Qualified by the University of Alcalá

   More information about the D.E.L.E. Course  

Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language
Structure and Length of the Exams
Exams Centers in Spain
Coordinators and Delegated Centers in Spain

   Diplomas de español como lengua extranjera (D.E.L.E.)  

If you wish to receive additional information you may contact the Cervantes Institute.
If you would like models of previous exams, you may request them through the University of Salamanca.

Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language
General Conditions
Exam Dates
Deadline for Registration and Registration norms
Registration fee and necessary documentation to enter the exam site
For More Information about the Diplomas

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DIPLOMAS OF SPANISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) are official certificates, acrediting the degree of competence and command of the Spanish language, which are granted by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.

El Certificado Inicial de Español The Initial Certificate certifies sufficient linguistic competence to function in situations which require an elementary level of communication.

El Diploma Básico de Español The Basic Diploma certifies sufficient linguistic competence to function in daily life situations, under normal communication situations which do not require any specialized use of the language.

El Diploma Superior de Español The Superior Diploma certifies the linguistic competence necessary to function in situations which require an advanced use of the Spanish language and knowledge of Spanish culture.

The University of Salamanca is responsible for the elaboration and evaluation of the exams required to obtain these Diplomas. The Cervantes Institute organizes the realization of the exams.

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GENERAL CONDITIONS

Those candidates who wish to take an exam to obtain any of the Diplomas must comply with the following requirements:

1. Upon registering for the exam, demonstrate that you are a citizen of a country where Spanish is not the official language.
2. Complete the registration and pay the exam fee in delegated centers, within the indicated time frame.
3. You must be 16 years of age or older if you wish to obtain the Superior Diploma.

Once registered for the exam, the candidate will not receive a refund of the exam fee, unless he/she communicates intention to not realize the exam at least 30 days before the date of the exam. If the candidate communicates his/her intention to not take the exam from 30 to 15 days before the exam date, only 50% of the exam fee will be refunded.
The exams consist of 5 parts; each part includes different types of exercises. To obtain the Initial Certificate, the Basic Diploma or the Superior Diploma, you are required to have a grade of "apto" (competent) in all parts of the exam taken on the same day.
The amount charged as the exam fee includes the cost of administering the exam and mailing the corresponding diploma.

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EXAM DATES

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DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION NORMS

You may register for the exams up until 35 days before each exam date. So that:

- The last day to register to be able to take the exams for the Initial Certificate or the Basic Diploma in May will be April 5, 2002.
- The last day to register to be able to take the exams for the Basic Diploma or the Superior Diploma in November will be October 4, 2002.

Necessary Documentation:

- The Registration Form, which you can obtain at any Registration Center, filled out carefully.
VERY IMPORTANT: The name of the candidate that appears on the Diploma granted will appear exactly as it was written on the Registration Form.

- A photocopy of a document of identification which contains the following information: identity, nationality, place and date of birth.

Once a candidate is registered, he/she will receive a copy of their Registration form with an official seal, in which will appear the candidates assigned code number, and he/she will receive by mail a document indicating the place, date and time the exam will take place.

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REGISTRATION FEE AND NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO ENTER THE EXAM SITE

The registration fee may be paid in the following manner:

- In cash or by check, in the Center where the candidate registers.
- By deposit or bank transfer, to the bank account indicated by the registration center. The candidate who chooses this option should present the receipt of having paid the fee when he/she registers.

NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO ENTER THE EXAM SITE

Candidates must present the following items on the exam day:

- The copy of the Registration form with the seal applied.
- Passport or other identification document which was presented at the time of registration.
- The document indicating the place, date and time the exam will take place, which was received from the registration center.

The price of the exam is set each year by the National Department of Education and Culture.  If you would like to know the exact price, you can send an email to Escuela Internacional after the month of January.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIPLOMAS

Outside of Spain:
- At Registration Centers of the Cultural and Educational Services in Spanish Embassies and Consulates.
- At Cervantes Institute Centers
- At Delegated Centers which are associated with the Cervantes Institute(CD).

In Spain:
- University Registration Centers
- At Delegated Centers which are associated with the Cervantes Institute (CD).

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   Structure and Length of the Exams   

INITIAL CERTIFICATE

Reading comprehension (40 minutes):
a. The candidate will answer multiple choice questions in relation to an informative text, by selecting the best response.
b. The candidate will select information from a text to answer a series of questions.

Written response (50 minutes):
Writing of brief and simple texts of a practical nature, such as short notes, advertisements, etc.

Auditory comprehension(30 minutes):
The candidate will hear 4 exercises which may be simple dialogs or recorded information. The candidate must select the best responses.

Grammar and vocabulary (40 minutes) :
a. The candidate will relate different sentences with the corresponding situations.
b. The candidate will locate, in several sentences, the words or expressions which are not adequate to the context.
c. The candidate will complete a text by selecting the correct response.

Oral expression (10 minutes):
The candidate will maintain a conversation with an examiner which will last from 10 to 15 minutes.

DIPLOMA BÁSICO

Reading comprehension (60 minutes):
Candidates will respond to 12 multiple choice questions in relation to 4 different texts by selecting the best response. The texts will not be longer than 450 words each.

Written response (60 minutes):
Candidates will write one personal letter and one composition. Each written response should be between 150 to 200 words.

Auditory comprehension (30 minutes):
The candidate will answer 12 multiple choice questions in relation to 4 oral recorded texts. The recordings may consist of advertisements, news items, conversations or interviews.

Grammar and vocabulary (60 minutes):
The candidate will complete the following two exercises:
a. Incomplete text (20 blanks): Complete the text choosing the best response from 3 options provided for each blank in the text.
b. Dialogs: Complete 40 brief dialogs with the best response. Each dialog will have one blank:

Oral Expression (10 / 14 minutes) :
The candidate will maintain a conversation with an examiner which will last from 10 to 15 minutes.

DIPLOMA SUPERIOR

Reading comprehension (60 minutes):
The candidate will complete the following 2 exercises:
a. The candidate will respond to 9 multiple choice questions in relation to 3 different texts by selecting the best response. The texts will not be longer than 800 words each.
b. Will relate up to a maximum of 10 series of fragmented texts.

Written expression (60 minutes) :
The candidate will write:
a. A letter which refers to subjects not related to personal matters.
b. A composition.
Each written exercise must have from 150 to 200 words.

Auditory comprehension (45 minutes):
The candidate will respond to 16 multiple choice questions relating to 4 oral recorded texts. The recordings will consist of conversations between 2 or more speakers, or possibly commentaries or news items transmitted by the mass media.

Grammar and vocabulary (60 minutes):
The candidate will complete the following 3 exercises:
a. Incomplete Text (20 blanks). Choose the best response from the three answers provided for each blank.
b. Multiple choice exercise: fill in the blank with one of the options provided for each of the 35 sentences which make up the exercise.
c. Detect 5 grammatical errors in one or various brief texts.

Oral expression (10-15 minutes):
The candidate will maintain a conversation with an examiner which will last from 10 to 15 minutes.

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   Exam Centers in Spain  

Alcalá de Henares, Pamplona, Alicante, Salamanca, Barcelona, San Sebastián, Cáceres, Santander, Cádiz, Santiago de Compostela, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada, Valencia, Las Palmas de G.C., Valladolid, Madrid, Vitoria, Málaga, Zaragoza, Palma de Mallorca.

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   Coordinators and Delegated Centers in Spain  

D. Fernando Fernández Lanza, Cursos para Extranjeros, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Plaza de San Diego, s/n, Edificio San Ildefonso, 28801 ALCALÁ DE HENARES,
Telf.: (91) 885 40 89 / 885 40 00, Fax: (91) 885 40 69

Dª Inés Carrasco Cantos, Cursos para Extranjeros, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. de Andalucía 26, 1º, 29007 MÁLAGA, Tel.: (952) 27 82 11, Fax: (952) 27 97 12

D. José Gómez Asencio, Cursos Internacionales, Universidad de Salamanca, Patio de Escuelas Menores, s/n, 37008 SALAMANCA, Tel.: (923) 29 44 18 / 20 11 40, Fax: (923) 29 45 04