DELE certificate

The DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is the official qualification certifying the degree of competence and mastery of the Spanish language. Issued by the Cervantes Institute, it is internationally recognised by private companies, chambers of commerce and public and private education systems. In some countries, the DELE certificates have been adopted by education authorities and educational institutions as a complement to their own assessment programmes.  

The DELE certificates are also a means of personal promotion in the academic and professional fields and an essential requirement for access to education in Spain.

The DELE certificates are valid for life. 

On the DELE official website, you can find further information on these certificates (in Spanish and English). 

The DELE exams are held in Cagliari twice a year, in May and November. These are the dates for 2023: 

• 12 May: A1 for young learners, A2/B1 for young learners.  
• 13 May: B1, B2, C1, C2.  
• 17 November: A1 for young learners, A2/B1 for young learners.  
• 18 November: B1, B2, C1, C2.  

Levels and exams

The DELE certifies the level of language proficiency achieved by the candidate regardless of where and when he/she has studied. This certification does not expire and is divided into six levels, which correspond to those indicated by the Council of Europe in the Common European Framework (see image on the right).

The Cervantes Institute offers two types of exams:

• Six general exams: for candidates aged 16 and over, covering all levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). Anybody can register, regardless of age, education, or nationality.    
• Two exams for young learners: for students aged between 11 and 17. The “DELE A1 exam for young learners“ enables you to obtain the DELE A1 certificate, while the “DELE A2/B1 exam for young learners“ is a progress test in that, in the event of a positive result and depending on one’s language level, the candidate may obtain either the DELE A2 certificate or the DELE B1 certificate. Candidates wishing to sit the exam for students must not be older than 20 years on the day of the written exam. The DELE certificates obtained through these exams certify language proficiency in exactly the same way as the DELE general exams and therefore do not report any additional expression on the certificate.  

There is no specific test for determining which level is the most suitable, but this level test may be useful. However, this test does not assess written or oral production skills. The test results are therefore only indicative and should be treated carefully. In any case, we recommend that you check the materials available for the different levels: models and exam guidelines and recommended bibliography.

The Cervantes Institute helps candidates with special needs. These candidates must follow a special registration procedure.

When do the DELE exams take place in Cagliari?

The DELE Examination Centre in Cagliari administers the DELE exams in two annual sessions in May and November. However, the sessions can only be activated if a minimum number of candidates is reached. In the event that this number is not reached, registered candidates may choose between obtaining a refund of the registration fee or being transferred to another location dependent on the Cervantes Institute in Rome (central Italy).  

May 2023 exam dates 

- Written exams: Friday 12 (A1 for young learners and A2/B1 for young learners) and Saturday 13 (B1, B2, C1 and C2).  

- Oral exams: on the two to three days preceding the written exams.  

- Registration deadline: 15 March 2023.  

November 2023 exam dates

- Written exams: Friday 17 (A1 for young learners and A2/B1 for young learners) and Saturday 18 (B1, B2, C1 and C2).  

- Oral exams: on the two to three days preceding the written exams.  

- Registration deadline: 11 October 2023.

DELE exam fees 2023

The reduced fee is reserved for group registrations.

DELE 2023 – individual registration

In order to formalise your registration, you must produce the following documents:

• A complete registration form.
• A photocopy of your identity card or passport. The personal details entered on the registration form must match those on your identity document.  
• Proof of payment of registration fees. The Examination Centre in Cagliari only accepts payments made by bank transfer.  

You can send these documents by e-mail (dele.cagliari@tiscali.it), by fax (+39 1786003755), or by regular mail. In this case, it is essential to ensure, before the registration deadline, that all the required documents have been successfully received by the Examination Centre; otherwise, your registration will not be valid.

At the end of the registration period, the DELE Examination Centre in Cagliari will inform candidates by e-mail that they have registered. One week before the exam date, candidates will receive the official exam summons, indicating the location, date, and time of the written and oral exams. It is particularly important that you write your e-mail address and postal address correctly.

Due to the health situation, exams will be administered according to a special protocol

PAYMENTS:

Bank transfer to: 

Instituto Cervantes di Roma

Banco di Credito Cooperativo di Roma 

Ag. Via Savoia 12 – Roma

IBAN: IT71F0832703235000000002550

SWIFT: ROMAITRR 

In the reason for payment, it is essential to specify the following data and in this order: SURNAME and NAME of the candidate (not of the person making the payment, if this is different), CITY of examination, and LEVEL. Example: Rossi Giulia – Cagliari – B1  

DELE 2023 – group registration

A 10% discount will be applied to groups from a single educational institution, with a minimum of 5 pupils, even at different levels, if a single comprehensive payment is made. 

In order to proceed with group registration you need to take the following steps:  

1) Fill in the group registration form iin all fields and send it by email to both the Examination Centre in Cagliari (dele.cagliari@tiscali.it) and the Cervantes Institute in Rome (dele1.rom@cervantes.es).

PLEASE NOTE: The e-mail address must be the candidate’s personal one, as it will be used to send important official communications concerning the exam and the results. Group registration requests without this information will not be considered. 

2) The DELE Office will process the request and send a specific communication to the group leader to complete the registration.  

3) The group leader will send the following documents to the Examination Centre in Cagliari by email within 24 hours from the receipt of the communication:  

- Individual registration form completed in all fields (including postal address, email, telephone) and signed by each candidate. The email address must be individual and spelt out accurately. It is the candidate’s responsibility to fill in his/her form accurately. 

- Copy of a valid identity document containing a photograph, full name, place and date of birth and nationality. Underage candidates with no identity document must complete a self-certification form.

- Any requests for facilities for candidates with special needs.

- Copy of the payment receipt, only for groups that do NOT request an electronic invoice.

There can be no discrepancies between the candidates’ documents and the registration form. 

Due to the health situation, exams will be administered according to a special protocol

PAYMENTS:

The group leader must wait for payment instructions from the Cervantes Institute in Rome.  

How will the results be communicated?

Within three months from the exam date, the head office in Madrid will send a certificate with the exam results to the email address provided by the candidate during registration: it is therefore essential to provide a valid and unique email address. 

If the candidate does not receive this communication, he/she may request it through the User Assistance Centre (CAU).

Candidates can also download the official certificate from their personal space on the Cervantes Institute portal, after registering.

Complaints

Once the results have been published, any candidate who has failed the exam may submit a request for revision through his/her DELE personal space. Any candidate who has been found to be APTO (suitable) and who does not agree with the result obtained may request a revision of the exam through the User Assistance Centre ((CAU).

The DELE Examination Centre in Cagliari and the Cervantes Institute in Rome neither act as intermediaries nor intervene in the complaint procedure. Once the whole test has been checked again, the Cervantes Institute head office will inform the candidate of the definitive answer to his/her complaint.   

Certificates

The DELE Examination Centre in Cagliari receives the certificates approximately 6 to 8 months after the exam date. Certificates are sent by registered mail to the address provided during registration in the case of individual candidates, or to the educational institution in the case of groups. 

 It is the candidate’s responsibility to notify the DELE Examination Centre in Cagliari of any changes to his/her address in due time, as subsequent deliveries caused by an incorrect or old address will be at the candidate’s expense.  

Requesting duplicate certificates

If you have lost your DELE certificate, you can request a duplicate by sending an email to the Cervantes Institute at ac2rom@cervantes.es  with the following information:

• Name and surname;
• Registration code (if you do not know it, you must indicate exam session and level);

• Copy of your identity document;

• Copy of the bank transfer of 30,00 euros. It is essential to specify “DELE level- Exam month and year- [Surname-Name]-Duplicato” in the reason for payment.

Instituto Cervantes di Roma

Banco di Credito Cooperativo di Roma

Ag. Via Savoia 12, Roma

IT71F0832703235000000002550

SWIFT: ROMAITRR

Reason for payment: DELE level- Exam month and year- [Surname-Name]-Duplicato

The duplicate will be available about six months after the lodging of the application.

Contacts

Head of the DELE Examination Centre

Prof. Enrique Jiménez Villalonga

Tel. +39 3396163601

Fax +39 1786003755

dele.cagliari@tiscali.it