Knowing the different Spanish levels is very important if you want to get an official diploma, such as the DELE.
Although studying Spanish at our school is always a positive and rewarding experience, choosing the right level for your classes and establishing your learning goals is one of the best ways to make the most out of your time with us.
Levels of Spanish in DELE exams
The different levels you can take the Instituto Cervantes DELE tests are designed following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Manual for relating exams to the CEFR, both issued by the Council of E
The levels of Spanish established are:
- Level A1.
- Level A2.
- Level B1.
- Level B2.
- Level C1.
- Level C2.
What is the difference between the different levels of Spanish and which skills are required for each one of them?
The different levels of Spanish serve to certify your knowledge and skills in a given language.
In all of them, they evaluate aspects like understanding the main points of oral and written texts, writing coherent essays or expressing yourself in different settings, situations and contexts.
In the following sections, we will briefly explain what each level covers so you can understand the differences between them.
Spanish Level A1: Beginner
This is a basic level of Spanish that allows you to develop your communication skills, for example, during a tourism trip.
Once you reach this level, you will be able to:
- Introduce yourself.
- Describe yourself.
- Elaborate basic sentences in Spanish.
- Ask for directions.
- Distinguish words and phrases in a conversation.
- Read children’s books.
Level A2: Advanced Beginner
The goals for this level are, fundamentally, to strengthen the knowledge of the A1 level, while improving the vocabulary and pronunciation of the Spanish alphabet in order to make it much more accurate.
In this level you will be able to accomplish the following activities:
- Listen to podcasts in Spanish.
- Correctly use the different verb tenses in spoken and written form.
- Understand a restaurant menu.
- Understand basic indications, such as timetables and public transportation stops.
Level B1: Intermediate
The B1 level of Spanish is an important improvement and will help you to put into practice your knowledge of the language in real and casual conversations.
You will also be able to:
- Have conversations with native students.
- Read simple books in Spanish.
- Discuss and express opinions and points of view.
- Listen and understand complete sentences.
Spanish Level B2: High Intermediate
B2 accredits advanced knowledge of Spanish, being one of the most requested levels of Spanish to get a job or pursue higher education.
Students with a B2 level of Spanish are prepared to:
- Communicate easily with Spanish speakers.
- Defend their point of view in conversations or discussions.
- Formulate monologues.
- Talk about feelings.
- Watch series, movies and read books in the original language.
C1 and C2 Levels: Advanced/Bilingual
Levels C1 and C2 of Spanish involve an operational and efficient proficiency in the language, both spoken and written.
People with a C1 and C2 qualification can make a flexible and efficient use of Spanish for social, academic and professional purposes, as well as writing texts with different levels of complexity.
In fact, people who pass the C2 level are considered bilingual and understand pretty much everything they hear or read in Spanish.
In addition, students with a C2 who enroll in the Spanish educational system by validating their studies in another country are exempt from taking further Spanish proficiency tests.
How do I know which level of Spanish I have?
Knowing your Spanish level is very important to get the most out of your time and resources.
Therefore, on the first day of classes, all students at our school are given a test that will evaluate their written, reading and oral skills, as well as their knowledge of Spanish grammar.
Although the oral part must be assessed by our teachers, you can take the written test online before coming to study with us.
How to prepare for the Spanish tests?
Once you are aware of the different levels of Spanish, their differences and which one matches your needs, it is time to prepare for the official Spanish exams.
The most popular are the DELE exams, which are diplomas recognized by national, regional and local institutions and organizations.
The general structure of the DELE exams is as follows:
- Exam 1: Reading comprehension.
- Exam 2: Listening comprehension.
- Exam 3: Writing comprehension and interaction.
- Exam 4: Oral expression and interaction.
Some tips that may be useful for you, whether you are preparing for the DELE exam or any other test to accredit your level of Spanish, are:
- Check the type of exam. Study which tests you have to take, their duration, the type of exercises you are asked to do, etc. It is a good idea to take samples of previous exams.
- Prepare all the tests with the same intensity. We believe that working on a global approach is very important to strengthen your knowledge in Spanish.
- Make the most out of your Spanish classes. Having classmates in a spanish course who have the same goals as you and who are also preparing for their Spanish exams will motivate you, help you answer questions and allow you to feel supported throughout the process.
- Try to find native speakers to talk to. Meeting local people will help you improve your pronunciation and expressions, and help you increase your vocabulary and confidence when communicating.
- Keep in touch with the language. In other words, put your Spanish into practice whenever you can: listen to podcasts and music, watch series and movies, read books, go to the theater, read the news, … The closer contact you have with the language, the better.
- Look for an examination center or an accredited school like Españolé. We will prepare you for the exams and provide all the materials you will need.
What are you waiting for to get your Spanish language certification? Contact us for more information!
