Do you have questions about the DELE assessment system? Do you want to know what the examiners are looking for and expect from you? We'll take a clear look at how both the oral and the written parts are graded, and what score you need on each test to get the Apto (pass).

Tests and scoring

On the DELE exam you can only get an Apto or a No Apto (pass or fail) — in other words, there are no intermediate grades. If you don't get the Apto, you can sit the exam again at a future exam session.

With the exception of the C2 level and the A2-B2 exam for schoolchildren, the grading of all the other exams between levels A1 and C1 shares the same structure and scoring.

The exam is divided into 2 blocks worth 50 points each, so together they add up to 100 points. In turn, each block contains two tests worth 25 points each.

In Block 1 you'll find Prueba 1, “Comprensión lectora” (the reading test), which is corrected automatically — completely objective, with no margin of error — and Prueba 3, “Expresión escrita” (the writing test), where the grading is more subjective, depending on the examiner.

In Block 2 you'll find Prueba 2, “Comprensión auditiva” (the listening test), which is corrected automatically, and Prueba 4, “Expresión e interacción Oral” (the speaking test), which is assessed by two people: one assessor gives a more general grade, while another person assesses you in a more specific, analytical way.

All the tests are worth exactly the same: 25 points each.

What score do you need to get your Apto?

To get your Apto you need a score of 30 points or more in each block — that is, at least 30 points in Block 1 and at least 30 points in Block 2, which corresponds to 60% of the exam.

If, for example, you get the maximum score of 50 points in one of the blocks but fewer than 30 points in the other, that won't be enough to get the Apto.

As we mentioned, each block consists of two tests, each worth 25 points. If you get a very low score on one of them but earn more points on the other, you can still reach the minimum 30 points you need for that block to be a pass — although the result you then get in the other block will also matter.

Grading criteria

In both the DELE writing test and the speaking test you receive a holistic grade, which accounts for 40% and assesses your performance overall.

In the specific case of Prueba 4, “Expresión e interacción Oral”, that holistic grade is decided by the interviewer based on your performance in the exam room.

In addition to the holistic grade, there is also an analytical grade.

In every case there are 4 possible marks for each point. On these scales you can be given a 0 (you couldn't do it or left it unanswered), a 1 (you tried, but you're not at the required level), a 2 (the minimum required to get the Apto) or a 3 (excellence).

What do they take into account when assessing you?

In Pruebas 3 and 4, they look at COHERENCIA (coherence) — that is, how your written and spoken discourse is structured. If your text or your oral performance follows a clear logic and the ideas are held together with different connectors, this will raise your score.

In both tests they also consider ALCANCE (range) — that is, your command of vocabulary. If it's specific and well suited to expressing yourself, without too much repetition and using synonyms, this will earn you points.

At the same time, very special attention is paid to grammatical and spelling CORRECCIÓN (accuracy).

On the other hand, in the speaking test great weight is given to FLUIDEZ (fluency): here they expect you not to make very long pauses or go blank, and to be clear and easy to understand in what you describe.

In the writing test, meanwhile, they look at the ADECUACIÓN (appropriateness) of your text to what the task asks of you — above all to the register or format requested.

How long do the results take?

DELE results generally take around 2–3 months to arrive. While the “Comprensión auditiva” and “Comprensión lectora” parts are corrected instantly by a machine, and the grade for the speaking test is decided right after you leave the exam room, it's the “Expresión escrita” test that slows down the grading process, since every single written text is corrected by a group of experts in Salamanca. After 2–3 months, you'll get the results of your DELE exam.

I hope this information has helped you understand the main criteria used to grade the DELE exam. Here you can watch a video explaining what you've just read:

Here you can see how the DELE C2 is assessed, which is different:

If you want to prepare effectively and strategically and walk into the exam with all the confidence you need to get your APTO, sign up for my course: https://aporeldele.com/cursos