What is a good DELF B2 score? Pass mark, marking and score bands
How the DELF B2 is marked, the pass mark, what counts as a good DELF B2 score and where to gain points easily in each paper.
· 8 min read
Exam preparation
How to prepare for the DELF B2: a free 8-week study plan
An 8-week study plan, week by week, to prepare for the DELF B2 for free: method, resources, mock exams and the final days.
By Équipe DELF B2 · · 8 min read
Contents
- How to prepare for DELF B2: before you start
- Know the exam
- Set a date
- Plan a realistic pace
- The 8-week study plan
- Week 1: take stock
- Week 2: listening
- Week 3: reading
- Week 4: writing
- Week 5: speaking
- Week 6: first mock exam
- Week 7: second mock exam
- Week 8: consolidate and rest
- Free resources to prepare for DELF B2
- How to organise a one-hour session
- Mistakes to avoid while preparing
- How to prepare for DELF B2 while working full time
- Tracking your progress
- Resources for each paper
- Staying motivated
- A sample week: week 4 (writing)
- Preparing with others
- Are you ready for the exam?
- Emergency plan: preparing in two weeks
- Common questions about the method
- Simple tools that help
- What if you have less than 8 weeks?
Knowing how to prepare for DELF B2 matters more than the money you spend. With a clear plan, one hour a day and the right free resources, eight weeks are enough for a candidate close to B2 level. This guide gives you a week-by-week study plan, the resources to use and how to organise your mock exams.
Before you start, measure your starting point with our free B2 level test. It tells you which paper to work on first.
How to prepare for DELF B2: before you start
Know the exam
The DELF B2 has four papers marked out of 25: listening (30 minutes), reading (1 hour), writing (1 hour) and speaking (20 minutes, after 30 minutes of preparation). You need 50/100 overall and at least 5/25 in each paper. Every detail is in our DELF B2 exam guide.
Set a date
Register first: an exam date gives you a concrete goal. Registration often closes several weeks before the written papers. See our DELF B2 registration guide.
Plan a realistic pace
The plan below is based on about one hour a day, six days a week, around fifty hours in total. Consistency beats duration: thirty minutes every day is better than four hours on Sunday.
The 8-week study plan
Week 1: take stock
Take a first full exam, untimed, to discover the format. Note your difficulties in a notebook: vocabulary, timing, accents, organising your writing. Read the method for each paper.
Week 2: listening
Listen to an authentic 3- to 5-minute document every day: radio news, a report, a debate. Practise reading the questions before listening and spotting key words. Follow our DELF B2 listening method.
Week 3: reading
Read one press article a day and sum it up in three sentences. Identify the author's thesis and arguments. Time yourself: in the DELF B2, managing your time on long texts makes the difference.
Week 4: writing
Learn the structure of the formal letter and the article. Write two 250-word texts during the week, then mark them with the official grid.
Week 5: speaking
Pick one social topic a day, prepare it in 30 minutes and record a 5- to 7-minute talk. Listen back. Use our DELF B2 speaking phrases.
Week 6: first mock exam
Take a full exam under real conditions, in one morning. Mark it and analyse every mistake. Spend the rest of the week on your weakest paper.
Week 7: second mock exam
Take another full exam, on a paper you have never seen. Compare your scores with week 6. Review linking words and the set phrases for the letter and the speaking test.
Week 8: consolidate and rest
Do short exercises on your weak points and reread your notes and mistake log. Two days before the exam, stop full papers. The day before, get your documents ready and rest.
Free resources to prepare for DELF B2
- The official samples from France Education international, to see the exact format.
- TV5Monde Apprendre, for comprehension exercises on news videos sorted by level.
- RFI Français facile, for audio documents with transcripts.
- French-language radio and podcasts, to train your ear: news, debates, culture programmes.
- Our DELF B2 tests: test no. 1 of each paper is free, with answers and a score. See our DELF B2 sample papers.
How to organise a one-hour session
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Review yesterday's vocabulary (cards or an app). |
| 30 minutes | The week's main exercise: listening, reading, writing or speaking. |
| 15 minutes | Correction and analysis of mistakes in your notebook. |
| 5 minutes | Plan the next day's session. |
This simple structure stops you wasting time deciding what to do. It also keeps a written record of your progress.
Mistakes to avoid while preparing
- Only working on your strengths: the 5/25 elimination mark punishes the neglected paper.
- Taking test after test without analysis: an unmarked test teaches you almost nothing.
- Neglecting speaking because you study alone: recording yourself is real practice.
- Using old past papers for comprehension: the new format is fully multiple choice.
- Cramming in the last week: fatigue costs more points than it earns.
How to prepare for DELF B2 while working full time
One hour a day isn't always possible. Here is a realistic pace for someone with a job:
- Weekdays: 20 to 30 minutes a day, on your commute or at lunch: one listening, one article, some vocabulary.
- Saturday: a longer 1 h 30 session for writing or a partial mock exam.
- Sunday: 30 minutes of recorded speaking, then rest.
At this pace, plan 10 to 12 weeks instead of 8. The key is never to skip more than two days in a row.
Tracking your progress
Note your score out of 25 for every paper you take. A simple table is enough:
| Week | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 |
| Week 6 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 |
| Week 7 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 | …/25 |
If a paper stays below 12/25 in week 6, give it half of your sessions until the exam: it is the one that will make the difference.
Resources for each paper
| Paper | Free resource | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Radio news, podcasts, TV5Monde Apprendre | Every day |
| Reading | Online press, editorials, opinion pieces | Every day |
| Writing | Our formal letter and article guides | Two texts a week |
| Speaking | Social topics, recording on your phone | Three talks a week |
Knowing how to prepare for DELF B2 for free comes down to these simple resources, used regularly.
Staying motivated
Set small weekly goals rather than one distant target. If you can, work with a partner for speaking. And remember why you are taking the DELF B2: study, work or citizenship. Successful preparation is above all regular preparation.
A sample week: week 4 (writing)
| Day | One-hour session |
|---|---|
| Monday | Read the formal letter guide and learn the set phrases. |
| Tuesday | Write a formal letter in one hour. |
| Wednesday | Mark the letter with the grid; rewrite the weak passages. |
| Thursday | Read the article guide and study the annotated example. |
| Friday | Write an article in one hour. |
| Saturday | Mark the article and review linking words. |
Preparing with others
Preparing with one or two other candidates works very well for speaking: each person takes turns as candidate and examiner. For writing, swap texts and mark them with the official grid. Conversation groups at libraries and associations are also a good free option.
Are you ready for the exam?
- You have taken at least two full mock exams in real time.
- No paper scored below 10/25 in your last mock exam.
- You know the structure of the letter and the article by heart.
- You can prepare a talk in 30 minutes.
- You have your notice of exam and your ID.
If you can tick these five points, your preparation is done: all that is left is to rest.
Emergency plan: preparing in two weeks
| Days | Programme |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Discover the format and take a full paper, untimed. |
| 3 to 4 | Listening and reading: method and two exercises a day. |
| 5 to 7 | Writing: structure of the letter and the article, one text a day. |
| 8 to 10 | Speaking: one recorded talk a day using the useful phrases. |
| 11 | Full mock exam under real conditions. |
| 12 to 13 | Targeted work on the weakest paper. |
| 14 | Review your notes and rest. |
This plan won't deepen your French in two weeks, but it will stop you losing points through not knowing the format.
Common questions about the method
Should you study grammar separately? Only the structures that keep causing errors in your writing: the subjunctive, agreements, relative pronouns. Should you learn model texts by heart? No: learn structures and set phrases, then adapt them. Should you practise with a timer from day one? Not at first: understand the method, then add the timer from week 3.
Simple tools that help
- A mistake log, to note every mistake and review it each week.
- A timer, to get used to the real length of each paper.
- A flashcard app, to review vocabulary every day.
- Your phone, to record and replay your talks.
These free tools are enough: the quality of your preparation depends on regularity, not equipment.
Keep all your material in one folder, paper or digital: past papers, corrections, method sheets and your mistake log. The day before the exam, this folder is what you reread. Having everything in one place also shows you how far you have come, which is a real boost in the final week. Small, steady steps win, and they are far easier to keep up than long, irregular sessions.
What if you have less than 8 weeks?
With four weeks, merge the weeks in pairs: listening and reading in the first week, writing and speaking in the second, then one mock exam a week. With only two weeks, focus on the format, one full mock exam and your weakest paper.
Whatever your timeline, the rule stays the same: know the format, work on every paper and take at least one timed mock exam. That is the heart of knowing how to prepare for DELF B2.
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare for the DELF B2 for free?
Yes. With authentic material, the official France Education international samples, TV5Monde and RFI resources, and our free test no. 1 of each paper, you can prepare fully without paying for classes.
How long does it take to prepare for the DELF B2?
If your level is already close to B2, 8 weeks at one hour a day is usually enough. From a shaky B1, plan for 4 to 6 months instead.
How many mock exams should I take?
Two or three full exams in real time, during the last three weeks. Before that, work paper by paper.
Do I need classes to pass the DELF B2?
No. Classes mostly help with speaking, because you need someone to listen and correct you. On your own, record yourself and listen back.
What should I do the day before the exam?
Reread your method notes and set phrases, check your notice of exam and ID, then rest. Don't try to learn anything new.
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