You've reached the end of B2
Congratulations on making it this far! This final chapter brings everything together. You'll review key grammar, practise exam-style tasks, assess your own strengths and weaknesses, and learn strategies for tackling the DELE B2 exam if you choose to take it.
What is the DELE B2?
The Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) B2 is an internationally recognised certificate issued by the Instituto Cervantes. It proves you can:
- Understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics.
- Interact with native speakers fluently and spontaneously.
- Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
- Explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving advantages and disadvantages.
Exam structure
| Section | Tasks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 4 tasks (36 items) | 70 minutes |
| Listening comprehension | 5 tasks (30 items) | 40 minutes |
| Written expression | 2 tasks (letter/essay + opinion piece) | 80 minutes |
| Oral expression | 3 tasks (presentation, photo description, conversation) | 20 minutes + 20 min preparation |
Reading strategies
| Strategy | How to apply it |
|---|---|
| Skim first | Read the whole text quickly before looking at the questions. Get the general idea. |
| Key words | Underline key words in the questions, then scan the text for them (or synonyms). |
| Context clues | Don't panic about unknown words. Use the surrounding sentence to infer meaning. |
| Eliminate options | In multiple choice, cross out obviously wrong answers first. |
| Watch for traps | Answers that repeat exact words from the text are often distractors. Look for paraphrases. |
Writing strategies
Structure your writing
| Section | What to include | Useful phrases |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | State the topic and your position | En la actualidad... / Hoy en día... / El objetivo de este texto es... |
| Body 1 | First argument with evidence | En primer lugar... / Por un lado... / Cabe destacar que... |
| Body 2 | Second argument or counterpoint | Por otro lado... / Sin embargo... / No obstante... |
| Conclusion | Summarise and give your final opinion | En conclusión... / En definitiva... / A mi modo de ver... |
Common writing mistakes to avoid
- Ser / Estar confusion - review Chapter 5 of A1 if needed.
- Subjunctive omission - after quiero que, es importante que, antes de que, you must use the subjunctive.
- Gender disagreement - el problema (masculine), la mano (feminine). Check nouns you're unsure about.
- Accent marks - they change meaning: si (if) vs. sí (yes), el (the) vs. él (he).
- Register mixing - don't use tú in a formal letter. Keep register consistent throughout.
Speaking strategies
| Challenge | Strategy | Example phrase |
|---|---|---|
| You don't understand | Ask for clarification | ¿Podría repetir la pregunta, por favor? |
| You need time to think | Use filler phrases | Bueno, es una pregunta interesante... / A ver, creo que... |
| You forget a word | Paraphrase | Es decir... / O sea... / Me refiero a... |
| You want to self-correct | Correct naturally | Bueno, mejor dicho... / Quiero decir... |
| You need to organise ideas | Use discourse markers | En primer lugar... Además... Por último... |
Self-assessment checklist
Rate yourself honestly on each skill. Mark each as confident, need practice, or need to review:
| Skill area | Can you... | Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| Past subjunctive | Use -ra and -se forms correctly in hypothetical sentences? | B2 Ch. 1 |
| Conditionals | Form all three types of if-clauses accurately? | B2 Ch. 2 |
| Advanced subjunctive | Use the subjunctive after conjunctions like antes de que, para que, aunque? | B2 Ch. 3 |
| Register | Switch between formal and informal Spanish appropriately? | B2 Ch. 4 |
| Idioms | Understand and use common idiomatic expressions? | B2 Ch. 5 |
| Passive constructions | Choose correctly between ser + participle, se pasivo, and impersonal se? | B2 Ch. 6 |
| Persuasion | Build a structured argument with concessions and connectors? | B2 Ch. 7 |
| Literature | Discuss and analyse a literary extract using appropriate vocabulary? | B2 Ch. 8 |
| Complex sentences | Use lo que, el cual, cuyo, and nominalisation? | B2 Ch. 9 |
Consolidation practice
This mixed exercise tests grammar from across the B2 course. Choose the correct option:
- Si yo ________ (tener) más tiempo, viajaría más.
a) tengo b) tuviera c) tenga - Me pidió que le ________ (ayudar) con el informe.
a) ayudo b) ayude c) ayudara - ________ se habla español en muchos países.
a) Se b) Es c) Lo - Lo que más me ________ (preocupar) es el cambio climático.
a) preocupa b) preocupe c) preocupara - La ley, ________ fue aprobada en 2020, cambió el sistema.
a) que b) la cual c) cuya - Fue María ________ descubrió el problema.
a) que b) la que c) quien
Answers
- b) tuviera - Type 2 conditional (unlikely/hypothetical) requires past subjunctive.
- c) ayudara - Pedir que triggers subjunctive; past context requires imperfect subjunctive.
- a) Se - Impersonal se for general statements.
- a) preocupa - Lo que + indicative when stating a fact (no doubt or desire).
- b) la cual - Formal relative pronoun after a comma (non-restrictive clause).
- c) quien - Cleft sentence: fue... quien to emphasise the person.
Dialogue: a mock speaking exam
Examinador: Hoy vamos a hablar sobre el impacto de la tecnología en la educación. Tiene dos minutos para presentar su opinión.
Candidata: Bueno, en primer lugar, creo que la tecnología ha transformado la educación de manera muy positiva. Lo que más destaca es el acceso a la información: hoy en día cualquier persona puede aprender casi cualquier cosa a través de internet.
Candidata: Sin embargo, hay que tener en cuenta que no todo es positivo. Por un lado, la brecha digital sigue siendo un problema. No todas las familias tienen acceso a ordenadores o conexión a internet. Por otro lado, el uso excesivo de pantallas puede afectar a la concentración.
Candidata: En conclusión, si bien es verdad que la tecnología ofrece oportunidades extraordinarias, sería mejor que se invirtiera más en formar a los profesores y en garantizar que todos los alumnos tengan los mismos recursos.
Examinador: Muy bien. ¿Podría darnos un ejemplo concreto de cómo la tecnología ha mejorado su propio aprendizaje?
Candidata: Por supuesto. Yo estoy aprendiendo español precisamente a través de una plataforma en línea. Lo que más me ha ayudado es poder practicar a mi propio ritmo, algo que no sería posible en una clase presencial tradicional.
Translation
Examiner: Today we're going to talk about the impact of technology on education. You have two minutes to present your opinion.
Candidate: Well, firstly, I believe that technology has transformed education in a very positive way. What stands out most is access to information: nowadays anyone can learn almost anything through the internet.
Candidate: However, we must bear in mind that not everything is positive. On one hand, the digital divide remains a problem. Not all families have access to computers or an internet connection. On the other hand, excessive screen use can affect concentration.
Candidate: In conclusion, while it's true that technology offers extraordinary opportunities, it would be better if more were invested in training teachers and ensuring that all students have the same resources.
Examiner: Very good. Could you give us a concrete example of how technology has improved your own learning?
Candidate: Of course. I'm learning Spanish precisely through an online platform. What has helped me most is being able to practise at my own pace, something that wouldn't be possible in a traditional in-person class.
What's next?
You've completed the B2 course. Here are your next steps:
- Practise regularly - read Spanish news (El País, BBC Mundo), watch films and series, and find conversation partners.
- Consider the DELE B2 - use this course as a foundation and supplement with past papers from the Instituto Cervantes website.
- Move towards C1 - focus on nuance, style, and specialist vocabulary in areas that interest you.
- Immerse yourself - the jump from B2 to fluency comes from exposure, not just study. Read, listen, speak, and write as much as you can.
Key takeaways
- The DELE B2 tests reading, listening, writing, and speaking - practise all four skills equally.
- Use exam strategies: skim texts, eliminate wrong answers, structure your writing, and use filler phrases when speaking.
- The self-assessment checklist helps you identify areas to review - go back to specific chapters as needed.
- B2 is a major milestone - you can now communicate effectively in most situations. Keep practising to consolidate your skills.
- ¡Enhorabuena y mucho éxito en tu camino hacia la fluidez! (Congratulations and best of luck on your path to fluency!)