DELE Diplomas
The DELE diplomas (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language) belong to one of the two official international certificates (the other being the SIELE diploma) that demonstrate knowledge of the Spanish language. They are organized by the Instituto Cervantes (Cervantes Institute) and issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports of Spain. These diplomas are considered proof of knowledge of Spanish for any professional or educational activity that requires such proficiency. They have unlimited validity.
There are six levels of DELE diplomas for adults and young people over 16, which correspond to the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), increasing in difficulty:
- DELE A1
- DELE A2
- DELE B1
- DELE B2
- DELE C1
- DELE C2
Additionally, there are two school-level diplomas for students aged 11-17:
- DELE A1 escolar
- DELE A2/B1 escolar
In Greece, DELE exams are held five times a year at the examination centers of the Instituto Cervantes in Athens (April, May, July, October, and November), Thessaloniki (May and November), Patras, Ioannina, and Larissa (only in May). Registration for the exams must be done on specific dates set for each examination.
ADULTS
The DELE A1 diploma certifies the holder's ability to respond and communicate in simple everyday situations that aim to satisfy immediate needs. It corresponds to the first level on the scale of Spanish language certificates and represents a first encounter with the Spanish-speaking reality, language, and culture.
The DELE A2 diploma certifies the holder's ability to respond to specific and expected situations in daily life. It corresponds to the ability to use common phrases and expressions related to personal experiences, such as basic information, family, shopping, places of interest, hobbies, etc.
The DELE B1 diploma certifies effective but still limited language knowledge. The holder has the language skills required to communicate while traveling to any Spanish-speaking country, discuss their interests and future plans, and provide brief explanations. They can also manage both oral and written language in a structured way.
The DELE B2 diploma certifies the language proficiency required to handle satisfactorily the common situations of daily life that do not require specialized language use. The holder understands the main ideas of complex texts and can participate in general topic conversations with clarity and detail, expressing their views with arguments in a continuous discourse.
The DELE C1 diploma corresponds to very good language proficiency and certifies the language skills required to express oneself spontaneously and fluently without apparent effort in finding the right expression. It also covers handling complex topics. The holder understands a wide range of texts and recognizes implicit information in them.
The DELE C2 diploma certifies the language proficiency required to cope with situations that demand a highly advanced use of the Spanish language and a deep knowledge of its culture. The holder must understand the main ideas of complex texts and participate in general topic conversations with clarity and detail, expressing their views with arguments in a continuous discourse.
More Information
Instituto Cervantes Athens (in Greek): http://atenas.cervantes.es/gr/diplomas_spanish/information.htm
Instituto Cervantes Nicosia (in Greek): http://nicosia.cervantes.es/gr/dele/dele_general_information.htm
Instituto Cervantes Madrid (in Spanish): https://examenes.cervantes.es/es/dele/que-es
STUDENTS
The regular DELE diplomas (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2) are suitable for adults and young people aged 16 and above. The DELE A1 escolar and DELE A2/B1 escolar diplomas were developed as an additional examination model specifically for children and teenagers. The topics and exercises are suitable for ages between 11 and 17.
In Greece, examinations for DELE escolar are held only during the May examination period and only in Athens and Thessaloniki. The exam consists of four tests in general language use fields:
- Reading comprehension: 45 minutes (A1 escolar) / 50 minutes (A2/B1 escolar)
- Listening comprehension: 20 minutes (A1 escolar) / 30 minutes (A2/B1 escolar)
- Written expression and interaction: 25 minutes (A1 escolar) / 50 minutes (A2/B1 escolar)
- Oral expression and interaction: 10-12 minutes
More Information
Instituto Cervantes Athens (in Greek): http://atenas.cervantes.es/gr/diplomas_spanish/information.htm
Instituto Cervantes Nicosia (in Greek): http://nicosia.cervantes.es/gr/dele/dele_general_information.htm
Instituto Cervantes Madrid (in Spanish): https://examenes.cervantes.es/es/dele/que-es
SIELE Diplomas
The SIELE diplomas (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española, International Spanish Language Assessment Service) are new international certificates that demonstrate knowledge of the Spanish language. They are organized by the Instituto Cervantes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Salamanca, and the University of Buenos Aires, starting from 2016. They have a validity period of only two years.
More Information
Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española (in Spanish): https://siele.org/
State Language Certificate (KPG)
The State Language Certificate (KPG) is an established examination system of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports of Greece. It aims to certify proficiency in the use of six languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Turkish. The exams are designed based on the Greek reality, and the topics are adapted to the knowledge, experiences, and needs of Greek users of foreign languages.
The certified levels are A1-A2 (basic user), B1-B2 (independent user), and Γ1-Γ2 (proficient user).
More Information
State Language Certificate (in Greek): http://rcel.enl.uoa.gr/kpg/
