The exam
What the DELE C1 is
The DELE C1 certifies an advanced level: understanding long, complex texts, expressing yourself with spontaneous fluency and producing well-structured texts. Here you move from "knowing Spanish" to handling it with command.
Uses
What the DELE C1 is for
Master's and doctorates
Required for many official master's and effectively the floor for a doctorate in Spanish.
Public exams and skilled roles
Enough for public-sector exams, international bodies and advanced profiles.
ELE teachers and translators
For advanced profiles that don't yet need C2.
Format
Structure of the DELE C1 exam
C1 introduces integrated skills: listening in order to write, reading in order to speak.
Reading and language use (90 min)
Complex texts plus grammar and vocabulary in context.
Listening and language use (50 min)
Lectures and debates, with regional varieties.
Integrated written skills (80 min)
You listen to a talk and write a summary + opinion (220–250 words).
Integrated oral skills (20 + 20 min)
An analytical monologue from a text (no personal opinion), plus conversation and negotiation.
Marking
How the DELE C1 is marked
Two groups out of 50, minimum 30/50 each. Language use is not a separate paper: it is integrated. The integrated skills are assessed as a whole.
Comparison
DELE B2 or DELE C1?
B2 is "one paper per skill"; C1 integrates skills, a change that surprises those coming from B2. If your B2 isn't solid yet, reinforce it in DELE B2 preparation.
Comparison
DELE C1 or DELE C2?
C1 certifies advanced command; C2, near-native command. C2 is longer, pricier and harder. If you're not in a context that requires it, C1 is the smart bet. If your goal fits C2, see DELE C2 preparation.
Price and dates
DELE C1 price and dates in 2026
The official fee is around €218. Fewer sessions (February, April, July, November). More at examenes.cervantes.es.
June 2026.
Method
How we prepare you to pass the DELE C1
Our lessons are taught by an official examiner accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. We work hard on the integrated skills: taking notes while listening, rephrasing without copying, structuring the summary with opinion, and tackling the analytical monologue (without giving a personal opinion — the number-one mistake).