Short answers to the questions candidates ask most about the speaking prueba of DELE (A1 to C2) and SIELE.
A1 10 minutes plus 10 of preparation; A2 12 + 12; B1 15 + 15; B2 20 + 20; C1 20 + 20; C2 20 minutes plus 30 of preparation. SIELE speaking takes about 15 minutes (15-20 in the 2021 guide).
It can be. The written pruebas are held on the official date, and the oral test can be the same day or on a day shortly before or after it.
Yes. You can write notes or an outline and look at them during the test, but you may not simply read them out.
The preparation time covers the first tareas: Tareas 1 and 2 at A1 and B2, all three at A2, Tarea 1 (and the conversation on it) at B1, C1 and C2. The last tarea at B2, C1 and C2 is not prepared; at C1 and C2 you get one minute to read its lámina.
Two examiners: the entrevistador, who talks with you, and the calificador, who does not speak and only scores. The test starts with a few contact questions that are not scored. The test may be audio-recorded for quality control.
No. You record your answers on the computer and accredited SIELE raters score them later. Audio questions in Tareas 1 and 4 can be replayed once.
Often, yes. Most DELE tareas offer two láminas, photos or topics to choose from, and SIELE lets you choose between two photos, situations, topics or statements.
Any. Any coherent, educated variety of Spanish is accepted; examiners score how well you communicate, not where your Spanish is from.
Every tarea is described on the speaking description page, worked examples are on the speaking samples page, and the full rules for points and passing are on the speaking scoring page.
To practise, work through single tareas in the app or take a full timed mock test.
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.