Tips for the DELE exam
In the current article I would like to give you tips for the DELE exam in order to help you pass it. As Cronopios is a DELE Examination Center, we are used to guiding our students to succeed at the Spanish DELE Diploma.
Find out your real Spanish language level (A1-C2)
If you are not sure about it, ask your teacher in order to prepare yourself effectively. Some learners overestimate their level and become frustrated while preparing it and during the exam.
By the way, if you are a teenager, remember that there are also two exams specifically for young learners between 11 and 17 years old.
Become familiar with the exam structure
As any official diploma the DELE exam has a special and fixed structure. It is divided into different parts, whose length depends on the level. Each test includes several tasks comprising four skills:
- Reading comprehension
- Written expression and interaction
- Listening comprehension
- Oral expression and interaction
Practice your reading comprehension
As for the reading comprehension, this part consists of several tasks (some DELE have four reading tasks while others five). Each task is different, since different kind of skills are evaluated. For example, you can find a reading comprehension task with gaps that must be filled with a given option (be it a noun, or verb tenses, or a connector…) On the contrary, other tasks evaluate one’s logic text comprehension (you need to put some given sentences in the proper part of a text).
Read carefully what you are asked to write about
In every DELE level students need to write two or three different kind of texts, e. g. an answer per email to an invitation, a formal complaint letter or an opinion article. Please follow the instructions you are given in your writing.
On the other hand, the first writing task in B2, C1 and C2 includes a listening comprehension, whose content must be partly reproduced in your written text.
Practise to listen different kinds of tasks
For this part of the DELE exam I recommend you to practice with a DELE preparation book at home. The different listening comprehension tasks are heard twice but this part might be the most difficult if you are not used to it.
And keep in mind that texts in B2, C1 or C2 levels are hold in different Spanish accents, from different Spanish regions or countries.
Control your nerves in the speaking tasks
Speaking in a foreign language is usually stressing for many of us, but at the DELE exam you are lucky as you are given some preparation time. So please take advantage of this time to prepare thoroughly the two first tasks of the oral exam. A good preparation (you can take notes and skim them while speaking) can help you talk with confidence and certainty.
A third speaking task is usually more casual and easy. Here examiners can evaluate how natural you can hold a conversation and negotiate some points with someone in Spanish.
Know the vocabulary for your DELE level
Make sure you know well the vocabulary you are expected to understand and master in the DELE level you have signed up for. For example, in DELE A2 you should know vocabulary about house, furniture, character and personality, body and health, etc. On the other hand, you must be able of speaking about climate change, society, technology changes and so on in higher levels (B2, C1 and C2).
Get a good DELE preparation book
Nowadays there are some excellent DELE preparation books that can help you prepare it very accurately and successfully.
Control your exam time
As every part of the DELE exam has a fixed time I recommend you to control how long each task takes you when practising it. Time management is extremely important in order to be able to finish the exam in the given time.
Be aware of the DELE exam materials
For the reading and listening comprehension you are given a answer sheet. These exam parts are closed-ended questions that must be answered in pencil.
For the writing part you are also given a piece of paper for every text. Your text must be written exactly inside of the provided space in pen.
As to the oral exam, you are given a blank piece of paper where you can take notes for you presentation and have it with you during this task.
Prepare the DELE exam with a teacher
I hope these tips for the DELE exam have clarified you some doubts and questions for a good preparation of it. Last but not least it is highly advisable to prepare it with a teacher who can guide you more efficiently. And of course, choosing a good examination school is always a guarantee for a smooth and confortable DELE experience.
