The best resources to prepare for the DELE B2 in 2026

Updated in June 2026 · 12 min read

Preparing for the DELE B2 requires an intelligent combination of materials: textbooks for the exam structure, authentic resources to develop your skills, and digital tools for daily practice. In this guide, you will find the best resources available in 2026, organized by type and skill, to design your ideal study plan.

Official materials from the Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes is the body responsible for the DELE and offers essential resources to understand the format and expectations of the exam:

• Official exam models: available for free on the Instituto Cervantes website. They include the four tests with their actual instructions. This is the first resource you should consult.
• DELE B2 exam guide: official document detailing the evaluation criteria, the structure of each test, and examples of graded responses.
• Virtual Classroom of the Instituto Cervantes (AVE): online platform with specific preparation courses for each level. It has a cost, but the quality is high and the content is perfectly aligned with the exam.
• Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language — Levels B1 and B2 (book): official publication with commented exam models and correction keys.

Tip: always download the most recent official models, as the exam format is updated periodically.

Specialized textbooks for the DELE B2

Specific preparation manuals are the backbone of your study. These are the most recommended in 2026:

Editorial Edelsa

• Preparation for the DELE B2 (new edition 2024): the classic reference. Includes 7 complete exam models with keys, transcripts, and detailed explanations. Ideal for practicing under real conditions.
• Cronómetro B2: focused on time management. Each activity includes a suggested timer so you can get used to the pace of the real exam.

Editorial Difusión

• The keys to the DELE B2 (updated edition): combines theoretical explanations with intensive practice. Especially good for expression tests, with text models and evaluation rubrics.
• Aula B2.1 and B2.2: although not specific to the DELE, these course manuals cover all the linguistic content of the level with an excellent communicative approach.

Editorial Edinumen

• The Cronómetro B2 (preparation manual): structures study by skills with specific strategies for each test. Includes tips from real examiners.
• Nuevo Prisma B2: course manual focused on communicative competence. Excellent for reinforcing grammar and vocabulary in context.

Other publishers

• DELE B2 — Keys to pass (enClave-ELE): practical manual with strategies and exam models.
• Objetivo DELE B2 (SGEL): includes graded activities and a complete simulation exam.

Resources for reading comprehension

The reading test of the DELE B2 includes journalistic texts, essays, and informational texts. To prepare, you need to read regularly in Spanish:

• Digital newspapers: El País, La Vanguardia, El Mundo, and BBC Mundo offer opinion articles and reports perfect for the B2 level.
• Magazines: Muy Interesante, National Geographic en español, and Ethic cover topics of science, culture, and society with accessible yet rich language.
• Specialized blogs: Yorokobu, Jot Down, and CTXT offer texts of cultural and social analysis with advanced vocabulary.
• Graded readings: the collections from Difusión (Leer en español) and Edinumen have titles adapted to the B2 level with comprehension activities.
• Accessible literature: authors like Isabel Allende, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, or Almudena Grandes write in a clear yet literarily rich style, ideal for the transition to authentic texts.

Resources for listening comprehension

Listening comprehension is the test that most candidates fail. You need constant exposure to spoken Spanish at natural speed:

Recommended podcasts

• Hoy hablamos (intermediate-advanced level): daily episodes of 10 minutes on current topics. Perfect for the DELE B2 due to its vocabulary and speed.
• Radio Ambulante (NPR): Latin American stories narrated with journalistic quality. Excellent for getting used to different accents.
• A bote pronto: podcast on current Spanish affairs with debates and interviews. Simulates the type of audio you will find in the exam.
• TED en Español: talks of 10-15 minutes on various topics. The format is similar to the lectures in the exam.
• Las Culturetas (Onda Cero): culture, books, and cinema discussed with cultured yet accessible language.

YouTube channels

• DW en español: international news with clear and well-articulated Spanish.
• Aprendemos Juntos (BBVA): interviews and educational talks with available subtitles.
• Documentaries from RTVE: complete documentaries on Spanish history, science, and culture.

Other audio resources

• RNE (Radio Nacional de España): news and cultural programs with standard peninsular Spanish.
• Audiobooks in Spanish: platforms like Audible and Storytel have extensive catalogs. Listening while reading the text is a very effective technique.

Resources for written expression

The written expression test of the DELE B2 includes tasks such as formal letters, opinion articles, and reviews. These resources will help you improve:

• Text models from the Instituto Cervantes: examples of graded texts with different scores and comments from evaluators.
• Writing in Spanish (Difusión): specific writing manual with models, connectors, and structures for each type of text.
• LanguageTool: free online grammar checker that detects errors in agreement, spelling, and style in Spanish.
• Tutors on italki/Preply: native teachers who can correct your texts and give you personalized feedback on coherence, cohesion, and appropriateness.
• Correction exchange: platforms like Lang-8 or HiNative where native speakers correct your texts in exchange for you correcting theirs.

Key tip: write at least 2-3 texts per week following the exact format of the exam (word count, type of text, limited time).

Resources for oral expression

The oral test of the DELE B2 includes a presentation on a topic and a debate with the examiner. Preparing requires regular practice:

• Online tutors (italki, Preply, Verbling): individual classes with teachers specialized in DELE. Look for tutors with experience as examiners.
• Language exchange (Tandem, HelloTalk): free conversations with native speakers. Ideal for gaining fluency and confidence.
• Record yourself: practice 3-4 minute presentations on exam topics, record yourself, and analyze your fluency, pronunciation, and use of connectors.
• Shadowing with podcasts: listen to a short segment and repeat it immediately imitating the intonation and rhythm. Improves pronunciation and fluency.
• Conversation groups: many academies and libraries organize conversation groups in Spanish. There are also online groups on Discord and Meetup.

Mobile applications for the DELE B2

Apps complement your study with daily practice accessible from anywhere:

• DELE B2 Practice: specific app with exam-type exercises for all skills, progress tracking, and detailed explanations.
• Anki: vocabulary flashcards with spaced repetition. You can create your own decks or download shared B2 vocabulary decks.
• SpanishDict: comprehensive dictionary with conjugations, examples, and pronunciation. Essential as a reference tool.
• Readlang: browser extension that allows you to read web texts in Spanish with instant translation and automatically create vocabulary flashcards.
• Beelinguapp: bilingual texts with audio. Useful for improving reading and listening comprehension simultaneously.

Free vs. paid resources: what is worth it?

You don't need to spend a fortune to prepare for the DELE B2, but some paid resources offer clear advantages:

Essential free resources

• Official exam models from the Instituto Cervantes
• Digital newspapers and magazines (many articles are freely accessible)
• Podcasts (Hoy hablamos, Radio Ambulante, TED en Español)
• YouTube (DW, RTVE, Aprendemos Juntos)
• LanguageTool (free version)
• Language exchange (Tandem, HelloTalk)

Paid resources worth the investment

• A good preparation book (15-25€): the structure and exam models are irreplaceable.
• Classes with a specialized tutor (15-30€/hour): especially for oral and written expression, where you need personalized feedback.
• Specific practice app: daily practice with exam-type exercises significantly accelerates preparation.

What you DO NOT need to pay for

• Generic online Spanish courses (not focused on the DELE)
• Multiple preparation books (one good one is enough)
• Expensive in-person academies (a specialized online tutor is more efficient)

How to combine resources effectively

The key is not to accumulate resources but to combine them strategically. Here is a model weekly plan:

• Monday: Reading comprehension — Read a newspaper article + exercises from the preparation book
• Tuesday: Written expression — Write an exam-type text + review with LanguageTool
• Wednesday: Listening comprehension — Podcast + listening exercises from the book
• Thursday: Oral expression — Class with a tutor or language exchange
• Friday: Vocabulary and grammar — Anki flashcards + exercises from the app
• Saturday: Partial mock exam — A complete test from the book under exam conditions
• Sunday: Free immersion — Series, movie, or book in Spanish for pleasure

Dedicate between 1 and 2 hours daily for 2-3 months before the exam. Consistency is more important than intensity.

Resources according to your native language

Some resources are designed for speakers of specific languages:

• English speakers: "Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses" and "Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish" are excellent complements.
• Portuguese speakers: pay special attention to false friends and preposition differences. The manual "Español para brasileños" by Edinumen addresses these difficulties.
• French/Italian speakers: your lexical advantage is enormous, but be careful with grammatical interferences (use of subjunctive, ser/estar).
• Chinese/Japanese/Korean speakers: dedicate extra time to listening comprehension and oral expression. Online tutors are especially helpful.

Conclusion

The best resource for preparing for the DELE B2 is the one you use consistently. You don't need all the materials on this list: choose a preparation book as a base, complement with authentic resources (press, podcasts) for each skill, and use an app for daily practice. If your budget allows, invest in a tutor for productive skills (writing and oral), where personalized feedback makes a difference.

Remember: ideal preparation combines structured study (book + exam-type exercises) with natural exposure to the language (reading, listening, conversation). Start with free resources and add paid materials only where you feel you need them.