Diplomas (D.E.L.E.)

The abbreviation D.E.L.E means Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language). These diplomas offer the only internationally accredited official titles which confirm a command of the Spanish Language and are awarded by the Spanish Ministry for Education, Culture and Sport.

In Ireland, these exams are organized by Instituto Cervantes.

The diplomas that may be obtained include the following:

Diploma A1 (Beginning Certificate)
Diploma Inicial (Intermediate Certificate)
Diploma Intermedio (Advanced Diploma)
Diploma superior (Superior Diploma)

Diploma A1 (Beginner's Certificate)

Accredits sufficient linguistic competence to engage in situations that require an elementary level of communication.

Reading comprehension (45 min).
Writing (25 min).
Aural comprehension. (20 min).
Conversation (15 min).

Diploma Inicial (Intermediate Certificate)

Accredits sufficient linguistic competence to engage in situations that require an elementary level of communication.

Reading comprehension (40 min).
Writing (40 min). Compilation of short simple texts of a practical nature.
Aural comprehension. (30 min).
Grammar and vocabulary test (40 min).
Conversation (10-15 min).

According to the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), the CIE is equivalent to the following international diplomas:

English: Preliminary English Test (PET)
French: Certificat d'Études de Français Pratique 2 (C.E.F.P. 2)
German: Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache (ZdaF)

Diploma Intermedio (Advanced Diploma)

Accredits sufficient linguistic competence to engage in ordinary situations encountered in daily life and normal circumstances of communication that do not require a specialised knowledge of the language.

Reading comprehension (60 min).
Writing (60 min) Compilation of a personal letter and a composition. Each one must contain between 150 and 200 words.
Aural comprehension (30 min). The candidate will answer 12 multiple choice questions on 4 oral texts (recordings). The recordings will consist of announcements, news items, conversations and interviews.
Grammar and vocabulary test (60 min).
Conversation (10-15 min).

According to the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), the Intermediate Diploma is equivalent to the following international diplomas:

English: First Certificate in English (FCE)
French: Diplôme de Langue Française (DL)
German: Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (ZMP)

Informative leaflet on the DELE exams: http://diplomas.cervantes.es/

Diploma Superior (Superior Diploma)

Reading comprehension (60 min).
Writing (60 min) Compilation of a personal letter and a composition. Each one must contain between 150 and 200 words.
Aural comprehension (30 min). The candidate will answer 12 multiple choice questions on 4 oral texts (recordings). The recordings will consist of announcements, news items, conversations and interviews.
Grammar and vocabulary test (60 min).
Conversation (10-15 min).