Delf B2 Preparation Jun 2026
The DELF B2 exam is structured around four key skills, each worth 25 points (total 100). You need a minimum of 50/100 to pass, with at least 5/25 in each section.
1. Understanding the Exam Format | Section | Duration | Points | What you do | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Compréhension orale (Listening) | ~30 min | 25 | Listen to short recordings (interviews, news, announcements) and answer multiple-choice or short-answer questions. | | Compréhension écrite (Reading) | 1 hour | 25 | Read two texts (articles, opinion pieces) and answer comprehension questions. | | Production écrite (Writing) | 1 hour | 25 | Write a structured argumentative essay (letter, article, forum post) expressing and defending an opinion. | | Production orale (Speaking) | ~20 min + 30 min prep | 25 | Present and defend a point of view based on a short article, followed by a discussion with examiners. |
2. Key Skills & Strategies per Section Compréhension orale (Listening) Typical topics: environment, education, technology, social issues, work. How to prepare:
Listen daily: RFI (Journal en français facile), TV5MONDE (exercises), InnerFrench podcast, France Inter. Practice with distractions: Recordings often have background noise or multiple speakers. Focus on reformulations: B2 tests if you understand that "Je suis contre" = "Je ne soutiens pas cette idée." Take notes efficiently: Use abbreviations and focus on opinions, not every word. delf b2 preparation
Exam tips:
Read questions before the recording plays. You will hear the recording twice. Use the first listen for general meaning, the second for details.
Compréhension écrite (Reading) Text types: newspaper articles, blog posts, letters to the editor, opinion columns. How to prepare: The DELF B2 exam is structured around four
Read Le Monde, Le Figaro, Courrier International (simplified). Practice skimming (get the main idea quickly) and scanning (find specific info). Learn to identify the structure of an argument: thèse, antithèse, synthèse.
Exam tips:
Don't translate word-for-word. Guess unknown words from context. Answers must be in your own words unless quoting directly. Understanding the Exam Format | Section | Duration
Production écrite (Writing) — Most demanding for many candidates Task: You will write a formal letter, article, or forum response arguing a position (e.g., "Should uniforms be mandatory in schools?"). Structure to master:
Introduction: State the topic and your position (thesis). Body paragraph 1: Argument 1 + example. Body paragraph 2: Argument 2 + example. Body paragraph 3 (optional): Acknowledge and refute a counter-argument. Conclusion: Summarize and restate your position.