The DELE A2 listening paper (Comprensión auditiva) has 4 tasks and 25 questions, lasts 40 minutes, and you hear every recording twice. To keep up, the key is to read the questions before each recording starts (finishing the reading paper in 50 minutes so you have 10 spare), to know what you're listening for in each task, and to never leave a question blank, because wrong answers don't lose points.

In the A2, people speak slowly and clearly, and the topics are everyday ones. Even so, it's 40 minutes in a row of listening, reading and marking, and if you don't know what's coming in each task, you tire sooner. Here it is, task by task.

What does the DELE A2 listening paper look like?

  • Task 1: six short informal conversations (in a shop, at a station, between friends). One question per conversation, with three pictures as options. 6 questions.
  • Task 2: six short radio messages (news, ads, event information). One question per message, with three options (a, b, c). 6 questions.
  • Task 3: a conversation between a man and a woman. You decide whether each of six statements is said by him, by her or by neither. 6 questions.
  • Task 4: seven short messages (voicemail, public announcements, notices, ads). You match each message with one of ten statements; three are left over. 7 questions.

That's 25 questions in 40 minutes. Each recording is played twice, and you mark your answers on a separate answer sheet, in pencil.

When do I read the questions?

This is the most important strategy in the whole paper. Reading and listening are in the same booklet and taken back to back: listening starts once the 60 minutes of reading are up. If you finish reading in 50 minutes, you have 10 minutes to read and underline the questions for all four listening tasks before the first recording plays.

On top of that, the instructions for each task are always the same. While the recording reads them out, you can already be reading the questions. That's why it pays to practise with several practice exams beforehand: you'll know the instructions by heart and won't waste a second.

The reading time varies by task: between conversations in Task 1 you get about 10 seconds; for the Task 3 statements, about 30 seconds; and for the Task 4 statements, about 45 seconds. Use them to read, not to keep thinking about the previous question.

Task 1: how do I choose the right picture?

Each conversation is played twice in a row before moving on to the next. Usually a man and a woman are speaking: one asks something short and the other answers at more length.

The trap: all three things in the pictures may come up in the recording, but only one answers the question. If the question is “What does the woman buy in the end?” and she says “Quería las manzanas, pero están muy caras, así que me llevo las naranjas” (I wanted the apples, but they're very expensive, so I'll take the oranges), you'll hear both “manzanas” and “naranjas”. The answer is the second one.

What to do: before the recording, look at the three pictures and write underneath the words you know for each one. Read the question carefully: is it about the man or the woman? About what they do now, did before or are going to do? Do they accept or turn something down? Make sure you know your question words well: dónde, cuándo, cuánto, cómo (where, when, how much, how).

Task 2: how do I get the radio messages right?

Six short messages, each with a single voice. Each message is played twice in a row.

The trap: all three options usually include words that appear in the message. A word being mentioned doesn't mean that option answers the question.

What to do: here you do need to focus on specific details: days, times, prices, ages, places. Read the question and the three options, underline what makes them different and, while you listen, jot down the numbers and details you hear. On the first listening, mark what you're sure of; on the second, confirm or change. There is always a detail in the message that rules out the other two options.

Task 3: how do I know who says what?

An informal conversation between a man and a woman about something everyday (plans, work, an appointment, some news). You hear the whole conversation twice.

The trap: the statements don't use the same words as the recording. They use synonyms or a negated opposite: the statement says “No le gusta madrugar” (he doesn't like getting up early) and in the recording he says “Odio levantarme temprano” (I hate getting up early). And watch out for changes of mind: if she says “Antes no me gustaba cocinar, pero ahora me encanta” (I didn't use to like cooking, but now I love it), what counts is the now.

What to do: in the 30 seconds of reading time, underline the word that makes each statement different and think of synonyms you might hear. The information comes in the same order as the statements, so follow them one by one. You can take notes, but only single words. Some people focus on one voice during the first listening and on the other during the second: try it at home and keep whatever works for you. And remember that some statements are said by neither of them.

Task 4: how do I match the messages with the statements?

Seven short messages, each with a single voice: a public announcement, a voicemail, an ad, a reminder. You have ten statements that sum up situations and you choose the one that matches each message.

What to do: here you don't need to catch specific details, just what's happening overall: is it a delay, an invitation, an offer, a change of appointment? Often you understand it from two or three key words together. In the 45 seconds of reading time, underline one or two essential words in each statement and picture the situation it describes. Each message goes with only one statement, and three statements aren't used.

Which mistakes should I avoid?

  • Marking the first word you recognise. Listen to the end of the idea.
  • Confusing mentioned with answered. If the recording says “el cine”, that doesn't mean the answer is “the cinema”.
  • Sticking with the first opinion. “I didn't before, I do now”: the last one wins.
  • Freezing when you miss a question. Move on to the next one; missing one won't make you fail, but freezing and missing four might.
  • Leaving answers blank. Wrong answers don't lose points. If in doubt, mark the most likely option.

How do I train listening at home?

  • Practise with full practice exams. They help you get to know the timing and learn the instructions.
  • Work with the transcript. Listen without looking and answer; then read the transcript, listen again and find where each answer was and which words replaced the ones in the question.
  • Train numbers, times and prices. Listen to recordings with timetables and prices and jot them down as you go. This helps especially with Task 2.
  • Anticipate. Before each recording, read, underline and think: what will this be about? Which words do I expect to hear?
  • Do reading and listening back to back once a week, to get used to the concentration you'll need on the day.

Wrong way and right way: tackling a Task 2 question

Wrong way: the recording starts, you hear a word you recognise, mark that option and relax. On the second listening you confirm without thinking.

Right way: before the recording, you read the question, underline what makes the three options different and think about which detail you'll need. On the first listening you jot down the details and mark what you're sure of. On the second, you confirm or change. And if you're still unsure, you mark the most likely option: you never leave it blank.

Frequently asked questions about the DELE A2 listening paper

How many times do I hear each recording?

Twice, in all four tasks.

Can I take notes?

Yes, in the booklet. Jot down key words, numbers and times, but not whole sentences: while you write, you stop listening.

How much time do I get to read the questions?

It depends on the task: about 10 seconds between conversations in Task 1, about 30 seconds for the Task 3 statements and about 45 seconds for the Task 4 statements. That's why finishing the reading paper in 50 minutes and reading the listening questions calmly before it starts is so useful.

How many questions do I need to get right to pass?

Listening is marked out of 25 (one point per question) and is in Group 2 together with speaking, which is also worth 25. You need at least 30 out of 50 across the two. For example, 15 out of 25 in each; or fewer in listening if your speaking goes better, because within the group one paper makes up for the other. What doesn't work is making up for one group with the other. I explain it in more detail here: how to pass the DELE A2.

Do wrong answers lose points?

No. A wrong answer scores 0, just like a blank one. Always answer.

What if I get lost in a recording?

Let that question go, focus on the next one and, if there's still a second listening, recover it then. At the end, always mark an option.

In short

  • 4 tasks, 25 questions, 40 minutes. You hear everything twice.
  • Finish reading in 50 minutes and use 10 to read the listening questions.
  • Task 1: think of the words for each picture and choose the one that answers the question, not the one that's mentioned.
  • Task 2: jot down specific details (days, times, prices).
  • Task 3: listen for synonyms, follow the order of the statements and go with the final opinion.
  • Task 4: catch the overall situation, not the details.
  • You need 30 out of 50 across listening and speaking. Answer every question: wrong answers don't count against you.

If you want to prepare listening and the rest of the exam with a clear method, my DELE A2 course gives you strategies for each paper, commented examples, a community, a Q&A chat and group calls. If you'd rather practise on paper, there is my book on Amazon, with 4 up-to-date practice tests that simulate the exam. Not sure your level is A2? Take the level test. And if you'd like free resources and reminders before each exam session, sign up for the newsletter.

¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸