The DELE exam gives aspirants a much-coveted title and certificate that attest to their expertise and fluency in Spanish. Do you want to say “Si” when asked “¿Hablas español?” Then, pursuing a course in Spanish is what you should be considering next. A DELE title serves multiple purposes- it adds value to your already exciting CV and enriches your language skills. It will help you understand Spanish, one of the most spoken languages globally, and explore the traditional and contemporary culture of the country.
Do you want to say “Si” when asked “¿Hablas español”? Completing a course in Spanish is just the thing you should invest your time and energy in. from adding to your already exciting CV to simply enriching your language skill- the DELE title serves all the purposes. From football to cuisine- Spain has always conquered a special place in everyone’s heart everywhere in the world. Wouldn’t it be a lot better if you could speak the language fluently and finally understand Spanish, one of the top five most spoken languages?
What is the DELE Exam?
DELE is the acronym for Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera, or Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language. You have to sit for the DELE exam to get the diplomas. The exam that you have to go through to achieve the diploma is the DELE Exam. The exam is conducted and organised by Instituto Cervantes. The whole process of registering for the exam runs with the support and grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport.
The title of DELE is recognized worldwide and is proof of the speaker’s proficiency in Spanish. The exam is open to all learners and Spanish natives. There are four parts to the exam: reading, writing, speaking and listening (not necessarily in this order). In addition, as a learner, you can complete the exam in six levels of proficiency, namely A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. So, if you feel that you are proficient enough to crack the C2 level of proficiency, you can choose that particular level and appear in the exam for all four areas. On successful completion, you will get the DELE certificate. Another advantage is that these certificates do not have any duration of validity and bear the same importance for a lifetime.
DELE Exam in Indian Cities
Instituto Cervantes, or the Cervantes Institute, has announced on its official website that for the DELE exam in India, there will be five cities where the exam will be held. These five cities are:
- Chennai
- Jaipur
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
However, aspirants should note that all the cities will not hold all exam levels. Each city will arrange for specific levels of exams. There will be an exam centre in Mussoorie also. The exam level at this centre will be announced later. To get a clear idea about the list of cities for the DELE exam in India, aspirants can refer to the following table-
| City | Exam centre | Address |
| Chennai | Inaword Centre for Languages | No 26, Teachers Colony, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai |
| Jaipur | Genesis Groups | 84/260 Roondla Plaza, Madhyam Marg, Mansarovar Plaza, Near K.V.-5, Jaipur |
| Kolkata | Indo-Hispanic Language Academy | 164/10/3 Lake Gardens, 3rd Street, Kolkata 700045 |
| Mumbai | Hispanic Horizons | Vas Chambers Building, 18 Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050. |
| New Delhi | Instituto Cervantes de Nueva Delhi | 48, Hanuman Road, Nueva Delhi, 110001 (New Delhi) |
For further information about the exam centres in India, click here.
DELE Exam in India Format
The DELE Exam is no exception to any of the other exams of European Languages. We have summarised all you would like to know about the DELE exam format followed in India in the below table:
| Number of Areas | Four |
| Areas | Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening |
| Number of proficiency levels | Six |
| Names of proficiency levels | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 |
| Duration | Two to five hours |
| Passing marks | ● 60% or more in reading and writing
● 60% or more in speaking and listening |
| Question patterns | ● Fill in the blanks
● True or False ● Essay questions ● Matching columns etc |
DELE Exam Registration Format
To make an aspirant more acclimated to Spanish, Instituto Cervantes has set up the registration process on its website in a simple way but in Spanish. The steps to register are:
- Create a new account with personal details like first name, last name, date of birth, nationality, contact details, email ID etc.
- On receiving a confirmation email, click on the link to confirm the email.
- Click “Iniciar sesión” to start the session.
- Create password.
- Click on “Nueva inscripción” under the “Mis inscripciones” tab.
- Choose the location of the exam centre, date, and level of the exam.
- Click on “Inscribirse” after checking the availability and confirming the same.
Thus you will complete the registration process.
DELE Exam Dates 2022 Índia
The DELE exam in India started on 1st April 2022 and will go on till 19th November. However, the last dates of registration for different exam dates are also different. You should take note of it, and if you are still planning to appear in the exam, set your mind and do not procrastinate anymore.
The DELE exam dates 2022 India, along with the cities of exam centres, are as follows:
| Date of Exam | Exam centre City |
| 1st April | Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur |
| 20th May | Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur |
| 21st May | Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur |
| 1st July | Jaipur, New Delhi |
| 7th October | Mumbai, New Delhi |
| 18th November | Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Jaipur |
DELE Exam 2021 Format
The formats for various levels of the DELE exam are different in terms of time duration, age group of learners, targeted level, etc. The exam format has not changed since 2021, and it still follows the following manner:
| Name of Exam | Specifications |
| DELE A1 Exam format | ● Reading comprehension: 45 minutes
● Listening Comprehension: 20 minutes ● Written and interaction test: 25 minutes ● Oral expression and interaction: 20 minutes (10 minutes for preparation and 10 minutes for expression) |
| DELE A2 Exam/ DELE B1 Exam format | ● Reading comprehension: 50 minutes
● Listening Comprehension: 30 minutes ● Written and interaction test: 50 minutes ● Oral expression and interaction: 24 minutes (12 minutes for preparation and 12 minutes for expression) |
| DELE B2 Exam format | ● Reading comprehension: 70 minutes
● Listening Comprehension: 40 minutes ● Written and interaction test: 80 minutes ● Oral expression and interaction: 40 minutes (20 minutes for preparation and 20 minutes for expression) |
| DELE C1 Exam format | ● Reading comprehension: 90 minutes
● Listening Comprehension: 50 minutes ● Integrated written and interaction test: 80 minutes. ● Integrated oral expression, interaction, and reading comprehension: 40 minutes (20 minutes for preparation and 20 minutes for expression) |
| DELE C2 Exam Format | ● Test 1: 105 minutes (reading, listening, and use of language)
● Test 2: 150 minutes (reading, writing, listening, and interacting) ● Test 3: 50 minutes (reading, interacting, oral expressing) (preparation time 30 minutes, interaction time 20 minutes) |
DELE Exam Fees in India
DELE exam fees in India depend upon the level of proficiency test you sign up for. From A1 to C2, the costs are different. As mentioned on the DELE official website, the fees for each of the six levels are:
| Name of the level | Amount in INR |
| A1 Level | 4400 |
| A2 level | 5000 |
| B1 level | 5800 |
| B2 level | 7000 |
| C1 level | 7500 |
| C2 level | 8000 |
DELE Exam in India: How to Crack
To make sure that you crack the DELE exam on the first attempt, you need to follow a few guidelines. Preparing for a foreign language test differs from traditional exam preparations. For effective and efficient DELE A1 exam preparation, you must follow a few strategies. Some habits and processes must be abided by. A sum-up of these would be:
Choice of DELE level
Which level do you think you are efficient enough to appear in and crack among the six levels? Decide on that first. In case you are confused, you can undergo the classification test arranged by Instituto Cervantes, available here. The page will look like the following:
You can sign up with Curiotory, a leading online foreign language learning platform that enables you to learn how to read, write, speak, and listen to European languages like Spanish. Strengthen your grammar and improve your vocabulary with an appropriate course at Curiotory.
There can be various other ways to prepare for DELE. You have to decide and choose which one suits you the best. You can engage in self-study with the help of DELE preparation books. These would include Preparación DELE, el cronómetro A2: Manual de Preparación del DELE etc. Or, you can join a language school in your city and complete a course over a time span.
Choice of resources
While reading books and Spanish novels will be the conventional way of learning, browsing through online resources and listening to podcasts will be unconventional. A mix of both will make the preparation more efficient and interesting, keeping boredom at bay.
Developing Learning Schedule/Plan
Preparing a schedule for time-oriented learning always yields positive results. If you devise a learning plan at least a few months before the exam, the preparation will be more effective, even if it is for the DELE A1 exam preparation.
Solving sample papers
Solving previous year’s question papers or sample exam papers gives an idea about the question pattern, mark distribution, etc. Also, by solving a paper, you can realise which areas you need to improve more and which are your already strong areas. Sample DELE papers can be found here for practising. A1 level of the DELE exam is mainly prepared for young learners. On the official website of Instituto Cervantes, DELE exam A1 sample papers are available for the candidates to practise.
Just like the Spanish proverb goes, Nunca es Tarde para Aprender, you should also stick to the very principle. It is, after all, never too late to learn. Earn your lifetime certificate and explore the Spanish language, literature, history, sports, and everything you love.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How long is the DELE exam certificate valid?
The certificate you receive after passing the exam is valid for a lifetime. So, you can use the certificate to claim your proficiency in Spanish over the years.
- When will DELE exam dates 2022 India start?
In India, the exam starts in April. Upcoming dates of the exam are 20th May, 21st May, 1st July, 7th October, 18th and 19th November 2022.
- How will the DELE exam format be?
The exam will be held on six levels, namely A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Each level will include tests of writing, reading, listening and oral expression skills.
- How many questions will be there in the DELE exam?
There is no specific number of questions. However, each section of reading, writing, speaking and listening has a particular duration. You can check the table above.
- How to pass the DELE exam?
To successfully crack the DELE exam, you should concentrate on the preparation minutely. Prepare notes and practise sample papers time and again to ensure perfection.