Are you taking the B1 exam of the Instituto Cervantes
Still don’t know what this exam is like?
Don’t worry because in this article I’m going to talk about its structure. In addition, I will give you some tips so that you can go to the exam with confidence.
If you want more information about the DELE exams of the Cervantes Institute, such as, who can take it, how and where to present the documentation, prices … you can read this other article, there I will talk about all these topics.
DELE B1 exam
We are at the level called Umbral. People with level B1 is able to understand oral and written texts on familiar topics or related to their work environment, studies and daily life. He is able to function in these areas, in addition to expressing experiences, desires, making plans and giving his opinion.
To pass the exam you have to master grammatically the present of the regular and irregular indicative, control of the past, pronouns, use the verbal periphrasis and the verb gustar and its similar, also use the future, imperative and we are already beginning to introduce the subjunctive to talk about our wishes, doubts and give our opinion.
In addition to all this, it is important that you show a greater variety in your vocabulary, related to your daily activities, work or study environment and of course that you show a coherent, orderly speech in your written and oral expressions.
All this is difficult to achieve from one day to the next, it is best that you prepare well all the material that will enter the exam. If you do not know if you have the level you can take a level test, there are many and you will guide yourself to review or re-study what you need. But remember that there are skills, such as listening, reading or fluency that are acquired with practice and perseverance.
Are you ready for the DELE B1 exam? Well, if you are reading these words it is because you think so, I’m glad!
Let’s see what the exam is like!
All DELE exams have four parts: reading and listening comprehension, and written and oral expression and interaction tests.
B1 exam: Reading Comprehension.
The test has five tasks, some with different written texts or even a single text. These written texts are authentic or have been adapted to the B1 level to facilitate student understanding.
The answers are multiple-choice with three options, to match texts or to complete.
The booklet that is delivered includes the Reading Comprehension and the Listening Comprehension, here are all the texts and questions that you must answer.
But remember! You must put your answers on the answer sheet that will be evaluated automatically. Pay attention to how to fill in the answer gaps so as not to have problems with the evaluation.
This step is very important, if you do not pass your answers on this sheet, you will not pass the exam because these two tests will not be able to evaluate you.
The reading comprehension test of the B1 exam lasts 70 minutes, it is important that you control the time during the test.
- Task 1: You must match the statements of people with sentences. The texts are announcements, posters, personal messages in the public, professional and academic fields. Your ability to extract main ideas and identify specific data is evaluated.
- Task 2: You will read a text and you must answer 6 questions with three options. Your ability to extract essential ideas is evaluated. It is a public and academic text.
- Task 3: You have to relate three input texts with questions or statements, your ability to locate specific information is evaluated. The texts are travel guides, news, biographies, job offers …
- Task 4: You must complete paragraphs with short sentences. Your ability to reconstruct a text from the elements of cohesion is evaluated. They are texts of public and personal scope, such as recipes, tips, instructions …
- Task 5: You must fill in the gaps with one of the options they offer you. Your ability to identify and select grammatical structures is evaluated. The texts are public and personal, type letters and emails
Exam B1: Listening Comprehension
In this test you will listen to different complete audios or fragments. It consists of five tasks where you will have to select between several options or relate. The texts are adapted to level B1.
As I mentioned in the previous test, the booklet has the Reading Comprehension and Listening Comprehension tests. In addition to the booklet, they will give you an answer sheet, you must pass your answers to this sheet to correct them.
You will listen to the audios automatically twice, I advise you to read carefully the statements you have in each task before starting and mark the keywords. This will help you understand the audios better.
After the first listening, try to answer the questions and check on the second time.
Don’t be afraid to answer!
Both in the Reading Comprehension test and in this one, the incorrect answers are 0 points, they are not penalized! So if you have doubts, do not leave it blank and try to mark the solution that you think is correct.
The total test lasts 40 minutes, here you do not need to control the time since the auditions go automatically. Just remember to answer on the answer sheet!
Let’s see the tasks!
- Task 1: You will listen to six audios twice and you must answer a multiple choice question for each audio. Your ability to extract the main idea from personal and public texts is evaluated
- Task 2: You are going to listen to a single text, longer, and you must answer the questions. All with various options. Your ability to extract detailed information is evaluated, so pay attention to data and dates.
- Task 3: They will put a text and you must also answer the questions with several options. Here the ability to understand the general idea of each part of the audio is evaluated.
- Task 4: You must relate the audios to six texts. Your ability to understand monologues or short conversations about anecdotes or personal experiences is evaluated.
- Task 5: You will listen to an audio, generally a conversation between two people, a man and a woman. You must choose between three options who talks about an item, the man, the woman or none of them. Your ability to recognize specific information is evaluated in an informal conversation between two speakers.
Written expression and interaction:
This test has two parts. You must write your writing in the space reserved in the booklet. You have a space for task 1 and another for task 2. Do not write outside that space or add pages!
In the two tasks they advise you a maximum number of words, normally the proofreaders do not count the words but it is evident when a text is wider than normal and vice versa. This number of words is sufficient to carry out each task.
These tasks will be evaluated in a general way (holistic) and another in a more detailed way (analytical) by different people, this is done to guarantee objectivity in the evaluation. The evaluation is carried out centrally at the Cervantes Institute by certified personal.
In this test you will have to practice two types of texts:
- letters
- descriptive or narrative texts.
In another article I will talk about how texts are, their characteristics and how you can improve them.
But one thing you can keep in mind is order and clarity, they will help you in evaluating your writing.
This test lasts 60 minutes. It is important that you practice these tasks well and manage your time.
My advice is that you start with the task that you do best and leave for the end where you need more time. This way you ensure the necessary points to pass the written test.
- Task 1: Letter, message in forum or mail over 100-120 words. Your ability to create simple informational text is evaluated.
- Task 2: Create an essay that can include a description, presentation and your personal opinion. About 130-150 words. Your ability to write a descriptive text related to personal experiences, feelings, anecdotes … is evaluated.
Oral expression and interaction
We are already at the end of the B1 exam, this test can be done the same day after a break or after lunch or it can be done another day, this will depend on the exam center where you take the exam. When you choose a center they will send you an email informing you of the schedules, pay attention to this point, do not be surprised!
This test is made in two different rooms, as in all DELE exams. There is a preparation room, to prepare the exam and another to take the oral test.
In the preparation room you will have all the material to prepare the two tasks, task 1 and 2. Here you will find everything you need, paper, pens … for security reasons due to the pandemic it would be convenient if you bring your own materials.
In the room where you will take the exam, there are two people, the Examiner with whom you will speak and take the exam and the Qualifier. Both will evaluate your intervention, one in a more general way (the examiner) and the other in a more detailed way (the qualifier). As in the written test, this is done to guarantee the objectivity of the evaluation.
The result of this test is decided just after you leave the room, the examiner and the grader must evaluate and share the evaluation of your tasks. In no case will they tell you the result of the test, you will know if you pass or not when you receive the overall result of the DELE exam.
If you want to know more about the evaluation of the DELEs exams you can listen to podcast 15 of season 1 of Deleando por el mundo, a podcast made by DELE examiners for Spanish students and in which I collaborate.
The B1 oral exam test has a duration of 15 minutes to prepare and 12 to take the exam. In the preparation room, you must control the time to prepare the two tasks, task 1 and 2. In the test room, the examiner and the qualifier will be in charge of controlling your presentations.
You have all the materials available to prepare the tasks in the Preparation Room, and you should not take that material with you that will stay there for the next partner. What you can take to the other room are your notes, but be careful! They are reference material in case you go blank or need to return to a topic, in no case can you read it.
Let’s see the tasks!
- Task 1: (2-3 minutes) It consists of a monologue on a topic of your choice from the options offered. Your ability to expose, describe experiences, expectations … is evaluated.
- Task 2: (3-4 minutes) You will talk with the interviewer about the topic you have chosen in task 1, they will ask you for your opinion or your personal experience. Your ability to participate in a conversation on a familiar topic is evaluated.
- Task 3: (2-3 minutes) You will have to make a description about a photograph and later talk with the interviewer. You can choose one of the two images that will be shown to you. This task is not prepared, but you will have questions that can guide you in your presentation. Your ability to describe and interact with the interviewer is evaluated by relating the subject of the image to your environment.
- Task 4: (2-3 minutes) You will talk with the examiner about a situation related to task 3. The situations are about everyday life, such as making an exchange for a purchase, requesting a service or information about a product, meeting friends … Your ability to participate in conversations related to familiar situations is evaluated.
Remember
It is important that you control the time, especially in the reading comprehension and written expression and interaction tests.
Don’t forget to put your answers on the answer sheet, pay attention to this step and fill in the squares well!
And with all this we have finished with the explanation of the DELE B1 exam, in the following articles I will continue to talk to you about other interesting related topics and they will help you get your PASS in the DELE exam.
If you want, you can also follow Deleando por el Mundo on the RRSS, a podcast of Spanish teachers and examiners dedicated exclusively to DELE exams, and in which I participate.
Here are the links to Instagram and Facebook
Do you still have doubts about the model? Leave me in the comments and I will answer you. You can even inspire me for other articles and material that you can use it.
Modelo de examen B1
El Instituto Cervantes tiene un enlace donde te puedes descargar un modelo de examen, con todas las pruebas y sus audios.
Te aconsejo que descargues el cuadernillo y la hoja de respuestas, intenta practicar usando esta hoja de respuestas para que sea lo más real posible.
Remember
- It is important that you control the time, especially in the reading comprehension and written expression and interaction tests
- Don’t forget to put your answers on the answer sheet, pay attention to this step and fill in the squares well!
And with all this we have finished with the explanation of the DELE B1 exam, in the following articles I will continue to talk to you about other interesting related topics and they will help you get your PASS in the DELE exam.
If you want, you can also follow Deleando por el Mundo on the RRSS, a podcast of Spanish teachers and examiners dedicated exclusively to DELE exams, and in which I participate.
Here are the links to Instagram and Facebook
Do you still have doubts about the model? Leave me in the comments and I will answer you. You can even inspire me for other articles and material that you can use it.
If you don’t know your level you can take a test with me, you only need 30 minutes