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DELF B2

Exam preparation

DELF B2 sample papers: 6 complete tests in the new format

Six complete DELF B2 sample papers in the new format, with audio, answers and a score out of 25 per paper: what each test contains and how to use them.

By Équipe DELF B2 · · 5 min read

DELF B2 sample papers: 6 complete tests in the new format
Contents
  1. What each DELF B2 sample paper contains
  2. The 6 DELF B2 sample papers at a glance
  3. How the DELF B2 sample papers are marked
  4. Listening and reading
  5. Writing
  6. Speaking
  7. How to use the sample papers to improve
  8. A DELF B2 example: what each paper expects
  9. DELF B2 sample papers as PDFs and official samples
  10. Getting access

DELF B2 sample papers are the best way to prepare for the exam. They show the real level expected, the length of each paper and the type of questions. On delfb2.net you will find six complete tests in the new format, with audio, answers and a score out of 25 per paper. Test no. 1 of each paper is free.

This guide describes what each test contains, explains how marking works and gives a method to improve from one test to the next. For the official format, see also our guide to the DELF B2 exam.

What each DELF B2 sample paper contains

Each test covers the four papers of the real exam, in the same order and with the same timings:

  • Listening (30 min, 25 points): three multiple-choice exercises, each recording heard twice.
  • Reading (1 h, 25 points): press articles and argumentative texts, with multiple-choice questions.
  • Writing (1 h, 25 points): a formal letter or a forum contribution of at least 250 words.
  • Speaking (20 min, 25 points): two topics drawn at random, a monologue then a debate with the examiner.

You can take a single paper or the full test. Exam mode follows real timing: each recording plays once per listening, with no pause.

The 6 DELF B2 sample papers at a glance

The topics follow those of the exam: cities, work, consumption, education, environment and social life.

TestReadingWritingSpeaking
Test no. 1Green school playgrounds; passing on a tradeLetter to the mayor: a central square turned into a car parkDelivery platforms in cities; AI tools at school
Test no. 2Repairing together; silence in team meetingsLetter to the library: fewer books, more digital spacesFree weekend public transport; fewer meetings at work
Test no. 3Kitchen leftovers; getting generations to work togetherLetter to the mayor: paid car access to the city centre on SaturdaysTourist rentals; repairing instead of replacing
Test no. 4Borrowing instead of buying; first days in a companyLetter to management: the end of flexible hoursStarting school later; advertising in public spaces
Test no. 5Same documents as test no. 4Letter to the mayor: cultural festival or sports facility?Remote work in the civil service; more vegetarian school meals
Test no. 6Coming soonForum: should shops give up printed receipts?Smartphones in cultural venues; planting trees in cities

Each test also includes three audio documents for the listening paper. The tests are numbered: start with no. 1, then move through them in order to track your progress.

DELF B2 sample papers: the fox compares two papers corrected in red pen

How the DELF B2 sample papers are marked

Listening and reading

The questions are multiple choice. Marking is instant: you see the right answer and your score out of 25. Questions do not all carry the same weight, as in the real exam. Reread the passage or replay the extract to understand each mistake.

Writing

Your text is assessed against the five criteria of the official grid: task completion, coherence, register, vocabulary and grammar. A word counter helps you reach 250 words. For the method, read our guide to DELF B2 writing.

Speaking

You prepare your talk for 30 minutes, then record yourself. A self-assessment grid helps you judge your monologue and debate. The tips are in our guide to DELF B2 speaking.

How to use the sample papers to improve

Taking test after test is not enough. What matters is analysing your mistakes. Here is a simple four-step method.

  1. Check your level. Start with the free B2 level test to find your weakest paper.
  2. Work paper by paper. Take the same paper from two different tests, first without a timer, then in real time.
  3. Analyse every mistake. Note the type of mistake in a notebook: vocabulary, a trap in the question, lack of time.
  4. Take a full exam. One to two weeks before the exam, take a complete test under real conditions, then a second one three days later.

Keep at least one complete DELF B2 practice test for the last week. You will measure your level just before the exam, on a paper you have never seen.

A DELF B2 example: what each paper expects

Take test no. 1. In the writing paper, you represent the residents of a neighbourhood. The town hall wants to turn part of the central square into a car park. You write to the mayor to defend your position and try to convince them.

The marker expects a real formal letter: a subject line, an opening salutation, an introduction recalling the project, two or three illustrated arguments, a concrete proposal and a closing formula. A well-built text that never takes a stance loses points on task completion.

In the speaking paper, on the delivery-platforms topic, the examiner expects you to identify the issue, then defend an argued opinion. During the debate, they may challenge your position: stay polite, add nuance and give examples.

DELF B2 sample papers as PDFs and official samples

Many candidates look for exercises with answers as PDFs. The official samples published by France Education international are an excellent reference to discover the format. There are only a few of them, and they do not detail the marking of writing and speaking.

Our online tests complement those samples: audio is built in, the timer follows real timing and multiple-choice marking is instant. Use both: the official samples to discover the format, our DELF B2 sample papers to practise often.

Getting access

Test no. 1 of each paper is free with an account. Tests no. 2 to no. 6 are included in the passes, paid once, with no subscription. Find all the tests on the DELF B2 tests page and the options on the pricing page.

Already have an exam date? See also our guide to DELF B2 registration to check your centre's deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find free DELF B2 sample papers with answers?

Test no. 1 of each paper is free on delfb2.net, with answers and a score. France Education international also publishes official sample papers as PDFs.

Are these DELF B2 sample papers in the new format?

Yes. All six tests follow the updated format: multiple-choice listening and reading, a 250-word writing task and a 20-minute speaking test.

Can I download the DELF B2 sample papers as a PDF?

Our tests run online, with audio, a timer and automatic marking. For official PDF samples, see the examples published by France Education international.

How many practice tests should I take before the exam?

Two or three full tests in real time are enough at the end of your preparation. Before that, work paper by paper and analyse every mistake.

Are old DELF B2 past papers still useful?

For writing and speaking, yes. For comprehension, use papers in the new, fully multiple-choice format.