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Spanish D.E.L.E.

What is the DELE?

The Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language D.E.L.E. are official qualifications, which certify the level of competence and proficiency in using the Spanish language. The Instituto Cervantes awards them on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.

For information on C1 level please contact Siân Austin.

Diploma de Español – Nivel Inicial

Certifies sufficient proficiency to cope with a range of situations requiring elementary use of the language.

Diploma de Español – Nivel Intermedio

Certifies sufficient proficiency to communicate in everyday situations, which do not require a specialised knowledge of the Spanish language.

Diploma de Español – Nivel Superior

Certifies sufficient proficiency to communicate in situations requiring advanced use of Spanish and an understanding of Spanish culture.

The University of Salamanca collaborates with the Instituto Cervantes in the preparation and marking of the DELE examination papers.

General candidate requirements

Candidates who wish to sit the DELE examination must fulfil the following requirements:

1. At the time of enrolment, show written proof of citizenship of a country whose official language is not Spanish.

2. Citizens of Spanish-speaking countries, resident in states where Spanish is not an official language may apply to sit the examination if they fulfil at least two of the following conditions:

  • Spanish is not the mother tongue of either parent.
  • Spanish is not the first language the candidate learnt.
  • Spanish is not the candidate’s habitual language for communicating.
  • The candidate has not studied part or all of his/her Primary or Secondary education in Spanish.

Candidates referred to in (2) should sign a written declaration that they fulfil at least two of the conditions mentioned.

Examination and enrolment dates

  • Registration period: 27 Feb - 15 April 2012.
  • Examination: Friday 25th May 2012

Examination Fees

  • A1 - £90
  • A2 - £105
  • B1 (Inicial) - £116
  • B2 (Intermedio) - £132
  • C1 - £137
  • C2 (Superior) - £143

Enrolment details

If you want to enrol please contact Siân Austin (Tel. 029 20874183)
It is necessary to provide the following documentation:

  • Correctly completed enrolment form.
  • Photocopy of identification document. The ID document must include a photograph and full name, nationality and date of birth. Information given on the candidate’s enrolment form must correspond with that on the ID document.
  • Signed declaration, if applicable, of the fulfilment of at least two of the conditions described under (2) of “General candidate requirements” which can be obtained from AustinS5@cardiff.ac.uk

Once the candidate is enrolled, he/she will receive a stamped copy of the enrolment form, on which will appear his/her assigned enrolment number. The candidate will be sent by post an official attendance notification detailing the place, date and time the examination will be held.

Examination format

The examinations are made up of five papers, each one consisting of different exercises. To obtain each DELE qualification the candidate must achieve a "pass" result on all five papers in one sitting

A1 (Level A1)

This accredits sufficient linguistic ability for understanding and responding appropriately in basic day-to-day situations. The test consists of:

Exam paper

Duration

Format

Reading comprehension

45 minutes

a. Candidates must be able to understand short, simple, practical and highly contextualised written texts.
b. Candidates must answer by selecting the appropriate answer to multiple-choice questions on informative texts.
c. Candidates must select information from a text, based on a series of questions.

Written expression and interaction

25 minutes

a. Candidates must be able to answer some personal questions.
b. Candidates must be able to write basic sentences about themselves and their environment.

Listening comprehension

20 minutes

a. Candidates must be able to understand short, simple dialogues and direct texts to a satisfactory level. b. Candidates must do 4 exercises based on simple dialogues or recorded information, by choosing the correct answers.

Oral expression and interaction

15 minutes

Candidates are evaluated individually. They must be able to hold on a general conversation about themselves and participate in a role-play with basic questions

DIPLOMA A2 (LEVEL A2)

This accredits sufficient linguistic ability for understanding and responding appropriately in basic day-to-day situations around personal information, information about family and friends, shopping, places, jobs, etc. The test consists of:

Exam paper

Duration

Format

Reading comprehension

50 minutes

a) Candidates must be able to understand short, simple, practical and highly contextualised written texts.
b) Candidates must answer by selecting the appropriate answer to multiple-choice questions on informative texts.
c) Candidates must select information from a text, based on a series of questions.

Written expression and interaction

50 minutes

a) Candidates must be able to answer some personal questions.
b) Candidates must be able to write basic sentences about themselves and their environment.

Listening comprehension

25 minutes

a) Candidates must be able to understand short, simple dialogues and direct texts to a satisfactory level.
b) Candidates must do 4 exercises based on simple dialogues or recorded information, by choosing the correct answers.

Oral expression and interaction

15 minutes

Candidates are evaluated individually. They must be able to hold on a general conversation about themselves and participate in a role-play with basic questions or answers

B1(Nivel Inicial)

Exam paper Duration Format
Reading comprehension 40 minutes 1. The candidate must answer a series of multiple-choice questions about informative texts.
2. The candidate must extract information from a text, working with a series of questions.
Written expression 50 minutes Production of short, simple texts of a practical nature, such as notes, notices, etc.
Listening comprehension 30 minutes Consists of four exercises, working from simple dialogues or recorded information. Candidates must select the appropriate answers.

Grammar and vocabulary		 40 minutes 1. The candidate must match different sentences with the corresponding situations.
2. The candidate must select, from various sentences, words or expressions which do not fit the context.
3. The candidate must complete a text using the correct option.
Oral expression 10 minutes The candidate must hold a conversation with the examiners for 10 to 15 minutes.

B2 (Nivel Intermedio)

Exam paper Duration Format
Reading comprehension 60 minutes The candidate must answer a series of 12 multiple choice questions about four texts. The length of each text will be a maximum of 450 words.
Written expression 60 minutes The candidate must produce a personal letter and an essay. Each must be of between 150 and 200 words.
Listening comprehension 30 minutes The candidate must answer 12 multiple choice questions about four spoken texts (recordings). The recordings will be of announcements, news items, conversations or interviews.

Grammar and vocabulary		 60 minutes The candidate must complete the following two exercises:
1. Incomplete text (20 spaces): the candidate must choose the most appropriate of three options for each blank space.
2. The candidate must fill in the blank spaces in 40 short dialogues with the most appropriate option.
Oral expression 10 – 15 minutes The candidate must hold a conversation with the examiners for 10 to 15 minutes.

C2 (Nivel Superior)

Exam paper Duration Format
Reading comprehension 60 minutes The candidate must complete the following two exercises:
1. The candidate must answer a series of 9 multiple choice questions about three texts. The length of each text will be a maximum of 800 words.
2. The candidate must match up a maximum of ten series of text fragments.
Written expression 60 minutes The candidate must produce:
1. A letter which refers to matters which are not personal.
2. An essay.
Each must be of between 150 and 200 words.
Listening comprehension 45 minutes The candidate must answer 16 multiple choice questions about four spoken texts (recordings). The recordings will consist of conversations between two or more speakers, or commentaries or reports broadcasted in the media.

Grammar and vocabulary		 60 minutes The candidate must complete the following three exercises:
1. Incomplete text (20 spaces): the candidate must choose the most appropriate of three options for each blank space.
1. Multiple-choice exercise: The candidate must fill in the blank spaces in 35 sentences with the most appropriate of the options offered.
2. The candidate must detect five grammatical errors in one or various short texts.
Oral expression 10 – 15 minutes The candidate must hold a conversation with the examiners for 10 to 15 minutes.

Preparation courses

Cardiff University also offers courses specifically to prepare you for the DELE exams. These courses are independent from the exams. You do not have to attend a preparation course in order to sit the examination.
Please contact the Centre for Lifelong Learning for information regarding these courses.

Practice papers and books for exam preparation

Practice papers are available at:http://diplomas.cervantes.es

Models in PDF format. http://cvc.cervantes.es - Interactive exam models with automatic marking system.

The following books are useful when preparing for the DELE examinations.

  • Certificado Inicial: Preparación Certificado Inicial Español Lengua Extranjera
    Authors: M. Baralo, B. Gilbert & B. Moreno de los Ríos
    Madrid: Edelsa
  • Diploma Básico: Preparación Diploma Básico Español Lengua Extranjera
    Authors: J. Arribas & R.M. de Castro
    Madrid: Edelsa
  • Diploma Superior: Preparación Diploma Superior Español Lengua Extranjera
    Authors: D. Gálvez et altri.
    Madrid: Edelsa