write a letter or a message in a forum, an email or a blog post. It must include a description or narration. It must be between 100 and 120 words long.
  • Task 2) The student will have to write a composition, essay, diary entry, biography... This must include description or narration and must present personal information and opinion. The candidate can choose between two options. It should be between 130 and 150 words long.

The fourth test is oral expression and interaction

In this part we will analyze if the student is able to make a presentation in which he gives his opinion, to participate in a conversation about a specific topic, to describe a photograph and answer questions about it, to participate in conversations of personal interest: to confirm an appointment, to make a return...

  • Task 1) The student will have to perform a brief monologue based on a topic or questions.
  • Task 2) The student will have to participate in a conversation with the interviewer.
  • Task 3) Make a short presentation from an image. Have a conversation about it with the interviewer.
  • Task 4) Participate in a conversation with the examiner that simulates a daily situation.

Each of the four parts is worth 25 points. We can help you prepare for the DELE Exam!

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