The DELE oral test is face to face with two examiners, after a block of preparation time; it can be on the same day as the written pruebas or on a day just before or after. SIELE speaking is recorded on a computer with no examiner. Here is every tarea, with its length and preparation time.
In DELE, the entrevistador talks with you and the calificador listens and scores. In SIELE, accredited raters score your recordings.
| Exam | Prueba | Time | Tareas | Scored items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELE A1 | Expresión e interacción orales | 10 min + 10 min preparation | 3 | — |
| DELE A2 | Expresión e interacción orales | 12 min + 12 min preparation | 3 | — |
| DELE B1 | Expresión e interacción orales | 15 min + 15 min preparation | 4 | — |
| DELE B2 | Expresión e interacción orales | 20 min + 20 min preparation | 3 | — |
| DELE C1 | Expresión, mediación e interacción orales | 20 min + 20 min preparation | 3 | — |
| DELE C2 | Expresión, mediación e interacción orales | 20 min + 30 min preparation | 3 | — |
| SIELE | Expresión e interacción orales | 15 min | 5 | — |
DELE A1-B2 call this prueba "Expresión e interacción orales". C1 and C2 add language use or mediation to the name, and at C2 it is Prueba 3.
Prueba
Expresión e interacción orales
Time
10 min + 10 min preparation
Tareas
3
Level
A1
Prueba 4. Expresión e interacción orales. Two examiners: the entrevistador talks with you, the calificador only scores. Preparation: 10 minutes, for Tareas 1 and 2.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Presentación personal (1-2 min) | A prepared short talk about yourself; the examiner does not ask questions. | One lámina, the same for everyone: name, age, nationality, where you live, job or studies, personality, languages. |
| Tarea 2 Exposición de un tema (2-3 min) | Choose 1 of 2 láminas and talk about 3 of its 5 sub-topics, with guiding questions in a box. | Topics such as "Mi semana" or "Vacaciones". |
| Tarea 3 Conversación con el entrevistador (3-4 min) | Answer the examiner’s questions on the Tarea 2 topic, then ask the examiner two questions of your own. | No lámina; not prepared according to the Modelo 0. |
Tarea 3: The A1 guía says the 10 minutes cover all three tareas and that the two questions are prepared; the Modelo 0 scopes preparation to Tareas 1 and 2.
Every DELE oral test starts with a few contact questions that are not scored. You may take notes during preparation and look at them, but not read them out.
Prueba
Expresión e interacción orales
Time
12 min + 12 min preparation
Tareas
3
Level
A2
Prueba 4. Expresión e interacción orales. Two examiners: entrevistador and calificador. Preparation: 12 minutes, for all three tareas.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Monólogo (2-3 min) | Choose 1 of 2 topics and talk about it; the examiner does not intervene. | A lámina that breaks the topic into about 5 points, for example "Un viaje que he hecho". |
| Tarea 2 Descripción de una fotografía (2-3 min) | Choose 1 of 2 photos and describe the people, the place, what they are doing and how they feel. | A photo with guiding questions. |
| Tarea 3 Diálogo en una situación imaginaria (3-4 min) | A role-play with the examiner linked to the Tarea 2 photo, usually a transaction; your card lists 4 things to do. | A role card; the examiner follows a script and improvises from your answers. |
Prueba
Expresión e interacción orales
Time
15 min + 15 min preparation
Tareas
4
Level
B1
Prueba 4. Expresión e interacción orales. Two examiners: entrevistador and calificador. Preparation: 15 minutes, for Tareas 1 and 2.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Presentación breve (2-3 min) | A prepared talk on 1 of 2 topics, with an introduction, development and conclusion; the examiner does not intervene. | A lámina with a topic and guiding questions, for example "un país donde le gustaría vivir". |
| Tarea 2 Conversación (3-4 min) | Talk with the examiner about the Tarea 1 topic: opinions and personal experience. | The examiner’s questions. |
| Tarea 3 Describir una fotografía (2-3 min) | Choose 1 of 2 photos (not prepared), describe it for 1-2 minutes, then answer questions linking it to your own experience. | A photo with prompts. |
| Tarea 4 Diálogo en situación simulada (2-3 min) | A role-play linked to the Tarea 3 photo: returning a product, a complaint, a request, an appointment. | A role card; the examiner plays the other person. |
Prueba
Expresión e interacción orales
Time
20 min + 20 min preparation
Tareas
3
Level
B2
Prueba 4. Expresión e interacción orales. Two examiners: entrevistador and calificador. Preparation: 20 minutes, for Tareas 1 and 2.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Valorar propuestas (6-7 min) | Choose 1 of 2 topics. Talk for 3-4 minutes about the pros and cons of at least four proposals, then discuss them with the examiner for 2-3 minutes. | A lámina with a problem, 5-7 proposals and an example opener. |
| Tarea 2 Situación a partir de una fotografía (5-6 min) | Choose 1 of 2 photos, imagine and describe the situation for 2-3 minutes, then talk about your own experience and opinions. | A photo, a one-sentence situation and guiding questions. |
| Tarea 3 Opinar sobre una encuesta (3-4 min) | Choose 1 of 2 (not prepared). Compare survey results or a trend with your own view and discuss them with the examiner. | A written stimulus or graph: survey results, news about trends. |
Tarea 1: The Modelo 0 lámina says "durante dos minutos"; the general instructions and the guía give 3-4 minutes, which is what the exam uses.
Tarea 3 is not prepared: you see it for the first time in the room.
Prueba
Expresión, mediación e interacción orales
Time
20 min + 20 min preparation
Tareas
3
Level
C1
Prueba 4. Expresión, mediación e interacción orales. Two examiners: entrevistador (holistic score) and calificador (analytic score). Preparation: 20 minutes, for Tareas 1 and 2.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Exposición oral: mediación (3-5 min) | Choose 1 of 2 articles. Summarise the main points, evaluate the text (clarity, intent, strength of arguments) and give your opinion. | A journalistic article of 750-850 words. |
| Tarea 2 Entrevista sobre el tema (4-6 min) | Answer the examiner’s questions on the Tarea 1 topic: widening the topic, "what would you do?", and personal questions. | The examiner’s questions. |
| Tarea 3 Negociación (4-6 min) | Choose 1 of 2 láminas and negotiate with the examiner until you agree on one of 4 options, using the criteria given. Not prepared. | A situation, criteria and 4 options; 1 minute to read the lámina. |
In Tarea 1 the examiner stays silent; at minute 3 they remind you that 2 minutes remain if you have not yet started evaluating the text.
Prueba
Expresión, mediación e interacción orales
Time
20 min + 30 min preparation
Tareas
3
Level
C2
Prueba 3. Expresión, mediación e interacción orales. Two examiners: entrevistador (holistic score) and calificador (analytic score). Preparation: 30 minutes, for Tarea 1.
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Exposición oral: mediación (5-6 min) | Choose 1 of 2 topics and give a talk covering the points set, using every text and graphic provided. | 2-3 written texts (700-800 words in total) and 1-2 graphics. |
| Tarea 2 Entrevista (5-6 min) | Answer the examiner’s questions on your talk, including any material you did not use. | The examiner’s questions. |
| Tarea 3 Titulares de prensa: negociación (5-6 min) | Agree with the examiner which of two headlines to discuss (about 2 minutes), then discuss it (about 4 minutes). Not prepared. | A lámina with a situation, criteria and 2 headlines; 1 minute to read. |
At minute 5 of Tarea 1 the examiner warns you that one minute is left and reminds you to cover every point and every text.
Prueba
Expresión e interacción orales
Time
15 min
Tareas
5
Level
A1-C1 (multilevel)
Prueba 4. Expresión e interacción orales. Recorded on the computer, with no examiner in the room; each tarea has its own timer. Preparation: Only Tareas 2 and 5 have preparation time (2 minutes each).
| Tarea | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tarea 1 Preguntas personales (A1) | Answer 4 personal questions played as audio: 15 seconds each for questions 1-2, 30 seconds each for questions 3-4. | Audio questions (2 at A1 level, 2 at A2); each can be replayed once. |
| Tarea 2 Describir una fotografía (A2) | Choose 1 of 2 photos (about 30 seconds), prepare for 2 minutes, then describe it for 1-2 minutes. | Two everyday photos and 5 points to cover. |
| Tarea 3 Situaciones simuladas (B1) | Two situations, one personal and one public; for each, choose 1 of 2 and speak for 1 minute 30 seconds. No preparation. | Each situation lists 3 points, for example decline an invitation, explain why, propose an alternative. |
| Tarea 4 Texto y preguntas (B2) | Choose 1 of 2 topics, read a short text (about 50 seconds), then answer 3 audio questions, 1 minute each. | A text of 80-120 words; the questions ask for opinion, hypothesis and information. |
| Tarea 5 Monólogo argumentativo (C1) | Choose 1 of 2 opposing statements on the Tarea 4 topic, prepare for 2 minutes, then argue for 3-4 minutes. | Present your position, justify it, give examples and conclude. |
There is no examiner: you record your answers on the computer, and accredited SIELE raters score them later. Recording starts automatically after a countdown; you can stop it early. Notes typed in the on-screen box in Tareas 2 and 5 are not marked.
| DELE | SIELE | |
|---|---|---|
| Levels | One exam per level, A1 to C2 | Five tareas from A1 to C1 |
| Format | Face to face with two examiners | Recorded on a computer, no examiner |
| Length | 10-20 min plus 10-30 min of preparation | 15 min (15-20 in the 2021 guide) |
| Preparation | One block before the prepared tareas | Short timers inside Tareas 2, 4 and 5 |
| Interaction | Conversation, role-play or negotiation with the examiner | Answers to recorded questions and simulated situations |
| Scoring | Interviewer (holistic) + silent rater (analytic), 0-3 scales | Two criteria scored 0-5, weighted to 0-250 |
DELE gives a diploma at one level: you pass or fail that level. SIELE gives a score and places you at a level from A1 to C1. The test format overview compares them in full.
Worked examples from real practice tareas, with answers and explanations, are on the speaking samples page. How points are calculated and what you need to pass is on the speaking scoring page, and common questions are answered on the speaking FAQ.
When you are ready, practice every tarea in the TestSucceed app or sit a full timed mock test with feedback from AI trained by our experts.
Written by Kirill O'Nayd
Language test expert and educator at TestSucceed, where he builds the DELE and SIELE practice tasks and mock tests and has spent years taking apart how each Instituto Cervantes prueba awards its points. See all TestSucceed preparation materials.