There are parts of the DELE exam that are not complicated, but they are explained in a rather unfriendly way. Terms and conditions are one of them.
They are there, they are important, but let's be honest: hardly anyone reads them with enthusiasm. And, in addition, they are often written in a language that is difficult to understand. That's why I wanted to bring together the most important thing here and tell you about it in a much clearer way.
Because in the end I get a lot of questions about this. What exactly are you buying when you sign up for the exam. What happens if you don't show up later. Whether or not your money is returned. If you can change your call, center or level. How adaptations work. When do the results come out. What you can do if you don't agree with your grade.
So let's look at it calmly and in normal language.
What are you really buying when you sign up for DELE
When you pay for DELE registration, you are not buying several opportunities or some kind of open place to apply whenever you want. What you buy is a single call, at a specific level and in a specific center.
That is, you sign up to take a certain exam, on a certain date and for a certain level.
This payment includes both the right to take the exam and the issuance of the diploma, but only if you pass. There is no need to pay an extra amount for the diploma afterwards. That's included right from the start.
It's also important to understand something else: if you don't pass, that enrollment doesn't entitle you to apply again later without paying again. Each call works independently. If you take an exam, fail it and want to try again in the future, you have to re-register as you did the first time.
And this also means that if you apply twice at the same level, each call counts separately. If you approve one and discontinue a subsequent one, the previous one is still valid. They don't take away a degree because you suspended it later.
They won't give you a higher or lower level
This also creates a lot of confusion, so I prefer to say it very clearly.
When you sign up for a level, you test yourself at that level. Neither more nor less.
If you take, for example, DELE B2 and take a great exam, you are not automatically given a C1. And if you show up at a level and your result falls short, they don't grant you the lower level either.
The final result is eligible or not suitable for the level you signed up for.
That's why it's so important to choose the right level before paying.
Review your personal data with a magnifying glass
It seems silly, but it's not at all.
Before completing the registration, carefully review your name, last name, date of birth, email, level, school and the call you have selected.
If there are errors, they can often be corrected, yes, but that can delay procedures and make things quite complicated for you later. So it's worth it to stand for two more minutes and check everything thoroughly.
My advice is that you enter your details exactly as they appear on your identity document, NIE or passport. That they match as is.
Watch out for the oral test: it won't always be the same day
Here's another important detail that is sometimes overlooked.
The official date of the call corresponds to the written tests, but the oral test is not always done exactly that same day. Depending on the center, they can give it to you that same day, sooner or later.
That's why you should be very aware of the email sent to you by the exam center, because there they will confirm the specific information about your oral test.
And if you know from the beginning that you have limitations due to work, travel or because you need to organize travel and accommodation, I recommend that you report it to the center as soon as possible. They won't always be able to adapt, but it's much better to say it in time than to find out too late.
If you regret it, there can be a refund
One of the most common questions is this: I have registered, but now I don't want to take the exam, do they refund my money?
In general, yes, but only within 14 calendar days of signing up.
If you are within that deadline, you can request the return and they remove you from the call. If you let it go, not anymore.
So here my advice is very simple: if you have serious doubts, don't leave it until later thinking that you'll look at it. Look at the registration date and act within the deadline.
Change call, level or school: yes, but with conditions
This does not work freely or automatically. It can be done in some cases, but it depends on several things.
The first is to keep your current call open. The second is that the new call you want to switch to is also still open. And the third, that there are places available.
That is, you cannot change yourself when the deadlines are already closed or when there is no room left.
In some cases, a change of center can also be requested, but this does not always apply the same and there are limits. For example, you can't switch to a center in another country as if nothing happened. Here you should ask directly in your specific case to find out what options you have.
And there's another important thing with the price. If you switch to a more expensive test, you'll have to pay the difference. But if you switch to a cheaper one, they don't return the difference.
I'm not saying this because I think it's better or worse. I'm telling you this because that's the way it is and I prefer that you know it before being surprised.
What happens if you don't take the exam
If you don't show up, you lose that call.
You can't save that inscription for later or use it on another future date. Nor are approved parts kept for the next time. If you want to try again, you'll need to make a full new enrollment.
This is important because sometimes there are people who think: well, if I don't go, I'll apply for the next call with the same enrollment. And it doesn't work that way.
That's why, before you sign up, try to make sure as much as possible that that date fits you.
Adaptations and special needs: don't leave it until the last minute
If you need to do the exam with some kind of adaptation, you have to move it well in advance.
There are adaptations for certain cases, but it is not something that is improvised a few days before, much less on the same day of the exam. You have to inform the center, explain what you need and provide the documentation that justifies that request.
My personal advice here is very clear: if you think you may need adaptation, even before you sign up, talk to the center. Write, call or reach out if you can. Ask exactly what documentation they are going to ask you for and what steps you have to follow in your case.
The sooner you move it, the better.
When do the DELE results come out
The results don't come right away. This should be assumed from the start so as not to spend time looking at the mail every day.
They usually take around two months from written tests. In some high-volume calls, such as May or November, the deadline may be closer to three months.
They will notify you by email and you can also check it in your portal space if you registered online.
What you get when the results come out
If you pass, you receive your diploma in digital format.
If you don't pass, you don't receive a diploma, but you can check your qualification certification.
And here's one important thing that also raises a lot of doubts: in the results you see the scores, but you can't see the corrected exam or receive personalized feedback from the proofreaders. They don't teach you the test or send you detailed comments about each task.
I know that this sometimes frustrates, because we would all like to see in more detail what happened. But the system doesn't work that way.
You can request a revision of the note
Yes, there is the possibility to request a review of grades if you are not satisfied with the result.
Now, it's important to understand what that revision is and isn't.
It's not a personalized explanation of your exam or a detailed return. It is an official procedure to verify that everything has been managed correctly and, if necessary, to review the rating again according to the established process.
The request has a deadline, so it must be made within the time indicated from the publication of the notes. And it can also come at a cost.
Afterwards, they take a while to resolve it. It's not immediate.
So, if you are thinking of asking for a review, you should do so knowing this: it exists, yes, but it requires patience and it doesn't mean that you will have access to the exam or to specific comments.
An important case worth knowing
There is one situation that I think is especially useful to know.
Imagine that you are asking for a review of a call because you are not happy with your grade. While waiting for the result of that review, you decide to sign up for the same exam again in a future call, just in case.
And it turns out that later they tell you that, after the review, you had approved the previous call.
In that case, there is the possibility of requesting the return of the registration of that future call that you no longer need.
I say this because not many people know this and it can save a lot of heartbreak.
The most important idea of all
If I had to summarize this entire article in a single idea, it would be this: when you sign up for DELE, you are investing time, energy and money. And that is precisely why it is important to understand the rules of the exam and to prepare for it seriously.
Not to burden you more, but to avoid preventable mistakes. Choose the level wisely. Review your data. Tell you about the oral exam. Ask for an adaptation in time if you need it. Know what happens if you change your mind. Know how long the results take. Understand how a review works.
All of this gives you more peace of mind and avoids surprises.
And then, in addition to understanding the rules of the game, there's the other part: preparing well to get to the call with real options to pass.
Because yes, the exam is an investment. And the better you prepare it, the more sense that investment makes.
I hope this summary has helped you to understand much better that part of the DELE that tends to be heavier and more confusing.
If you are preparing your call, remember that in my courses and in my books I accompany you so that you understand each task well, practice with structure and arrive at the exam much more clearly.
A lot of encouragement with your preparation.
