The Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language is the official accreditation of level of fluency of the Spanish language.
The DELE is frequently requested by companies as proof of language proficiency and is an excellent way to gauge your level of fluency.
The DELE is the official accreditation of the level of mastery of the Spanish language for citizens of countries where Spanish is not the official language. The DELE is issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture.
This degree is very important in both the education and business world.
The DELE is recognized predominantly by companies, universities and other educational institutions.
• The Certificado Inicial (Primary level) accredits the most basic level of knowledge of the language and that the basic needs of everyday life can be communicated.
• The DELE Básico (Intermediate level) accredits a level of knowledge for communicating ability for daily life, excluding specialized use.
• The DELE Superior (Superior level) accredits a level of advanced knowledge of the language, including its cultural background and specialized communication.
The exam for the DELEs is broken down into five tests:
reading comprehension, written expression, listening comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, and oral expression. In order to pass the exam, the test taker must at least pass all sections. If one section is failed, all parts must be retaken.
| Section | Duration | Structure |
| Reading Comprehension | 60 min. | The test taker must answer 12 multiple choice questions based on 4 texts. The texts will not exceed 450 words. |
| Written Expression | 60 min. | The test taker must write a personal letter and an essay, each consisting of 150-200 words. |
| Listening Comprehension | 30 min. | The test taker must answer 12 multiple choice questions based on 4 oral texts (audio recordings). The recordings will consist of advertisements, news, conversations and interviews. |
| Grammar and Vocabulary | 60 min. | The test taker must complete the following exercises: • Incomplete text (20 gaps) choosing the appropriate option. • 40 brief dialogues choosing the appropriate option. |
| Oral Expression | 10 - 15 min. | The test taker must engage in a conversation lasting 10 to 15 minutes. |
When to Take the Exam
The DELE exams are typically in mid-March and mid-November.
How Much the Exams Cost
Depending on where you take the exam, the cost varies a bit. In Spain, the cost (2005) of the Inicial Level is €88, the Intermedio Level €109, and the Superior Level €120.
The costs in other countries range from about €30 - €150.
DELE Testing Centers in Barcelona
In Barcelona there are three official testing centers for the exams:
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Plaça de la Mercè, 10-12
E-08002 Barcelona
Sr. D. Ernesto Martín Peris / Sra. Dª Carmen Pérez Vidal
Tel.:935 421 921
Fax:935 421 702
www.upf.edu/pei
pei@fun.upf.es
Universidad Ramón Llull - ESADE Escuela de Idiomas
Avda. Pedralbes, 60-62
E-08034 Barcelona
Sra. Dª. María Delia Castro Carrillo
Tel.:932 806 162 / 934 952 191
Fax:932 048 105
delia.castro@esade.edu
Universidad de Barcelona
Estudios Hispánicos
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585
E-08007 Barcelona
Sr. D. Salvador Claramunt Rodríguez
Tel.:934 035 519
Fax:934 035 433
http://www.ub.es/ieh
info@eh.ub.es