I'm Mar, a Spanish teacher and accredited DELE examiner, and I've spent years preparing students at every level for this exam. Here are the questions I get asked most about the DELE, with the short answer first and then what I'd want you to know before you register.
If you're after the full guide (levels, structure, prices and dates), it's in what the DELE is. This page gets straight to the point, question by question.
Frequently asked questions about the DELE exam
What is the DELE exam?
The DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is the official qualification issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education that certifies your level of Spanish. It's recognised worldwide and it never expires.
The important thing to understand is that the DELE doesn't measure how much Spanish you've studied, but what you can do with it: understand a text, write an email, hold a conversation. That's why knowing Spanish and knowing how to do the DELE aren't quite the same thing, and that's why this page exists.
What DELE levels are there?
There are six levels, following the Common European Framework of Reference: A1 and A2 (beginner), B1 and B2 (intermediate) and C1 and C2 (advanced). Each level is a separate exam with its own diploma.
You don't need the previous level to sit one: you can go straight for the B2 without ever having taken the B1. What I do recommend is being realistic, because the exam doesn't adapt to you: either you have the level or you don't.
Which DELE level do I need?
It depends on what you need it for. For Spanish citizenship you need at least the A2, together with the CCSE test. To study at a Spanish university, most ask for B2 and some degrees or master's programmes ask for C1. For work, a B2 is usually the level that opens doors and a C1 the one that shows you can work in Spanish without limitations.
My advice: sit the level you actually have, not the one you'd like to have. If you don't know which that is, take the free level test first. And if citizenship is your goal, you'll find all the answers in DELE A2 for Spanish citizenship.
How many parts does the DELE exam have?
At levels A1, A2, B1 and B2 there are four tests: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction. At C1 there are four tests and at C2 three, but they're organised around integrated skills: for example, you listen to an audio and write a text based on it, or you read a document and talk about it.
Each test is divided into tasks, and that's where the exam is won or lost. Two people with the same level of Spanish can get very different results depending on how well they know what each task is asking for.
How long does the DELE exam take?
Between roughly two and five hours, depending on the level: the A1 and A2 are the shortest and the C2 the longest. The written tests are done one after the other on the same day, with a break. The speaking test may be that same day or the day before or after, and your centre tells you in advance.
Before the speaking test you get preparation time with your notes: from 10 or 12 minutes at the beginner levels to 30 at C2. Many students find that reassuring.
How is the DELE graded? What score do I need?
The DELE is a pass/fail exam (APTO or NO APTO): there's no overall mark out of 10. At levels A1 to C1, the tests are split into two groups (reading + writing, and listening + speaking) and you need at least 30 out of 50 points in each group, that is, 60%. At C2 you need at least 60% in each of the three tests.
What this means in practice: within a group, one test can compensate for the other. If your B2 reading goes better than your writing, one pulls the other up. What you can't do is compensate across groups: a brilliant speaking test won't save a very weak listening. The diploma shows no score, only the level, although your grade certificate does show your points per test. I explain what's assessed in each one in how the DELE is graded.
Can I pass the DELE if I fail one part?
Yes, as long as you reach the 30 points in the group that part belongs to. Because the tests are scored by group, a weak result in one test can be made up for by the other test in the same group.
What doesn't exist is passing "in parts": if you don't reach the minimum in one group, the result is NO APTO and you have to retake the whole exam at another session, registration fee included, even if you'd passed the rest. That's why I insist so much in my courses on not neglecting any test.
What is the DELE for?
It's used for Spanish citizenship, to get into universities in Spain and other countries, for your CV and for any procedure where you need to officially prove your level of Spanish. As it's a qualification for life, it's an investment you make only once.
It's also useful for something less official: knowing where you really stand. Lots of people have been "speaking Spanish" for years, and the DELE is the first time anyone measures it against clear criteria.
DELE or SIELE? Which should I choose?
The DELE is a diploma by level that you pass or fail and that never expires. The SIELE is a score-based certificate (0 to 1000), taken on a computer, with faster results and a validity of five years.
If you need it for Spanish citizenship or want a qualification for life, the DELE is your option. If you only need to prove a level soon and don't mind renewing it, the SIELE may suit you better. You'll find the full comparison in DELE or SIELE. My courses and books prepare you for the DELE.
When is the DELE exam?
There are several sessions a year (between five and seven), but not every level is offered on every date, and registration closes between five and seven weeks before the exam. You'll find the calendar by level in DELE exam dates 2027 and the official dates on the Instituto Cervantes website.
This detail catches a lot of people out: they see the exam date, plan around it and then discover that registration closed a month ago. Write down the registration deadline first, and the exam date second.
Where do you take the DELE exam?
At Instituto Cervantes centres and accredited exam centres in more than a hundred countries. In many cities there are several options (universities, academies, language schools). Find your nearest centre in the Instituto Cervantes' official centre finder.
The exam is the same at every centre and it's marked by accredited examiners, so the centre you choose doesn't change the difficulty. If you're sitting it in Spain, I walk you through registration step by step in how to register for the DELE.
How much does the DELE exam cost?
It depends on the level and the country, and you pay when you register. In Spain, in 2026: A1, €112; A2, €138; B1, €173; B2, €204; C1, €225; C2, €240. Outside Spain each country sets its own fee, so check the amount at your centre before registering.
Prices change from one year to the next, and if you fail you pay the full registration fee again. That's one more reason to sit it once, well prepared.
When do the DELE results come out?
Results are published about two months after the written tests, and about three for the May and November sessions, which are the biggest. You're notified by email and you check them in your personal area on the Instituto Cervantes website, together with your grade certificate.
If you pass, your diploma arrives in digital format in that same email, so there's no second wait. You'll find the timelines for each session in DELE results: when they come out.
How do I prepare for the DELE exam?
By getting to know the exam task by task and practising with real exam models, not by studying grammar aimlessly. In my experience, most NO APTO results don't come from a lack of Spanish, but from not knowing exactly what the task was asking, managing time badly or never having done a full exam before the real day.
I have level-specific online courses (A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2), with recorded lessons so you go at your own pace, every task explained with commented examples, a community and group calls before each session: my DELE courses. And if what you want is to practise with up-to-date exam models, you'll find them on my DELE platforms.
In short
- The DELE is the Instituto Cervantes' official Spanish diploma, and it never expires.
- For Spanish citizenship you need the A2 or higher; for studying or working, whatever each institution or employer asks for.
- From A1 to C1 you need 30 out of 50 points in each group of tests; at C2, 60% in each test.
- Registration closes weeks before the exam: write that date down first.
- Results come out in about two months (three in May and November), and the digital diploma arrives in the same email.
¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸
