DELE: What is it? FAQs

The Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) are official qualifications certifying one's level of competence in the Spanish language at an international level. Anyone with a certain level in the language can take one of the levels and obtain a certification if he/she passes the exam. This certification is issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.


Is DELE a course? No, it is only an examination that someone, with a certain level of Spanish, does in order to obtain a certification. It is important, however, to be familiar with the format and content of the examinations and so practice is important. Interested persons might need to revisit some grammatical structures or vocabulary to get better prepared for the exam. The UTech DELE Centre offers preparation classes each year for interested candidates, usually one week prior to the sitting.

How do I get a DELE diploma? It is very simple. Register, sit the exams and, if you pass you receive the diploma.  The DELE center at UTech offers one sitting in May each year. These exams can only be done in official DELE examination centres. There are two official DELE examination centres in Jamaica, one in Montego Bay, the other in Kingston at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

How can I prepare for the exams? You can practice on your own with pass papers that can be found at the official site. Additionally, you can attend the  DELE workshop/s offered by the DELE UTech centre. (Please note that if the numbers are too few then these workshops will not take place.)  Our teachers are official DELE examiners who want to help you in your preparation so that you can be successful in your exam.  Bear in mind that the workshops are not lessons in grammar etc., but rather on examination techniques, practice with exam papers and providing feedback. 

How do I know which level to choose? The DELE examinations have been designed pursuant to the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which ensures a practical way of establishing a standard, international and objective measurement of the level that should be reached at each teaching stage, and in evaluating results. There are six levels of the DELE diplomas.  Make sure that you choose the appropriate level (2) for the sitting.

How do I register for the sitting? Get information here.

Where can I get more information on the DELE workshops? Click here (Not yet available).

VIDEO: DELE jamaican experiences