When I first arrived in Spain, learning with teachers at a language school made A1 and A2 feel quite manageable. But once I started self-studying for B2, the difficulty ramped up significantly, especially when preparing for the DELE exam, which left me feeling lost for a while. I’ve gone through most of the mainstream textbooks on the market and hit a few pitfalls along the way. Today, I want to share my thoughts on several B2 textbooks I’ve used, hoping to offer some guidance to fellow students who are struggling.
How to Choose from Mainstream Textbooks?
Prisma vs. AUGE
These are probably the most common textbooks used in language schools. To put it simply, Prisma is more focused on speaking and listening, with practical content and exercises for daily life, making it great for building a foundation and conversational skills. However, its grammar explanations are a bit scattered, which isn’t ideal for self-learners who need a systematic grammar review for Spanish B2. On the other hand, AUGE is an exam-focused powerhouse. Its grammar points are summarized very clearly, and the exercises are highly targeted, making it perfect for the final push for the DELE exam. Personally, I used AUGE as my main resource, with Prisma as supplementary material for reading and listening.
Beyond the Mainstream: Any Hidden Gems?
Besides the two famous textbooks mentioned above for DELE B2 preparation, I’ve also used a few lesser-known books that were surprisingly effective. I highly recommend them.
Preparación al DELE B2 : This is a dedicated DELE preparation book, often called the ‘final sprint’ book. Its structure perfectly mimics the real exam, with plenty of practice questions for all four sections: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The best part is the detailed answer key. When it comes to self-studying Spanish B2, it not only tells you the correct answer but also explains why the other options are wrong, which is incredibly helpful for understanding the examiners’ mindset.
Uso de la gramática española - Intermedio : The ultimate grammar tool! If you find AUGE’s grammar explanations not detailed enough, you must get this book. It breaks down every important grammar point at the B2 level with meticulous detail, accompanied by tons of exercises. After working through it, my entire understanding of the grammar system became much clearer. The only downside is that it can be a bit dry and requires patience.
Here’s a simple rating of these textbooks across different dimensions, for your reference:
| Textbook | Systematic Grammar | Speaking Practicality | Exam Focus | Recommendation |
|---|
| Prisma B2 | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| AUGE 3 | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Preparación DELE B2 | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Uso de la gramática | ★★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
No single textbook is perfect. The best approach is to combine them based on your weaknesses. For example, since my grammar was weak, I focused on AUGE and ‘Uso’, while using Prisma to practice speaking and listening to maintain my feel for the language. I hope these tips are helpful to everyone. I also welcome other top students to share their personal favorite book lists! Let’s keep pushing towards C1!
