The DELE, short for Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera, is Spain's official diploma in Spanish for learners. Instituto Cervantes awards it on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education, and there are more than 1,000 exam centers in more than 100 countries. Each DELE is named after one level of the CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2. You pick your level when you sign up, and the result is Apto (passed) or No apto (not passed).
Bubblegum is a language app that writes Spanish lessons at your level, in the Spanish of Spain, Latin America or Argentina. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes each lesson about something you enjoy.
What Are the DELE Levels?
There are six general DELE exams, one for each CEFR level, for anyone from age 16. Instituto Cervantes also runs school versions for ages 11 to 17.
- A1
Basic user
- Written: 95 minutes
- Speaking: 10 minutes, after 10 to prepare
- A2
Basic user
- Written: 145 minutes
- Speaking: 12 minutes, after 12 to prepare
- B1
Independent user
- Written: 170 minutes
- Speaking: 15 minutes, after 15 to prepare
- B2
Independent user
- Written: 190 minutes
- Speaking: 20 minutes, after 20 to prepare
- C1
Proficient user
- Written: 220 minutes
- Speaking: 20 minutes, after 20 to prepare
- C2
Proficient user
- Written: 255 minutes
- Speaking: 20 minutes, after 30 to prepare
Written time is the reading, listening and writing tests put together. The speaking test can fall on a different day.
What Is on the Test?
From A1 to B2, the four tests are reading, listening, writing and speaking. At C1, the reading and listening tests also check grammar and word choice, and in the writing test you retell what you heard in your own words. C2 puts reading, listening, grammar and word choice into one long test.
| Level | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 45 min | 25 min | 25 min | 10 min |
| A2 | 60 min | 40 min | 45 min | 12 min |
| B1 | 70 min | 40 min | 60 min | 15 min |
| B2 | 70 min | 40 min | 80 min | 20 min |
| C1 | 90 min | 50 min | 80 min | 20 min |
| C2 | 105 min, with listening | Part of the reading test | 150 min | 20 min |
Up to C1, the exam is worth 100 points in two groups: reading with writing, and listening with speaking. You need 30 of the 50 points in each group, so a strong group can't make up for a weak one. C2 has three tests, and you need 20 points in each.
When Is the DELE?
Sign-up for every 2026 date has closed. Sign-up for 2027 opens on November 18, 2026, and sign-up for each date closes five to eight weeks before it.
| 2027 exam date | Levels | Sign-up closes |
|---|---|---|
| February 12 | A2 | January 7 |
| April 2 | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 | February 10 |
| May 22 | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 | April 7 |
| July 9 | A2, B1, B2, C1 | May 12 |
| September 10 | A2 | July 14 |
| October 15 | A2, B1, B2 | September 1 |
| November 13 | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 | September 29 |
The school versions run on May 21 and November 12, 2027. Outside Spain, you sign up and pay at an exam center, and the fee depends on the country and the level. Results come out about two months after the exam, or about three months after the May and November dates.
How to Prepare with Comprehensible Input
From B1 up, the DELE reading and listening tests use Spanish from several countries. Lots of comprehensible input from Spain and from Latin America gets you used to those differences.
- Pick the Right DELEYou need to pass both score groups, so choose a level where your speaking and writing are as strong as your reading.
- Hear More Than One AccentListen to Spanish from Spain and from Latin America while you read along. Mix them up from week to week.
- Do the Model ExamInstituto Cervantes posts a free model exam for every level. Try it a few weeks before your date to see which group needs more work.
This lesson is a conversation about cooking and family dinners. Open it at Level 3 and switch levels until the Spanish feels comfortable.
One Dinner, Six Levels
From Bubblegum’s guide Talking About Cooking and Family Dinners. It works here the way it works inside Bubblegum.
I follow conversations on familiar topics.
After-Dinner Chat
Mateo and Sofía finish dinner and stay talking at the table.
The food was delicious, right?
Yes, very much. Hey, what are you thinking for this weekend?
I feel like time passes very quickly and we hardly see each other.
It's true. That's why I like this after-dinner chat time so much.
I also really enjoy it when we relax like this.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DELE
Does a DELE diploma expire?
No. Instituto Cervantes says DELE diplomas are valid for life. A school or employer can still ask for a recent result, so check with them.
What is the difference between the DELE and the SIELE?
The SIELE is another Spanish exam from Instituto Cervantes, taken on a computer. It covers A1 to C1 in one test, scores you out of 1,000, and gives a certificate that lasts five years.
Can I speak and write in Latin American Spanish?
Yes. Instituto Cervantes says any kind of Spanish counts in the speaking and writing tests, at every level.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Instituto Cervantes: What is the DELE (issuer, levels, validity, CEFR)
- Instituto Cervantes: How the DELE is marked (score groups, pass marks, varieties of Spanish)
- Instituto Cervantes: DELE exam pages by level (tests, tasks and minutes)
- Instituto Cervantes: When the DELE takes place (2026 and 2027 dates and deadlines)
- Instituto Cervantes: Where to take the DELE (exam centres)
- Instituto Cervantes: How to register for the DELE
- Instituto Cervantes: DELE results and grades
- Instituto Cervantes: DELE frequently asked questions (Apto / No apto, paper exam, speaking in person)
- SIELE: the exams (score out of 1000, four tests, five-year certificate)
