Study guide
2.3 Reading Tarea 3: Matching Statements to Thematic Texts
DELE A2 — Spanish Language Diploma Elementary
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1 Chapter 1: Exam Overview, Format & Scoring Structure
1.1 DELE A2 Identity, Purpose & Nationality Requirements 1.2 Four Pruebas & Official Test Administration 1.3 Scoring System: The 30/50 Group Rules & Pass Criteria
2 Chapter 2: Prueba 1 — Reading Comprehension Tasks & Strategies
2.1 Reading Tarea 1: Personal Correspondence & Informational Texts 2.2 Reading Tarea 2: Notices, Bulletins & Short Announcements 2.3 Reading Tarea 3: Matching Statements to Thematic Texts 2.4 Reading Tarea 4: Long Narrative Text & Changes of Topic
3 Chapter 3: Prueba 2 — Listening Comprehension Tasks & Auditory Techniques
3.1 Listening Tarea 1: Six Short Conversations with Picture Options 3.2 Listening Tarea 2: Radio News, Ads & Programme Extracts 3.3 Listening Tarea 3: One Conversation – Man, Woman or Neither 3.4 Listening Tarea 4: Seven Messages Matched to Ten Statements
4 Chapter 4: Prueba 3 — Written Expression & Interaction
4.1 Writing Tarea 1: Replying to a Personal Message (60–70 Words) 4.2 Writing Tarea 2: Option A (Personal Life) or Option B (Photos/Data) 4.3 The Official Writing Scale, Cohesion & Common Errors
5 Chapter 5: Prueba 4 — Oral Expression & Interaction
5.1 Oral Test Structure, 12-Minute Preparation & Official Scales 5.2 Oral Tarea 1: Prepared Presentation on a Personal Topic 5.3 Oral Tarea 2: Describing a Photograph (Monologue) 5.4 Oral Tarea 3: Simulated Conversation Linked to the Photo
6 Chapter 6: Essential A2 Grammar — Verb Systems & Tenses
6.1 Present Indicative Regulars, Stem-Changers & Irregulars 6.2 Reflexive Verbs & Verbs of Preference (Gustar, Encantar, Doler) 6.3 The Past Tenses: Pretérito Perfecto vs. Pretérito Indefinido 6.4 Pretérito Imperfecto & The Three-Way Past Tense Contrast
7 Chapter 7: Essential A2 Grammar — Syntax, Periphrases & Operators
7.1 Expressing the Future: Ir a + Inf, Present & Simple Future 7.2 Verbal Periphrases of Obligation, Ability & Desire 7.3 Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns and Position Rules 7.4 Affirmative Imperative: Tú & Usted Commands
8 Chapter 8: Foundational Contrasts & Sentence Building
8.1 Ser vs. Estar: Attributes, Locations, States & Gerunds 8.2 Por vs. Para: Causes, Destinations, Deadlines & Exchanges 8.3 Comparatives, Superlatives, Quantifiers & Negatives 8.4 The Noun Phrase: Gender, Articles, Demonstratives, Possessives & Relatives
9 Chapter 9: Thematic Vocabulary — Daily Life, Housing & Surroundings
9.1 Personal Identity, Physical Description & Family Relations 9.2 Home, Housing Types, Furniture & Household Tasks 9.3 City Navigation, Places in Town & Giving Directions
10 Chapter 10: Thematic Vocabulary — Services, Transactions & Health
10.1 Food, Dining Out, Supermarket Shopping & Ordering 10.2 Shopping for Clothes, Sizes, Prices & Commercial Transactions 10.3 Health, Body Parts, Illnesses & Pharmacy Visits 10.4 Work, Professions, Workplace Routines & Job Applications 10.5 Studies, Courses, Phones & Everyday Services
11 Chapter 11: Thematic Vocabulary — Leisure, Travel & Environment
11.1 Free Time, Hobbies, Sports & Entertainment 11.2 Travel, Accommodations, Transport Modes & Bookings 11.3 Weather, Climate, Seasons & Natural Environment
12 Chapter 12: Exam Day Strategy, Time Management & Final Review
12.1 Timing, Answer Sheets & Pacing on Exam Day 12.2 Identifying Distractors, False Friends & Traps 12.3 6-Week Structured Study Plan & High-Yield Checklist
2.3 Reading Tarea 3: Matching Statements to Thematic Texts
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
Tarea 3 presents 3 thematic texts (A, B, C) of 100–120 words each and 6 descriptive statements that must each be matched to one text.
Texts share a single umbrella theme—such as three vacation packages, three rental properties, three language academies, or three cultural workshops.
Superficial keyword traps are prevalent: a statement sharing identical vocabulary with Text A often describes a requirement or feature found only in Text B or C.
A tabular matrix strategy—evaluating each statement against all three texts systematically—minimizes confusion and eliminates false matches.
Candidates should reserve approximately 13–15 minutes for Tarea 3, reading all three texts first to establish comparative thematic boundaries.
Last updated: September 2026
Quick Focus: In Tarea 3, you read 3 short, thematically linked texts (labeled A, B, and C; 100–120 words each) and match 6 statements (numbered 14 to 19) to the corresponding text. Budget approximately 13–15 minutes of your exam time for this task.
Structural Mechanics of Tarea 3
Tarea 3 evaluates your capacity to extract fine-grained, comparative factual information from multiple competing sources. Rather than answering isolated questions, you must perform relational reading across three parallel profiles sharing the same broad subject matter.
Component Specification Operational Role
Stimulus Texts 3 thematic texts: Text A, Text B, Text C Descriptions of 3 people, accommodations, excursions, courses, or events
Text Length 100–120 words per text (300–360 words total) Short, dense descriptions packed with attributes, restrictions, and features
Number of Statements 6 statements (items 14–19 in Prueba 1) Each statement describes a person's need, a feature, or an activity
Matching Scheme Each statement matches exactly one text (A, B, or C) Letters can be used more than once (e.g., A=2, B=2, C=2 or A=3, B=2, C=1)
- Allocated Time ~13–15 minutes ~3 minutes for text reconnaissance, ~2 minutes per statement evaluation
- Score Value 6 points (24% of Prueba 1 total) Major contributor to passing the reading section
- Typical Thematic Frameworks and Scenarios
The three texts usually share one theme. In the official model, three Spanish women describe their experience of working outside Spain. The challenge lies in distinguishing subtle differences in services, locations, prices, rules, and intended audiences:
Vacation Accommodations: Three hotels, rural houses ( casas rurales ), or campsites. Text A might be a luxury seaside resort with spa and high prices; Text B a rustic mountain hostel with shared dorms and hiking trails; Text C a downtown boutique hotel near museums with family rooms.
Training Courses and Workshops: Three adult education classes (e.g., culinary arts, photography, digital marketing). One requires prior experience and expensive equipment; one is designed for absolute beginners with all materials included; one is an intensive weekend course taught online.
Travel Excursions and City Tours: Three tourist packages. One focuses on historical architecture with private transport; one involves rigorous outdoor trekking with camping; one is a relaxed gastronomic tour tasting local wines and tapas.
Housing Rentals for Students: Three shared flats or apartments. One is centrally located but noisy with high rent; one is quiet, spacious, and allows pets but sits far from the university; one is economical, includes utility bills, but restricts overnight visitors.
The Distractor Mechanism: Keyword Overlap Traps
The primary source of candidate error in Tarea 3 is falling for lexical cross-contamination . Test writers intentionally plant identical keywords across different texts while ensuring the functional meaning only satisfies the target text:
Statement Requirement Distractor in Text A (Keyword Match) True Match in Text B (Conceptual Match)
Es ideal para personas que viajan con mascotas. El hotel prohíbe la entrada de animales domésticos en todas las instalaciones. (Mentions animales , but prohibits them!) Aceptamos perros y gatos de cualquier tamaño sin coste adicional. (Uses synonyms perros y gatos , perfectly fulfilling the condition).
Ofrece clases para personas sin conocimientos previos. Es obligatorio haber completado el nivel intermedio de pintura al óleo. (Mentions painting, but demands intermediate skill). Diseñado para quienes nunca han cogido un pincel y quieren empezar de cero. (Paraphrases sin conocimientos as empezar de cero ).
Incluye todo el material necesario para la actividad. Los alumnos deben comprar su propio material antes de la primera sesión. (Contains the word material , but shifts the obligation to students). El centro proporciona todas las herramientas y recursos sin suplemento. (Synonymous phrasing: proporciona todas las herramientas ).
Tiene un horario flexible para trabajadores. Las clases son estrictas: lunes y miércoles a las 09:00 de la mañana. (Inflexible schedule during standard working hours). Los estudiantes pueden elegir asistir en turno de tarde o ver las grabaciones. (Paraphrases flexibility: elegir asistir en turno de tarde ).
The Matrix Method: Systematic Comparative Elimination
To avoid confusion, adopt the Matrix Method rather than haphazardly guessing based on first impressions:
Phase 1: Quick Text Profiling (3 minutes): Read Text A, Text B, and Text C once. Beside each text, write down 3 defining keywords capturing its unique personality:
- Text A: Modern / Central / Expensive / Adults only
- Text B: Rural / Nature / Family-friendly / Pets allowed
- Text C: Economical / Practical / Free breakfast / Near airport
Phase 2: Statement Deconstruction (1 minute per statement): Read Statement 1. Underline the indispensable requirement (e.g., quiere llevar a su perro , no tiene mucho dinero , necesita transporte incluido ).
Phase 3: Relational Filtering: Evaluate Statement 1 against your profiles. Does Text A allow pets? No, forbidden. Does Text C mention pets? No mention at all. Does Text B mention pets? Yes, explicitly welcomes dogs. Mark B.
Phase 4: Positive and Negative Verification: Never select an answer solely because the text contains a matching noun. Verify both that the selected text positively affirms the condition and that the other two texts fail to meet it or actively contradict it.
Phase 5: Distribution Check: All three letters (A, B, C) are normally used; in the official model key each letter appears twice. If your final answers contain zero occurrences of Text C, re-examine your matches.
Annotated Authentic Case Study
Examine this sample scenario with three language study options:
Text A (Academia Cervantes): Cursos intensivos de español orientados a profesionales del sector sanitario y de los negocios. Grupos reducidos de máximo 6 estudiantes. Exigimos nivel B1 acreditado. Las clases son presenciales de 18:00 a 21:00.
Text B (Escuela Sol y Mar): Ubicada en primera línea de playa, ofrecemos cursos de español combinados con clases de surf y actividades acuáticas por las tardes. Abierto a todos los niveles, desde principiantes absolutos. Alojamiento disponible en familias locales.
Text C (Instituto Virtual): Aprende español a tu propio ritmo desde casa con nuestra plataforma interactiva abierta las 24 horas. Tutorías individuales semanales de 30 minutos con profesores nativos. Precios muy económicos para estudiantes universitarios.
Item 1: Esta opción es perfecta para alguien que no ha estudiado nunca español y le gusta el deporte.
Evaluation: Text A requires B1 level ( nivel B1 acreditado ); Text C offers individual academic tutoring online. Text B explicitly welcomes beginners ( desde principiantes absolutos ) and incorporates water sports ( clases de surf y actividades acuáticas ). Match: Text B.
Item 2: Permite organizar el tiempo de estudio con total libertad sin tener que asistir a un aula física.
Evaluation: Texts A and B require physical attendance ( presenciales , primera línea de playa ). Text C is 100% digital with 24/7 access ( desde casa , abierta las 24 horas ). Match: Text C.