DELF B2 Reading: Method and Tips

DELF B2 reading (compréhension des écrits) lasts one hour. It checks that you understand press texts and opinions on social issues. Since the new format, the paper has three exercises and only closed questions. Here is how to approach it with a method, avoid the traps and improve quickly.

The reading paper at a glance

• Length: 1 hour.
• Structure: 3 exercises.
• Format: multiple-choice questions and a matching exercise.
• Score: out of 25 points.
• Threshold: at least 5/25.

It takes place straight after listening and before writing. Manage your hour well: the writing paper that follows also needs energy.

The 3 exercises of DELF B2 reading

Exercises 1 and 2: press articles

Two press articles on current topics: education, work, environment, digital life. Each is followed by about seven questions. You are asked for the main idea, the author's opinion, the meaning of an expression or the role of a paragraph.

Exercise 3: an opinion forum

Three people give their view on the same question. You match each statement to the right person. The exercise tests whether you can tell similar viewpoints apart.

Types of questions

Knowing the question types helps you know what to look for in the text.

• General idea: what is the main subject or purpose of the article?
• Author's opinion: is the author for, against or nuanced?
• Meaning of an expression: what does a phrase mean in context?
• Role of a passage: does the paragraph give an example, a cause or an objection?
• Tone: is the author ironic, worried or enthusiastic?

The 5-step method

1. Skim the text (2 minutes). Title, standfirst, subheadings: identify the subject and the structure.
2. Read the questions. They usually follow the order of the text.
3. Read the text in detail. Underline the author's thesis and the linking words.
4. Answer by going back to the text. Find the sentence that justifies each answer.
5. Watch the clock. Allow about 20 minutes per exercise.

This method saves you from rereading the whole text for each question. You gain time and accuracy.

How to read a press article

An article usually follows the same structure. The title announces the subject, sometimes with a pun. The standfirst, in bold under the title, sums up the key point. The first paragraph sets the context.

The body then gives facts, figures and testimonies. The end often contains the author's opinion or an opening. Read the conclusion with particular care.

Reading the opinion forum with a method

For the opinion forum, draw a quick table: one column per person, with their view in three words. Note whether they are for, against or nuanced, and on which precise point.

The statements to match rephrase the ideas with different words. Do not look for the same words, but for the same idea.

Worked example: the matching exercise

Forum question: « Faut-il rendre les transports en commun gratuits ? »

• Léa: « La gratuité attirerait de nouveaux voyageurs et réduirait la pollution. C'est un investissement pour la santé de tous. »
• Karim: « Le vrai problème, ce n'est pas le prix, mais la fréquence des bus. Mieux vaut améliorer le service que le rendre gratuit. »
• Sophie: « Je suis favorable à la gratuité pour les étudiants et les personnes âgées, mais pas pour tout le monde. »

Statement: « Cette personne pense que la qualité du service compte plus que le prix. » The answer is Karim. Notice that the statement does not use his exact words: « qualité du service » rephrases « fréquence des bus ».

Statement: « Cette personne propose une solution partielle. » The answer is Sophie, who limits free transport to certain groups. This kind of nuance is typical of the exercise.

Worked example: a multiple-choice question

Extract: « On présente souvent les réseaux sociaux comme la cause de tous les maux des adolescents. Cette vision, pourtant, oublie les nombreux jeunes qui s'en servent pour apprendre, créer ou s'engager. »

Question: « Quelle est la position de l'auteur ? »

• A. Les réseaux sociaux sont dangereux pour les adolescents.
• B. Les réseaux sociaux ont aussi des usages positifs.
• C. Les adolescents utilisent peu les réseaux sociaux.

The correct answer is B. Option A repeats the opinion the author criticises. The word « pourtant » shows that he distances himself from that view. Option C is never stated in the text.

Traps in multiple-choice questions

• Repeated words. An option repeats a word from the text but distorts the idea.
• Ideas that are too general. The option is true in life, but the text does not say it.
• Missing nuance. The author says « souvent » and the option says « toujours ».
• Someone else's opinion. The author quotes a person they disagree with.

For each option, ask yourself: "Where exactly does the text say this?" If you cannot find the sentence, the option is probably wrong.

Understanding implicit meaning and vocabulary

At B2 level, the author does not say everything clearly. They may use irony, a rhetorical question or a concession before giving their real view. The words « certes », « pourtant » and « en réalité » often announce the author's position.

If you do not know a word, do not freeze. The context, the word family and the next sentence are often enough to guess the meaning.

Argument words to spot

• Contrast: mais, pourtant, cependant, en revanche, au contraire.
• Concession: certes, bien que, même si, il est vrai que.
• Consequence: donc, ainsi, par conséquent, c'est pourquoi.
• Cause: car, en effet, puisque, étant donné que.
• Conclusion: en somme, finalement, en définitive.

Time strategy for the reading hour

One hour for three exercises is short. Set yourself checkpoints and stick to them.

• 0 to 20 minutes: first article and its questions.
• 20 to 40 minutes: second article and its questions.
• 40 to 55 minutes: opinion forum.
• 55 to 60 minutes: check and copy your answers.

If a question resists, move on. Come back to it at the end if you have time.

Reading faster without losing meaning

Read in groups of words rather than word by word. First spot the opening sentence of each paragraph: it often sums up the main idea. Then read in detail only the passages linked to the questions. This selective reading is the key to DELF B2 reading.

Frequent topics

• The environment, climate and the energy transition.
• Work, remote work and new forms of employment.
• Education, university and lifelong learning.
• Digital life, social media and data protection.
• Health, food and well-being.

Read about these topics in several newspapers to learn the usual arguments on each side. For example, compare a supportive editorial and a critical one on the same subject. You will learn to recognise the signs of a position quickly, even when the author stays discreet.

What not to do

• Reading the whole text word by word before looking at the questions.
• Answering from memory without finding the sentence in the text.
• Confusing the author's opinion with that of the people they quote.
• Spending too long on the first article.
• Forgetting to copy your answers onto the final sheet.

How to improve your reading

Read one press article a day on varied topics. After reading, sum up the author's thesis in one sentence. Note five useful expressions in a vocabulary notebook.

Then review this vocabulary by theme with spaced repetition. Work on B2 grammar too, as it helps you understand long sentences.

How DELF B2 reading is scored

Each article is worth around 9 points and the opinion forum around 7 points, for a total of 25. Questions do not all carry the same weight. This is why you should never spend too long on a single difficult question: moving on protects the points you can still win elsewhere in DELF B2 reading.

Exam day for the reading paper

The reading paper starts straight after listening, without a long break. Use the first seconds to flick through the whole booklet so you know how many pages are waiting and can plan your time.

Read the instructions carefully. Some questions ask for one answer, others ask you to match people and statements. Misreading an instruction can cost several points.

Finally, write clearly and tick your answers neatly. If you change your mind, make the correction obvious for the examiner. A clean booklet avoids misunderstandings when your DELF B2 reading paper is marked.

A 4-week training plan

Regular practice matters more than long sessions. Here is a simple plan you can adapt to your schedule.

• Week 1: learn the format, try a full paper without a timer and write down what you find difficult.
• Week 2: work on the method step by step, with two short reading sessions a day.
• Week 3: practise under real time limits, then review every mistake in a notebook.
• Week 4: take a full mock exam, revise your weak points and rest the day before the exam.

Practising under exam conditions

Our mock exams offer full papers in the new format, with a timer and detailed answers. See also our page on DELF B2 listening and the exam guide. The France Education international website also offers sample papers.

With active, regular reading, DELF B2 reading becomes a safe paper. Check your level with the free test.