Cervantes Institute - DELE Exams

2026 Examination Dates and Registration Deadlines

Registration cannot be accepted after the applicable deadline. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials well in advance. The 2026 dates and deadlines are established by the Instituto Cervantes.

2026 DELE Examination Fees

The registration fee includes participation in the selected examination session and, for candidates who pass, the issuance of the corresponding official DELE diploma.

How to Register at UVA

Registration for a DELE examination at the University of Virginia is completed through the UVA examination center.

Step 1: Contact the UVA DELE Coordinator 

To begin the registration process, send an email to:

Nieves García Prados

DELE Examination Coordinator

Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese

University of Virginia

mdg4xf@virginia.edu

In your email, please indicate:

• Your full name
• The DELE level for which you wish to register
• Your selected examination date
• A current personal email address that can be used for examination communications

Step 2: Pay the Examination Fee

Candidates must pay the applicable examination fee through the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese payment platform.

Payment platform:          https://pci.foc.virginia.edu/UVA_DELE_Exam

When completing the payment, include the following information in the payment description or reference:          DELE Registration + examination date + examination level

For example:     DELE Registration – November 14, 2026 – B2

Please save the receipt or payment confirmation. Proof of payment is required to complete the registration process.

What Is the DELE?

DELE stands for Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, or Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language.

The DELE is an official Spanish-language qualification issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education. It certifies a candidate's Spanish-language proficiency according to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR.

DELE diplomas cover six general levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. The University of Virginia examination center currently offers the A1, A2, B1 and B2 levels; C1 and C2 are not offered at this time.

The DELE examinations recognize the different varieties of Spanish as equally valid.

Why Take the DELE?

International recognition

DELE diplomas are recognized by educational institutions, employers and public organizations internationally.

Lifetime validity

A DELE diploma does not expire. Once a candidate earns the diploma, it remains valid indefinitely.

Academic benefits

A DELE diploma may strengthen applications for university admission, study abroad programs, academic grants, scholarships and international mobility programs.

Professional benefits

DELE certification provides official evidence of Spanish-language proficiency and may enhance a résumé or support applications for positions in which Spanish is required or preferred.

Official and administrative uses

A DELE diploma may be required or accepted as evidence of Spanish proficiency for certain administrative, immigration, nationality, professional or educational procedures. Requirements vary according to the institution and the specific procedure.

The DELE's international recognition, lifetime validity and academic and professional value are among its principal benefits.

DELE Levels Offered at UVA

A1 — Beginner

At the A1 level, candidates can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. They can introduce themselves, ask and answer simple personal questions and interact when the other person speaks slowly and clearly.

A2 — Elementary

At the A2 level, candidates can understand frequently used expressions related to areas of immediate relevance, including personal information, shopping, employment and local geography. They can communicate during simple and routine tasks and describe aspects of their background and immediate environment.

B1 — Intermediate or Independent User

At the B1 level, candidates can understand the main points of clear spoken and written texts on familiar subjects. They can manage most situations encountered while traveling and produce simple, coherent texts about experiences, interests, plans and opinions.

B2 — Upper Intermediate

At the B2 level, candidates can understand the main ideas of complex texts, including discussions related to their area of specialization. They can interact with native speakers with a degree of fluency and spontaneity and produce clear, detailed texts while explaining and defending a point of view.

Examination Structure

Depending on the level, DELE examinations assess the following principal language skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, written expression, mediation and interaction, and oral expression, mediation and interaction.

Examination tasks are based on situations that candidates may encounter in personal, public, educational and professional contexts.

From the B1 level onward, reading materials may reflect major varieties of Spanish. Candidates may use any recognized variety of Spanish in their written and oral responses.

Oral examinations may be recorded for examination administration, quality assurance, fraud prevention or the management of candidate requests and complaints.

Detailed information about the structure, duration, tasks and grading system for each level is available in the official examination guides:

View official DELE examination guides, sample papers and audio materials

Passing Requirements

For the A1 through B2 examinations, the tests are normally organized into two grading groups. Candidates must obtain the required minimum score in each group; a strong score in one group cannot compensate for a score below the minimum in the other.

Candidates should consult the official guide for their selected level for the precise examination structure and current scoring criteria.

Who Can Take a DELE Examination?

Candidates may register for a general DELE examination regardless of nationality or country of origin, provided that they complete the registration process and pay the applicable fee.

General DELE examinations are intended for literate candidates of all ages, although they are primarily designed for adults aged 16 and older. A parent, guardian or legal representative must register a minor or a person who does not have the legal capacity to complete the registration independently.

Candidates Requiring Special Arrangements

Instituto Cervantes may authorize special examination arrangements for candidates with:

• Visual disabilities
• Hearing disabilities
• Reduced mobility
• Certain learning difficulties, including dyslexia or dysgraphia
• Other documented conditions that prevent the candidate from taking the examination under standard conditions

Candidates requiring special arrangements should contact Nieves García Prados as early as possible. The request and supporting documentation must generally be submitted to the examination center at least two weeks before the official written examination date.

The examination center will review the request and submit it to Instituto Cervantes for approval. Special arrangements cannot be guaranteed unless the request is submitted correctly and within the required period.

Candidate Responsibilities

Before completing the registration process, candidates must verify that the following information is correct:

• Full legal name
• Date and place of birth
• Nationality
• Passport or identification-document number
• DELE level
• Examination date
• Examination center
• Email and contact information

All personal information must match the candidate's official identification document. Errors may appear on the official diploma or create administrative difficulties.

Candidates must notify the UVA examination center promptly if their address, email or other relevant personal information changes before or after the examination.

What to Bring on Examination Day

Candidates must arrive at the location and time stated in the official examination notice and bring:

• The registration confirmation or receipt issued by the examination center
• The original passport or official photo ID submitted during registration
• The official examination notice or session confirmation sent by the UVA examination center

A photocopy or digital image of an identification document does not replace the original document on examination day.

Candidates whose identity cannot be verified or whose identification information does not match their registration confirmation may not be admitted to the examination.

Changes, Cancellations and Refunds

Candidates may request to cancel their registration and receive a refund within 14 calendar days of the original registration and payment date.

Because UVA is an examination center outside Spain, candidates registered through UVA should submit refund or cancellation requests directly to the UVA DELE Examination Coordinator.

Requests must be made clearly in writing and include:

• The candidate's full name
• Registration number, if available
• Examination date
• Examination level
• A clear request to cancel the registration

Once 14 calendar days have passed since registration and payment, candidates generally lose the right to a refund, subject to the official Instituto Cervantes terms and any exceptional circumstances described in those terms. Failure to attend the examination does not normally entitle a candidate to a refund or a transfer to another session.

Examination Results

Instituto Cervantes publishes DELE examination results after the examination and grading process has been completed. Results have traditionally been made available approximately three months after the examination, although publication times may vary.

Candidates are responsible for monitoring the personal email address provided during registration and keeping their contact information current.

Candidates may consult and download their official certificate of results through the Instituto Cervantes examination portal. The certificate will indicate one of the following results:

• APTO — Pass
• NO APTO — Fail
• NO PRESENTADO — Did not attend
• NO CALIFICADO — Not graded

Candidates who receive an APTO result are issued an official digital DELE diploma.

Official Instituto Cervantes Resources

Candidates may consult the following official Instituto Cervantes resources:

• General information about the DELE
• 2026 DELE examination dates, registration deadlines and fees
• How to register for the DELE
• DELE examination centers in the United States
• Sample DELE examinations and audio materials
• DELE examination results
• Official preparation guides, answer sheets, practice examinations and audio materials
• Official DELE registration information and downloadable forms

Questions

For questions about registration, payment, required documentation, examination levels or the UVA examination schedule, please contact:

Nieves García Prados

DELE Examination Coordinator

Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese

University of Virginia

Email: mdg4xf@virginia.edu