DELE or SIELE: which Spanish exam to choose
Which one is best for you, DELE or SIELE?
Both certify your level of Spanish and both are supported by the Cervantes Institute. The difference is in the format, the deadlines and what you need it for.
In short: if you need a permanent degree with maximum official recognition, and you can wait for a call, your exam is the DELE. If you need to certify your level soon, you want to do it by computer and you need a skill-based score report, your exam is the SIELE.
In Hispania we are an official preparation and examining center for both, so you prepare and take the exam in the same place.
What is DELE
The DELE exam is an official qualification that guarantees your competence in Spanish. Offered by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, it consists of several levels.
Each level evaluates specific objectives and competencies in comprehension, written and oral expression. The exam structure includes reading, listening, and written and oral production tests. You will obtain an internationally recognized diploma.
The levels go progressively from A1 to C2, where A1 is the most basic and C2 the most advanced. At Hispania you can take all of them: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.
Our course is based on taking DELE tests from previous years. The pace of learning is very fast and intense: different linguistic and communication skills are studied through models of previous exams and simulations. Hispania is characterized by the excellent results that our students obtain each year.
What is SIELE
SIELE is the International Spanish Language Evaluation Service, which certifies the degree of Spanish proficiency through electronic means.
It evaluates four skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction.
It is supported by the Cervantes Institute, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires.
Hispania is the official examination center for SIELE, so you can also take the exam here.
Differences between DELE and SIELE
Format: the DELE is a paper exam with an in-person oral test. The SIELE is done by electronic means.
Result: The DELE is passed or not passed and gives a diploma of a specific level, from A1 to C2. The SIELE gives a score for each of the four skills.
When: DELE has fixed calls throughout the year. We open the SIELE preparation course every month.
Preparation: The DELE course is based on mock exams from previous years. The SIELE course lasts 4 weeks, 2 hours each day from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: both can be prepared and carried out in Hispania, in Valencia.
Preparation courses and prices
DELE preparation, in-person
Intensive, 10 hours per week · 4 weeks: €490
Intensive, 10 hours per week · 8 weeks: €890
Intensive Plus, 20 hours per week · 4 weeks: €890
Intensive Plus, 20 hours per week · 8 weeks: €1,590
SIELE preparation, in-person
Course + SIELE exam, Intensive 10 hours per week · 4 weeks: 690 €
Course + SIELE exam, Intensive Plus 20 hours per week · 4 weeks: €1,090
Express Preparation + SIELE exam: €155
Express Preparation Pack + SIELE exam + official book: €175
All include class materials and the certificate of attendance, and the exam fee is included in the SIELE packs. You can also hire accommodation.
Next calls for courses
When is the DELE? There are three calls a year: May, July and November. Our preparation courses start on March 30, August 24 and September 21, so that you arrive on time for each one.
And the SIELE? Here you don't depend on a call: you select the day that suits you and take the exam. The preparation courses start on March 2, July 20 and November 16.
Some advice we always give: make sure you choose the start date of your course according to the call in which you want to take the exam. If the course is 8 weeks, count backwards from the exam date.
Where do you take the exam? In both cases, here. Hispania is an examination center accredited by the Cervantes Institute and an official SIELE center, so you prepare and take the exam at the same School.
Frequently asked questions
Which is worth more, the DELE or the SIELE?
It depends on what for. For procedures that require a permanent official diploma, the DELE. To accredit your level quickly and flexibly, the SIELE.
How many levels are there in the DELE?
Six: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, from least to most. In Hispania you can take the exam from all of them.
What SIELE level do I need?
In the SIELE you do not choose a level: the result reflects your level according to the number of correct answers, with a score for each skill.
Where is the DELE exam taken?
In centers authorized by the Cervantes Institute throughout Spain. Hispania is one of them.
What level do I need for the Spanish university?
Most Spanish universities require a B2 of Spanish to access a degree.
How much do I have to prepare?
DELE courses are 4 or 8 weeks long. The SIELE course, for 4 weeks, or the Express preparation if you are short on time.
Does the price include the exam fee?
In the SIELE courses, yes. For DELE, the official fee is paid separately to the Cervantes Institute.
Is there an online version?
Yes, look at the comparison of DELE and SIELE online.