Reading Comprehension DELE A2 — Strategies and Exercises

Updated in June 2026 · 10 min read

Reading comprehension is the first test of the DELE A2. You have 60 minutes to complete 5 tasks with 25 questions. This is the test where most candidates lose points unnecessarily due to poor time management. Here we explain each task and strategies to maximize your score.

The 5 Tasks Explained

Task 1 — Match Short Texts with Statements

Format: 7-8 short texts (notices, posters, signs, SMS) and 5 statements. You must match each statement with the correct text.

Example: A sign saying "Hours: Monday to Friday 9-14h. Closed on Saturdays" → statement: "This place does not open on weekends."

Strategy: First, read all the statements. Then read each text and eliminate options. There are extra texts (more texts than statements), so not all are used.

Task 2 — Understand a Narrative or Descriptive Text

Format: A text of 200-250 words (personal email, blog, description of an experience) followed by 5 multiple-choice questions (A, B, C).

Strategy: Read the entire text once to grasp the general idea. Then read each question and look for the answer in the corresponding paragraph. The questions follow the order of the text.

Task 3 — Advertisements and Informative Texts

Format: 6-8 advertisements or short texts (job offers, apartment ads, activity programs) and 5 situations. You must decide which advertisement corresponds to each person/situation.

Strategy: Underline the key words of each situation (schedule, price, location, requirements). Look for that same information in the advertisements. Eliminate by process of elimination.

Task 4 — Texts with Gaps

Format: A text with 5 blank spaces. For each gap, you choose from three options (A, B, C). The options can be prepositions, connectors, verbs, or vocabulary.

Strategy: Read the complete text before filling in. Often the following context clarifies which option goes in a previous gap. Pay attention to prepositions (to, from, in, for, by) and connectors (but, because, when).

Task 5 — Arrange a Text or Complete a Dialogue

Format: A disordered text (fragments of an email or a story) that you must put in logical order, or a dialogue with mixed responses.

Strategy: Look for time markers (first, after, at the end) and logical connectors (therefore, however). In dialogues, pay attention to question-answer pairs: a question with "when" needs a time response.

Types of Texts Appearing in the DELE A2

• Posters, signs, and public notices
• Emails and personal messages
• Classified ads (jobs, housing, activities)
• Restaurant menus and tourist brochures
• Simple instructions and forms
• Short articles from magazines or blogs
• Agenda entries or event programs

Time Management

60 minutes for 5 tasks = 12 minutes per task maximum.

• Task 1: 8-10 min (very short texts, quick)
• Task 2: 12-14 min (longer text, needs re-reading)
• Task 3: 10-12 min (compare multiple advertisements)
• Task 4: 10-12 min (requires grammatical analysis)
• Task 5: 8-10 min (logic and order)

Golden Rule: If a question blocks you for more than 2 minutes, mark your best option and move on. Return at the end if you have time left.

Common Mistakes in This Test

• Reading word by word instead of looking for key information
• Choosing the first option that "sounds good" without checking with the text
• Leaving questions blank (there is no penalty for incorrect answers)
• Spending 20 minutes on task 2 and running out of time for tasks 4 and 5

How to Practice Reading Comprehension

• Read signs and menus in Spanish when walking down the street
• Follow Instagram accounts in Spanish with short texts
• Read emails and messages in Spanish (change your phone's language)
• Do timed exercises with real exam models