DELE: the certificate that never expires

The DELE is issued by Spain's Ministry of Education and run by the Instituto Cervantes. Unlike IELTS or TOEFL it has no expiry date, which makes it unusually good value - you sit it once and it counts for the rest of your life.

One exam per level

There is a separate DELE for each CEFR level from A1 to C2, and you book the one you want rather than sitting a single test that places you. Choosing too high wastes the fee, because below the pass mark you get nothing at all - there is no consolation level.

Four papers, two blocks

Each exam has four papers - reading, listening, writing and speaking - grouped into two blocks. You must pass both blocks, not just average them, so a strong reading score will not rescue a weak speaking one. The pass mark is sixty per cent in each block.

The level you need for nationality

If you are applying for Spanish nationality, the level you need is DELE A2 - not B1, and not higher. It is paired with the CCSE, a separate twenty-five question test on Spanish constitution and culture. Plenty of people study for a year longer than they needed to.

Dates, results and the faster alternative

DELE sittings happen only on fixed dates - a handful a year, with registration closing weeks beforehand - and results take two to three months. If you need a certificate by a deadline, SIELE is the alternative: it is online, sat on demand, graded in three weeks, but it expires after five years.