DELF B1 Compréhension Écrite: Format, Two Exercises & Scoring

What DELF B1 reading tests

The B1 reading section assesses whether you can identify relevant information across multiple short texts and understand the main points of a longer informational article. The comparative-reading exercise is unusual — you match constraints to options rather than answer literal questions.

Texts sit within CEFR B1 topics: work, education, travel, technology, environment, health. Vocabulary spans the ~3000 most-frequent French words. The paper is longer than A2 both in total length and per-text density.

Format & the two exercises

How the 25 marks split

Exercise 1 uses a table format — 4 profiles, each with 4 constraint criteria (budget, location, time, activity type). You mark ‘Convient’ or ‘Ne convient pas’ for each listing against each profile. Each correct match earns 1 mark, with 40 cells to fill.

Exercise 2 mixes multiple-choice (2–3 marks each), true/false-with-justification (2 marks each — 1 for the answer, 1 for the quoted justification), and short-answer questions (1–2 marks each). Most B1 candidates who miss the pass do so on Exercise 2 questions where the answer sits in a subordinate clause.

Tactics for both exercises

For Exercise 1, do NOT read the 8 listings one by one first. Read the 4 profiles, extract each profile’s 4 constraints into a mental table, then scan each listing once looking only for those constraints. This turns an overwhelming exercise into a 10-minute sort.

For Exercise 2, use the question-first method: skim the 10–12 questions before reading the article, mark keywords in each, then read the article underlining every phrase that answers a question. Article density at B1 means you can afford only one careful read plus targeted re-reads.

Common mistakes

• Reading Exercise 1’s listings before the profiles. Costs 8 minutes and produces confusion.
• Guessing true/false without the justification. Half marks only; the quoted justification is the other half.
• Paraphrasing quoted justifications. Only verbatim strings from the text score.
• Answering Exercise 2 questions in order. The first questions cluster in paragraph 1 — do those quickly, then jump to any easy questions further down.
• Running past the 35-minute limit. Reading eats into your writing time; time-box strictly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is DELF B1 reading?

35 minutes for two exercises — the comparative-reading table and the longer article. Most candidates who pass first-time spend 12 minutes on Exercise 1 and 23 minutes on Exercise 2.

What is the format of DELF B1 Exercise 1?

A comparative table — 4 personal profiles with 4 constraint criteria each, matched against 8 short listings (activities, jobs, courses, holidays). You mark ‘suits’ or ‘does not suit’ for each cell, 40 cells total.

Do DELF B1 reading questions have partial marks?

Yes — true/false-with-justification questions award 1 mark for the true/false answer and 1 for a verbatim justification quoted from the text. Correct answer without justification scores 1/2.

How difficult is DELF B1 reading compared to A2?

Meaningfully harder. The main text is 500 words at B1 (vs 4 × 150 at A2), and Exercise 1’s comparative format is new. Most A2 candidates need 3–6 months of B1 reading practice before the paper feels manageable.

Related Guides

• DELF B1 exam pattern & syllabus
• DELF B1 Production Orale — speaking
• DELF B1 Production Écrite — writing