DELE B1 reading comprehension: strategies for the 5 tasks
Overview of the reading comprehension test
The DELE B1 reading comprehension test consists of 5 tasks with a total of 30 items. You have 70 minutes to complete it. It is the longest test in the exam and contributes the most points to Group 1 of the grading.
Each task has a different format and evaluates a distinct reading skill. Knowing exactly what each task requires and which strategy to apply is as important as your level of Spanish.
Time management: 70 minutes for 5 tasks
The distribution of time is crucial. Not all tasks require the same effort. This is a recommended distribution:
- Task 1: 12 minutes (short texts, relatively quick)
- Task 2: 15 minutes (long text with multiple-choice questions)
- Task 3: 15 minutes (matching texts with statements)
- Task 4: 15 minutes (long text with gaps)
- Task 5: 10 minutes (text with grammatical multiple choice)
- Review: 3 minutes (check that you have marked all answers)
Bring a watch and keep track of the time. If a task is taking you longer than expected, move on to the next one and come back later.
Task 1: Understanding short texts
Format
6 short texts (ads, notices, signs, notes, messages) are presented, and you must answer a multiple-choice question (3 options) about each one. Total: 6 items.
Types of text
- Job or service ads
- Informative or warning posters
- Short notes or messages
- Simple instructions
- Activity or event programs
- Tourist or commercial brochures
Strategy
Read the question and the options first before reading the text. This way, you will know what information to look for. These texts are short, so the answer is usually in a specific sentence. Be careful with options that paraphrase the text using synonyms: they are often the correct ones.
Common trap
Incorrect options often contain words that appear in the text but with a different meaning than what the option suggests. Don't be fooled by lexical coincidences: read the complete sense.
Task 2: Understanding a long text
Format
A long text (newspaper article, report, interview, or narrative text) followed by 6 multiple-choice questions with 3 options each. Total: 6 items.
Types of text
- Newspaper or magazine articles
- Reports on current topics
- Interviews with public figures
- Narrative or biographical texts
- Opinion articles
Strategy
Apply the two-pass reading technique:
- First quick reading (skimming): read the entire text in 2-3 minutes to grasp the general idea, the topic, and the structure.
- Second selective reading (scanning): read each question and look for the specific information in the corresponding paragraph. The questions usually follow the order of the text.
Common trap
Incorrect options are often generally true but not according to the text. The question always refers to what the text says, not to what you know about the topic. Always look for evidence in the text.
Task 3: Matching texts with statements
Format
3-4 short texts (usually from different people talking about the same topic) and a list of statements are presented. You must match each statement with the corresponding text. There are statements that are extra (distractors). Total: 6 items.
Types of text
- Opinions from different people on a topic
- Related personal experiences
- Reviews or evaluations
- Testimonials or short interviews
Strategy
- First, read all the statements and underline the key words in each one.
- Read the first text and look for which statements match its content.
- Repeat with each text. Mark the statements you have already assigned to avoid confusion.
- Remember that there are extra statements: not all are used.
Common trap
Distractor statements often contain information that appears partially in several texts but does not completely match any. Make sure that the statement reflects the complete idea of the text, not just a single word or phrase.
Task 4: Text with gaps (textual reconstruction)
Format
A long text from which 6 fragments (sentences or phrases) have been extracted. You must place each fragment in the correct gap. There are fragments that are extra. Total: 6 items.
Types of text
- Informative or educational articles
- Narrative texts
- Reports
- Descriptive texts
Strategy
This is the task that most candidates find difficult. Follow these steps:
- Read the complete text with the gaps to understand the general topic and structure.
- For each gap, look at the grammatical clues: pronouns (what do they refer to?), connectors (what logical relationship do they indicate?), verb tenses (do they maintain temporal coherence?).
- Read the sentence before and after the gap. The correct fragment must fit grammatically and semantically with both.
- Start with the gaps that seem clearest to you and leave the difficult ones for last.
Common trap
Distractor fragments are often thematically coherent with the text but fail in grammatical or logical connection with the adjacent sentences. Always check that the chosen fragment creates a fluid text when read with the surrounding sentences.
Task 5: Text with grammatical/lexical multiple choice
Format
A text with 6 gaps. For each gap, you must choose the correct option from 3 possibilities. The options are usually grammatical words (prepositions, pronouns, connectors) or lexical words (verbs, nouns). Total: 6 items.
Types of text
- Narrative texts
- Short articles
- Emails or letters
- Descriptive texts
Strategy
- Read the complete text first to understand the general context.
- For each gap, read the complete sentence with each option and choose the one that sounds most natural.
- Pay attention to collocations (frequent word combinations in Spanish): "hacer un viaje" (not "realizar un viaje"), "tomar una decisión" (not "coger una decisión").
- If you doubt between two options, think about the text's register (formal/informal) and its coherence with the rest of the paragraph.
Common trap
Incorrect options are often words that exist in Spanish and could work in other contexts, but not in that specific context. For example, "por" and "para" are both valid prepositions, but only one is correct in each sentence.
General reading techniques for DELE B1
Skimming (global quick reading)
This involves reading quickly to grasp the main idea. Useful for the first reading of long texts. Pay attention to titles, subtitles, the first and last sentence of each paragraph.
Scanning (searching for specific information)
This involves looking for a specific piece of information without reading the entire text. Useful when you already know what information you need (after reading the question). Move your eyes quickly looking for key words.
Intensive reading
Detailed and careful reading of a specific fragment. Use it when you have located the paragraph where the answer is and need to understand the exact nuance.
How to handle unknown vocabulary
It is normal to encounter words you do not know. Don't get blocked. Apply these strategies:
- Context: try to deduce the meaning from the words surrounding the unknown word.
- Roots and prefixes: many words in Spanish share roots with other languages. "Impredecible" = im (not) + predecir + ible (that can be).
- Relevance: ask yourself if you really need to understand that word to answer the question. Many times the answer does not depend on a specific word.
- Grammatical category: identify if it is a noun, verb, adjective... This helps you understand its function in the sentence even if you do not know its exact meaning.
Errors to avoid in reading comprehension
- Reading word by word: slows down your reading and makes you lose the overall view. Read in groups of words.
- Constantly going back: trust your first reading. Only go back to a paragraph if the question specifically requires it.
- Choosing the first option that "sounds good": always read all three options before deciding. Sometimes the first seems correct until you read the third.
- Responding with personal knowledge: the answer is always in the text. It doesn't matter what you know about the topic.
- Not transferring the answers: make sure to transfer your answers to the official answer sheet. Answers marked only in the booklet are not graded.
Practice the 5 reading comprehension tasks of the DELE B1 with interactive exercises.
Download DELE B1 Practice