FAQ: the DELE Exams:

What is the DELE?
DELE Diplomas of Spanish are certifications granted by Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.

Who Administers, promotes and manages the DELE?
The Instituto Cervantes

What is the Instituto Cervantes?
The Cervantes Institute is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature. The Cervantes Institute, a government agency, is the largest organization in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish language and culture. The ultimate goals of the Institute are to promote the education, the study and the use of Spanish universally as a second language, to support the methods and activities that would help the process of Spanish language education, and to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout non-Spanish-speaking countries

It offers the Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language (DELE) examinations on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Do I have to be a student at a Spanish language centre to take the DELE?
Anybody who wants their Spanish skills to be recognised can take the DELE and there are no prior conditions. If you are not Spanish and would like your Spanish skills to be recognised for personal or professional purposes, you can take the DELE. Typical candidates are speakers of Spanish as a FL, L2 (school-level, youth, and adult)

How many exams are there?
Exams from level A1 to C2 are offered following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the candidate should decide on the level for which to apply. Each exam consists of four printed tests and can be taken in DELE Examination Centers during annually scheduled calls published by the Instituto Cervantes.

How do I register for the DELE?
There are over 1000 testing centers in over 100 countries and five continents. To register to sit the DELE exam in Ireland, the following documentation must be supplied:

1. An enrolment form, which can be collected from Instituto Cervantes in Dublin or downloaded from here: Enrolment form (PDF). There are two pages; both must be carefully filled out and posted or handed into Instituto Cervantes in Dublin.
2. A photocopy of identification documents with a photo, which contain the following information: identity, nationality, place and date of birth. The information supplied by the candidate on the enrolment form must correspond with those contained in the identification documents.

Once registered, you will be given a stamped copy of your enrolment form which will contain your assigned code and you will receive the official examination information in an e-mail, informing you of the place, the date and the time of the exam.

When do I get my DELE results?
The results are published within approximately two months and candidates can access them through the DELE Diplomas of Spanish website and print the official grade certification from their restricted access. Candidates who passed will receive an official diploma printed by the National Coinage and Stamp Factory (Royal Mint of Spain).

Is the DELE valid everywhere and is it valid for life?
The DELEs have indefinite validity and international recognition. The internationally recognized DELE diplomas certify the level of proficiency achieved by a candidate regardless of where and when they studied Spanish language. International recognition: Internationally recognized in nationally regulated education systems (for example in Brazil, France and Italy), in schools, businesses, universities, etc. In Spain: Spanish citizenship, MIR, FIR, etc.

The DELE certificates are given by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports with no expiration date, and vested since its beginnings in 1989. Exams are offered for levels A1 through C2 according to the CEFR, and the candidate must choose which level they would like to be tested for ahead of time. Each exam consists of four sections (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking), is done on paper, and within set exam periods. DELE offers exams for school-levels, young people, and adults that speak Spanish as a second or a foreign language.

Does the DELE comply with international standards in certification?
Yes

How many exams and what levels?:
Six exams for adults: A1-C2
Two school-level exams: A1-A2/B1

What areas are tested?
– Reading Comprehension
– Listening Comprehension
– Written Expression
– Oral Expression

How can I find out what my level of Spanish is?
Candidates can take the Spanish competency test to find out their level of Spanish for general purposes in each skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking) by clicking here!