Comparing the certificates
DELE or SIELE?
Both certificates assess your Spanish, and the Instituto Cervantes takes part in both, but they work differently. This table sums up the main differences from each exam’s own published description.
Main differences
| Aspect | DELE | SIELE |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | One level: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2. You enter for that level. | One multilevel exam. Your score is linked to the CEFR levels, from A1 to C1. |
| Result | “Apto” (pass) or “No apto” (fail). If you do not pass, you do not receive the diploma. | A score from 0 to 1,000 on SIELE Global (up to 250 per paper), linked to a level from A1 to C1, or “below A1”. There is no pass or fail. |
| Dates | Fixed sessions, several times a year. | No fixed calendar: you choose the day, the time and the centre. |
| Results | In about three months (at A1 and A2, between one and three months). | Within three weeks at most. |
| Validity | The diploma does not expire. | Five years. |
| Format | Four papers (three at C2). | A digital exam, with up to four papers. Besides SIELE Global, there are five options that use only some of the papers. |
| Who runs it | The Instituto Cervantes issues the diplomas. The University of Salamanca helps prepare and mark the papers. | The Instituto Cervantes, the UNAM, the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires. |
Which one fits?
- If a university, an employer or an application asks for a certificate, ask first which one they accept and which level they need.
- If you want a diploma for one level that does not expire, or you need C2, the DELE is the closer fit.
- If you need the result soon, or you cannot wait for a fixed session, SIELE is more flexible, but the certificate is valid for five years.
Try the format with a sample
The samples are in Spanish. Each one has one task per paper. Listening opens without an account, with audio and a key.
DELE Claro is an independent project. It is not affiliated with the Instituto Cervantes and is not endorsed by it.