The exam
What the DELE exam is and what it's for
The DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is the official certificate of your level of Spanish. It is issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education and has international recognition and permanent validity.
It is mainly used for three things:
- Obtaining Spanish citizenship (DELE A2 or higher is required).
- Accessing universities and master's programmes.
- Certifying your level at work, in public-sector exams or immigration procedures.
Unlike other certificates, the DELE never expires and is accepted in any country.
Choose your level
DELE levels: how to choose yours
The DELE is offered in six levels (A1 to C2). Each one has its own structure and strategy. Choose by your goal:
DELE A2 · citizenship
The exam for Spanish citizenship.
DELE A2 for citizenshipDELE B1
Intermediate level for study and work.
DELE B1 preparationDELE B2
The most requested — and where most people get stuck.
DELE B2 preparationDELE C1
The advanced block, with integrated skills.
DELE C1DELE C2
Mastery level of Spanish.
The C2 level of the DELEIn the first lesson we run a placement test and decide together which exam session suits you.
Format
DELE exam structure: the four papers
Every level is made up of four papers:
Reading comprehension
You read several texts and answer questions. Time management is decisive.
Listening comprehension
You listen to authentic audio. The strategy is to train your ear with real exam materials.
Written expression and interaction
You write texts to a brief. Many points are lost here to avoidable mistakes; marking against the official criteria makes the difference.
Oral expression and interaction
You prepare and present a topic and talk with the examiner. The key: having practised it many times before the real day.
Method
How we run your online DELE lessons
We mark against the official exam criteria
Our lessons are taught by an official examiner accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. We know the marking schemes and scoring criteria, so we give you the grade you would get in the real exam and what to change to raise it. No more studying blind.
Real mock exams and past papers
We work with authentic past papers and run full mock exams marked with you, so there are no surprises on exam day.
Exam sessions
DELE 2026 exam dates and deadlines
The DELE runs several times a year (February, April, May, July, September and November). Exact dates and centres are published at examenes.cervantes.es. We recommend registering as soon as the window opens.
June 2026.
Price
DELE exam fee and lesson prices
Official fees (Instituto Cervantes), approx. 2026: A1 €124, A2 €135, B1 €168, B2 €196, C1 €217, C2 €232. They vary by country.
Our lessons are flexible: single lessons, packs or a full plan. In the first session we tell you honestly how many lessons you need — no inflated packages.