Everyone who studies a foreign language finds that at some point they need to certify their language skills.
The reasons for this are very varied: to apply for a job, study at a foreign university, travel to a country where the language you study is spoken, etc. The problem is choosing between the different exams available for this because sometimes we do not know a lot about them. In particular, the objective of this post is to explain the differences between the DELE and SIELE accreditation diplomas.
Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Instituto Cervantes (DELE).
These diplomas are currently the only ones that certify the level of your language skills. They are valid indefinitely and recognised internationally. It is an official qualification from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes.
The DELE certify your level of competence and proficiency in the Spanish language. They test your proficiency, that is, they do not assess how well candidates know the content of a course or take their studies into account. Therefore, these tests assess whether the candidate has a certain level of proficiency in Spanish according to the level classifications in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In this way, you can take the exam for any level (A1 to C2), but only for a single level.
These exams are made up of 4 parts (except C2 which only has 3): reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction. The final mark is PASS or FAIL and you'll receive your results within approximately 3 months. The exam is taken in person at the Instituto Cervantes or one of its examination centres.
You can find the exam dates and registration deadlines on the Instituto Cervantes website.
International Evaluation Service of the Spanish Language (SIELE)
SIELE is a qualification promoted by the Instituto Cervantes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires. Unlike the DELE, this qualification is valid for 2 years.
The SIELE certifies proficiency in Spanish for young people and adults who have Spanish as a foreign, second or native language. It is a multi-level exam that has 5 independent categories based on the combination of different tests. That is, candidates can decide if they want to do the complete SIELE exam in all the skills or, on the other hand, only some of the skills.
The results show the mark obtained in each of the four parts (reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression and oral expression) and its equivalence to the CEFR levels, as well as an overall score from 0 to 100 if you choose to take the full exam. This means candidates can find out their level in each of the skills, for example, someone who takes the SIELE can have a B2 level in reading and listening comprehension, and a B1 level in oral and written expression.
The exam can be taken at any Spanish language school that is an Instituto Cervantes Accredited Centre and the results are available within a maximum period of 3 weeks.
You can find accredited centres and learn more about this exam on the SIELE website.
If you still have some questions and don't want to decide on your own, visit us and we'll help you choose the option that's right for you. If you want, we'll also help you prepare for the exam that you choose with our Spanish courses.
