Reading builds the vocabulary and speed every DELE, DELF and Goethe-Zertifikat reading paper tests, and studies link larger amounts of reading to higher test scores. But it isn't exam preparation on its own: each exam also tests listening, writing and speaking, and uses task formats you need to practise with official sample papers.
What does the reading paper look like at each level?
All three exams follow the CEFR levels, and each has a separate reading paper. These are the figures from the official exam pages and guides:
| Level | DELE (Spanish): Comprensión de lectura | DELF (French): Compréhension des écrits | Goethe-Zertifikat (German): Lesen |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 45 min, 4 tasks, 25 questions | 30 min, 4 exercises | 25 min, 3 parts |
| A2 | 60 min, 4 tasks, 25 questions | 30 min, 4 exercises | 30 min, 4 parts, 20 questions |
| B1 | 70 min, 5 tasks, 30 questions | 45 min, 2 exercises | 65 min, 5 parts, 30 questions |
| B2 | 70 min, 4 tasks, 36 questions | 60 min, 2 exercises | 65 min, 5 parts, 30 questions |
The DELE guides also give the total length of text in the reading paper: 595–925 words at A1, 1,325–1,725 at A2, 1,490–1,820 at B1 and 1,750–1,950 at B2. Wrong answers are not penalised. In the Contos library (October 2026), an average Spanish chapter runs to 181 words at A1 and 396 at B2, so the B2 reading paper holds about five chapters' worth of text, to be read and answered in 70 minutes.
What kinds of texts do the exams use?
Mostly practical, everyday texts, which is the first honest caveat about preparing with stories.
- DELE A1: short emails and postcards, notes, adverts, signs, notices, labels and tickets.
- DELE A2: personal letters and emails, short articles, blogs, forums, recipes and job adverts, plus a longer text that can be a diary, a biography, news or a short story.
- DELE B1: adverts and messages, an informative text, anecdotes and travel guides, instructions and narrative texts, and formal or personal letters.
- DELE B2: complex informative texts, opinion pieces, news and letters to the editor, and literary and historical texts.
- Goethe B1 (official practice paper): a personal email, a press article, adverts, forum comments and the house rules of a gym.
- DELF: France Éducation international describes documents for finding your way, getting information and following instructions, short or very long depending on the level.
Stories appear, especially in the DELE at A2 and above, but they are a minority. If you prepare only with fiction, the formats of emails, notices and opinion articles will be new on the day. Work through the official sample papers for that.
Does extensive reading raise exam scores?
There is evidence that it does, mostly from English tests in Japan:
| Study | Who | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Nishizawa, Yoshioka & Fukada (2010) | Japanese engineering students, 45 minutes of silent reading a week over four years | Mean TOEIC scores rose with the amount read: 435 for students who read around 310,000 words, 498 at 660,000 and 604 at 1.8 million, about the same as a group who had studied abroad for 10 months (605). The authors saw 300,000 words as the point where many students' scores started rising clearly. |
| Mason & Krashen (2017), as summarised by Krashen | Eight adult readers aged 21 to 78 | TOEIC gains closely tracked hours of reading, at about 0.6 points per hour, and age didn't predict how efficiently people gained. |
Both are small studies without randomised control groups, and both measured English. They support the idea that reading volume shows up in test scores, not that reading alone is the fastest route to a certificate. Our page on extensive reading explains why volume matters.
What does reading not cover?
Three of the four papers in each exam, and the pass rules mean you can't make up for them with reading alone.
| Exam | Papers | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| DELE | Reading, listening, writing, speaking: 25 points each | At least 30 of 50 in reading plus writing, and 30 of 50 in listening plus speaking |
| DELF | Reading, listening, writing, speaking: 25 points each | 50 of 100 overall, with at least 5 of 25 in every paper |
| Goethe A1 and A2 | Written exam plus speaking, taken together | 60 of 100; at A2, at least 45 in the written part and 15 in speaking |
| Goethe B1 and B2 | Four modules, which can be taken separately or together | 60% in each module you take |
DELE certificates have no expiry date, and France Éducation international says the DELF is valid for life. Contos helps with the reading side: vocabulary, reading speed and comfort with longer texts. It has no audio, no writing or speaking practice and no exam-format tasks. It is a reading library, not an exam course, and you will need other material for the rest.
How do you fit reading into an exam plan?
- Check your level against the exam, not the other way round. If chapters at the exam's level are hard going, our page on choosing a level explains how to tell.
- Read a little every day for vocabulary and speed. Read stories at the exam level or one below. Save the words you tap as flashcards.
- Notice the grammar the level expects. At B1, German reading is full of subordinate clauses with the verb at the end, like the line below. Our page on grammar through reading explains how to notice on purpose.
- From six to eight weeks out, switch the balance to official sample papers, under timed conditions, for all four skills.
- Keep reading for pleasure through the final weeks. It is the part of the plan that doesn't feel like revision.
Sie fotografierte das Glas mit ihrem Handy, weil sie nicht wusste, was sonst zu tun war.
Read a free chapter at your exam level and time yourself.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Can I pass the DELE or DELF by reading alone?
Unlikely. Both exams give equal weight to reading, listening, writing and speaking, and the DELF fails anyone with under 5 of 25 in any paper. Reading builds the vocabulary that helps in all four, but you need to practise the other skills and the task formats too.
Does Contos prepare me for a specific exam?
Not directly. Contos is a library of stories at CEFR levels A1 to B2, with tap-to-translate and flashcards. It doesn't use exam formats or teach exam technique. Use it alongside official sample papers and a course or tutor for speaking and writing.
Which Spanish does the DELE use, and which does Contos teach?
The DELE is set by Instituto Cervantes for Spanish in general. Contos's Spanish stories are written in Spain Spanish. Reading them helps with any variety, but you'll meet some Latin American vocabulary on the exam.
Can I take the Goethe B1 modules separately?
Yes. The Goethe-Institut's regulations say the B1 and B2 exams have four modules that can be taken individually or in combination, each passed at 60%. A1 and A2 are taken as a whole.
Do DELE and DELF certificates expire?
No. Instituto Cervantes says DELE diplomas have indefinite validity, and France Éducation international says the DELF is valid for life. Some employers or universities may still ask for a recent result.