Leonardo Regino

How I Passed DELF B2 French Exam in 6 Months

My complete study strategy, resources, and tips for passing the DELF B2 French certification exam

3 min read
frenchdelfcertificationstudy-methods

Introduction

Six months ago, I decided to take the DELF B2 French exam. Today, I'm excited to share that I passed with a score of 82/100! Here's exactly how I did it.

My Starting Point

  • Level: Strong A2, weak B1
  • Previous experience: 2 years of casual French learning
  • Study time available: 1-2 hours/day

Study Strategy

1. Structured Learning (30% of time)

I used Assimil French for systematic vocabulary and grammar building. The key was consistency - 30 minutes every morning without fail.

Don't skip days. Even 15 minutes is better than skipping a day completely. Language learning thrives on consistency.

2. Immersion (50% of time)

This was the game-changer:

  • Podcasts: "InnerFrench" by Hugo Cotton (highly recommended!)
  • TV Shows: "Lupin" on Netflix with French subtitles
  • Reading: Le Monde newspaper (started with just headlines)
  • YouTube: French cooking channels (practical vocabulary!)

3. Active Practice (20% of time)

  • Weekly italki sessions with native speakers
  • Language exchange meetups
  • Writing essays and getting them corrected on r/French

Exam Preparation (Last 2 Months)

The final two months, I focused specifically on exam format:

  1. Practice Tests: Completed 8 full practice exams
  2. Writing Practice: Wrote 3 essays per week
  3. Speaking Drills: Recorded myself answering DELF prompts
  4. Listening Practice: Used RFI Savoirs materials

Resources I Used

Free Resources:

  • RFI Savoirs (listening comprehension)
  • TV5Monde (various exercises)
  • Français Authentique podcast
  • r/French subreddit

Paid Resources:

  • Assimil French course book ($50)
  • italki sessions ($15/hour, weekly)
  • DELF B2 preparation book ($30)

Exam Day Tips

Arrive 30 minutes early! The stress of rushing will affect your performance more than you think.

  1. Listening: Take notes in French, not English
  2. Reading: Skim questions before reading the text
  3. Writing: Plan for 5 minutes, write for 35, review for 5
  4. Speaking: Don't panic if you don't know a word - describe it instead

My Scores

  • Listening: 22/25
  • Reading: 21/25
  • Writing: 20/25
  • Speaking: 19/25
  • Total: 82/100 (Pass: 50/100)

Final Thoughts

The DELF B2 is very achievable with consistent effort. The key is:

  1. Consistency over intensity
  2. Immersion as much as possible
  3. Active practice with native speakers
  4. Exam-specific preparation in the final stretch

If I can do it while working full-time as an ML engineer, you can too!

Questions?

Feel free to reach out if you have questions about my study method or the DELF exam. Bonne chance!