The DELE B2 speaking test (Prueba 4, Expresión e interacción orales) lasts 20 minutes, with 20 minutes of preparation for Tasks 1 and 2, and has three tasks: assessing proposals to solve a problem (6-7 minutes), describing an imagined situation based on a photograph (5-6 minutes) and giving your opinion on survey data (3-4 minutes). Here's a free PDF sample to practise with and a walk through each task.
Where can I download the DELE B2 speaking test sample?
Before we go on, here's the link so you can keep the sample next to you as you read and look at each task.
Download it here: https://recursos.aporeldele.com/oralb2
It's a free PDF with a complete DELE B2 speaking test sample: the three tasks, the cards, the proposals, the photograph and the survey. You can print it or open it on your phone and practise whenever you have a moment. My advice: read the article first to understand what's behind each task, then sit down with the sample and take your time with it.
And if you'd rather see it in action, here's a complete B2 speaking test with my comments (in Spanish):
What is the DELE B2 speaking test like?
- Preparation room (20 minutes): you prepare Tasks 1 and 2, choosing one of two options for each. No dictionary or phone: just paper and a pen for your notes, which you can glance at in the exam (but not read out).
- Exam room (20 minutes): there are always two examiners. The interviewer gives you the instructions, talks to you and asks you questions; the rater listens, takes notes and doesn't take part.
- Task 3: isn't prepared; you do it straight away in the exam room.
There are fewer tasks than at B1, but the bar is higher: it's no longer about describing your routine, but about assessing, arguing and imagining. And especially in the conversation parts, the interviewer will ask for examples, put hypotheses to you or disagree with you. It isn't an interrogation: it's how they check that you can argue in Spanish.
What do you have to do in Task 1 (assessing proposals)?
Task 1 lasts 6 to 7 minutes and is the longest. The card sets out a situation with a problem (for example, a neighbourhood with few shops, a company that wants a better working atmosphere or a city that wants to encourage recycling) and several proposals to solve it, usually between five and seven.
- Monologue (3-4 minutes): you discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the proposals. You have to talk about at least four; if you only cover three, the task is incomplete. You can cover more if you have time.
- Conversation (2-3 minutes): the interviewer asks you, for example, which one you think is best, which you'd rule out, which work well together or what you'd do in that situation.
The aim is for you to argue: give reasons, examples and comparisons and reach a conclusion, with abstract vocabulary (“eficacia”, “implicación”, “sostenibilidad”) and varied connectors (“por una parte”, “por otra”, “ahora bien”, “en cambio”).
Quick tip: in the preparation room, pick at least four proposals, note one advantage and one disadvantage for each and decide which would be your “winning proposal”. Keep an eye on the time: if you spend too long on two proposals, you may be cut off before you reach the fourth.
Careful: don't learn your monologue by heart. It shows, and in the conversation they'll take you off script straight away.
What do you have to do in Task 2 (the photograph)?
Task 2 lasts 5 to 6 minutes and is also prepared: you choose one of two cards. Each has a photograph, a sentence describing the situation (a job interview, a family gathering, someone at an airport…) and some prompts in the form of questions, usually about seven.
- Monologue (2-3 minutes): you imagine what's going on, following every prompt: who they are, where they are, what their relationship is, what has happened, what they're saying to each other and how you think it will end.
- Conversation (2-3 minutes): the interviewer asks about your experiences and opinions on the topic of the situation.
There's no right answer about what's happening in the photo: you have to imagine it and build a coherent story. This is where key B2 structures come in: hypotheses (“debe de estar nervioso”, “parece que…”, “diría que…”), conditionals (“si estuviera en su lugar, yo…”) and past tenses to reconstruct what has happened.
Don't stop at a surface description (“hay tres personas, una mesa, papeles”). At B2 you have to interpret. There are more tips for this task in DELE B2 exam: Task 2 of the speaking test.
What do you have to do in Task 3 (the survey)?
Task 3 lasts 3 to 4 minutes and isn't prepared. You choose between two options (you're usually asked which topic you prefer) and the interviewer shows you survey results or data on a trend: reading habits, social media use, remote working… They'll ask which figures catch your attention, whether they surprise you and whether the same would happen in your country.
It's the shortest task, but you have to react on the spot. You're expected to comment on the data spontaneously, compare and give a reasoned opinion, using evaluative expressions (“me sorprende que”, “me llama la atención”, “no me extraña porque”).
Quick tip: don't try to comment on every figure. Pick two or three that interest you and develop them. And prepare the language of percentages and comparisons beforehand: “el 40 por ciento”, “la mayoría”, “frente a un 20 por ciento”, “casi el doble que…”. There are more ideas in 5 tips for Task 3 of the DELE B2 speaking test.
How is the DELE B2 speaking test marked?
The interviewer gives a holistic mark, an overall assessment of the three tasks, worth 40 %. The rater gives the analytic mark (60 %), task by task (Tasks 1 and 2 are worth 35 % each and Task 3, 30 %), using four criteria:
- Coherence: organised speech, clear ideas and varied connectors.
- Fluency: spontaneous communication, without excessive pauses, with clear pronunciation.
- Accuracy: good grammatical control; mistakes don't get in the way of understanding.
- Range: a repertoire broad enough to say what you want without going round in circles.
Both scales go from 0 to 3, and band 2 corresponds to B2 level. You will make mistakes, that's for sure; what hurts you is long blocks and disorganised speech.
To pass, the speaking test is grouped with listening: you need at least 30 out of 50 points in that group, and another 30 out of 50 in the reading and writing group. The groups don't compensate for each other, and passed parts aren't carried over to another exam session.
How can you get the most out of the sample?
- Read it all without a timer. Get familiar with the instructions, the proposals, the photo and the survey.
- Recreate exam conditions. 20 minutes to prepare Tasks 1 and 2, no dictionary, and then all three tasks back to back.
- Record yourself. It's uncomfortable to listen to, but it's the best way to spot filler words, unfinished sentences and long silences.
- Repeat Task 1 with different situations until the advantages, disadvantages and conclusion structure comes naturally and you always reach four proposals.
- If you can, ask someone to play the interviewer in the conversation parts, even by video call.
What are the most common mistakes in the DELE B2 speaking test?
- Discussing fewer than four proposals in Task 1. Four is the minimum; you don't need to cover them all either.
- Memorising whole monologues. It sounds rehearsed and, as soon as an unexpected question comes, it shows.
- Sticking to a literal description of the photo in Task 2 instead of imagining and interpreting.
- Forgetting one of the prompts on the Task 2 card.
- Speaking very fast to “show fluency”. Fluency isn't speed, and you'll make more mistakes.
- Using fancy connectors out of context. “Sin embargo”, “aun así” or “por eso” in the right place work better.
- Lacking vocabulary to talk about data in Task 3.
- Taking it personally when the interviewer disagrees with you. It's part of the exam.
There's more in 12 common mistakes in the DELE B2 speaking test.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the DELE B2 speaking test?
20 minutes of exam plus 20 minutes of preparation. Bear in mind you may wait a few minutes between one room and the other.
Can I use a dictionary or my phone during the preparation time?
No. Just paper and a pen for your notes.
Is Task 3 prepared beforehand?
No. You only prepare Tasks 1 and 2. That's why it's worth practising it a lot at home.
How many proposals do I have to discuss in Task 1?
At least four. If you have time, you can discuss more.
How many points do I need to pass the speaking test?
The speaking test is part of the listening and speaking group. You need at least 30 out of 50 points in that group, and it can't be offset by the reading and writing group.
What if I go blank in Task 1?
Breathe and go back to the proposals: pick one and say whether you think it's good or bad and why. Once you get going, it's easier to carry on. If needed, the interviewer will help you get back on track.
Is the sample the same exam I'll get?
No, the papers for each exam session aren't known in advance. But the sample follows the official structure: three tasks, the same timings and the same type of proposals, photograph and survey, so it helps you arrive with the format well practised.
In short
- 20 minutes of exam and 20 of preparation for Tasks 1 and 2, with two examiners: interviewer and rater.
- Task 1 (6-7 minutes): a 3-4 minute monologue on at least four proposals, then a conversation.
- Task 2 (5-6 minutes): imagine the situation in the photo following every prompt and talk about the topic.
- Task 3 (3-4 minutes): no preparation; comment on survey data and give your opinion.
- Marking: 40 % holistic and 60 % analytic (coherence, fluency, accuracy and range); you need 30 out of 50 in the listening and speaking group.
Here's the free DELE B2 speaking test sample PDF: https://recursos.aporeldele.com/oralb2
If you're preparing for the DELE B2, my online course includes strategies for every part of the exam, examples with comments, a community, a chat for your questions and group calls: https://b2.aporeldele.com/. If you're not sure yet whether you're at B2, take the level test. And to get free resources and reminders before every exam session, sign up for the newsletter.
¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸
