DELE Exam Preparation Online (A1–C2)

DELE exam preparation online with Spanish Tinto means 1:1 lessons focused on the diploma: we clarify your level (A1–C2), practise the four skills the exam tests, and build a plan toward your exam date. The DELE is the official Spanish diploma of the Instituto Cervantes; you can take it in many countries, not only in Spain, and prepare from anywhere online.

I am Santiago Garnica, a Colombian lawyer and Spanish tutor. I teach structured Colombian / Latin American Spanish — and Instituto Cervantes accepts any variety of Spanish the candidate uses in expression and interaction. Short bridges in English (C1) or German (B2) when a rule blocks you, then back to Spanish.

Start with a 25-minute half lesson: you pick your time on Cal.com and pay securely with PayPal when you book.

Book in USD · $15 Book in EUR · €13

After booking, please fill in this 2-minute form so I can prepare your class.

What is the DELE?

The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is the official certificate of Spanish as a foreign language, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Education. The six adult levels — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 — match the Common European Framework (CEFR). The diploma has indefinite validity and international recognition (universities, employers, and in Spain e.g. nationality procedures where required).

Official overview: What is the DELE · DELE FAQ (Instituto Cervantes).

Spain, or any country? Where you take it vs where you prepare

Search queries often say “DELE preparation Spain”, but the diploma is valid internationally and the exam is offered at more than 1,000 centres in over 100 countries. You do not have to travel to Spain to sit it. Preparation can be fully online from your home country — that is how Spanish Tinto works.

Registration: in Spain (adult general DELE) online via the Cervantes portal; outside Spain, at your exam centre. Fees and which levels run on which date vary by centre and session — check the official tools rather than a blog price list.

Where is the DELE · How to register · When is the DELE (calendar).

Levels A1–C2: which DELE should you take?

A1–A2: basic everyday needs and simple exchanges.
B1–B2: independent user — work, study and travel situations; B2 is a common target for many professionals and university pathways.
C1–C2: advanced / mastery — complex texts, nuance, academic or highly specialised work. C2 has a different three-test structure.

Choose the level that matches what you can already do under exam conditions, not the level you hope to reach in three weeks. In the half lesson we do a quick diagnostic and pick a realistic target.

Exam parts and timing (official durations)

General adult DELE A1–B2 has four tests: reading, listening, writing, speaking. C1 keeps four tests but integrates “language use”. C2 has three integrated tests. Approximate durations:

Level	Reading	Listening	Writing	Speaking
A1	45 min	25 min	25 min	10 min (+10 prep)
A2	60 min	40 min	45 min	12 min (+12 prep)
B1	70 min	40 min	60 min	15 min (+15 prep)
B2	70 min	40 min	80 min	20 min (+20 prep)
C1	90 min (reading + language use)	50 min (listening + language use)	80 min	20 min (+20 prep)
C2	105 min (integrated reading/listening/language use)	— (included in Prueba 1)	150 min	20 min (+30 prep)

Source: official DELE exam pages on examenes.cervantes.es (structure and scoring) and the level pages for durations. C1/C2 use integrated skills; see those pages for task detail.

How scoring and passing work

Each DELE exam is scored out of 100 points. The only final grades are APTO (pass) or NO APTO (fail).

A1–C1: four tests × 25 points. Tests are grouped into two blocks of 50 (typically reading+writing and listening+speaking; C1 labels differ slightly). You need at least 30 points in each group to pass.
C2: three tests (~33.33 points each). You need at least 20 points in each test.

Source: Cómo son las pruebas DELE (Instituto Cervantes).

Latin American and Colombian Spanish in the DELE

You do not need Castilian from Spain to pass. Official Cervantes guidance: from B1 onwards, comprehension materials include the main varieties of Spanish; in expression and interaction, any variety the candidate uses is valid at all levels. A Colombian teacher is therefore a normal, accepted path for DELE prep — we stay consistent and clear, and we cover Spain forms when a task or your goal needs them.

Source: Cómo son las pruebas DELE.

My DELE preparation plan (1:1 method)

This is how I structure prep with students — a method, not a statistic or a guaranteed pass rate.

Half lesson (25 min): level check, exam date if you have one, weakest skill, and one concrete next step.
8–12 weeks before (typical B1/B2 pace): one weekly 50-min lesson. Alternate skills: one week speaking+listening under time pressure, one week writing tasks with word limits, plus targeted grammar (e.g. ser/estar, preterite vs imperfect, subjunctive).
4 weeks before: full timed practice for each paper; oral mock with the same timing and prep window as the real exam.
Final week: light review, sleep, and logistics (ID, centre address, what to bring) — no cramming new grammar.

A1/A2 often needs fewer weeks if you already function in daily Spanish; C1/C2 usually needs more writing and mediation practice. How long Spanish takes in general: how long to learn Spanish.

What we practise in lessons

Timed reading and listening with exam-style tasks
Writing: format, word count, clear structure, appropriate register
Speaking: presentation, photo description, interaction — with the official prep time
Selective correction: the few errors that cost points, not twenty interruptions

Prices for DELE preparation lessons

Option	Length	Price	Per 50-min lesson
Half lesson (first class)	25 min	$15 (€13)	–
1 lesson	50 min	$40 (€37)	$40 (€37)
5 lessons	5 × 50 min	$170 (€155)	$34 (€31) · save 15% / 16%
10 lessons (recommended)	10 × 50 min	$325 (€300)	$32.50 (€30) · save 19% / 19%
20 lessons	20 × 50 min	$600 (€550)	$30 (€27.50) · save 25% / 26%

How you pay: the half lesson and single lessons are booked on Cal.com and paid securely with PayPal when you book (card or PayPal account, USD or EUR). Packs are paid via PayPal in the pricing section; after a pack purchase you receive your personal booking link by email within 24 hours.

Reschedule at least 24 hours ahead
A no-show uses 1 credit (or the half lesson, if that was the booking)
Packs expire 6 months after purchase
No refund on the first paid lesson or on a pack once it has started

Full guide: Spanish tutor cost (2026).

FAQ

What is the DELE exam?

The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is the official Spanish diploma awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Education. Levels A1–C2 match the CEFR. The diploma has indefinite validity and international recognition. Source: What is the DELE and DELE FAQ.

Can I take the DELE outside Spain?

Yes. DELE exams are held at Instituto Cervantes centres and a network of more than 1,000 exam centres in over 100 countries. Not every centre offers every session. Find centres on Where is the DELE.

Does the DELE accept Latin American / Colombian Spanish?

Yes for what you produce. Instituto Cervantes states that from B1 onwards, comprehension tasks include the main varieties of Spanish, and in expression and interaction any variety the candidate uses is considered valid at all levels. Source: How the DELE tests work.

How do you pass the DELE?

For A1–C1 you need “APTO” in both scoring groups (at least 30 points out of 50 in each group; each of the four tests is worth 25 points). For C2 you need at least 20 points in each of the three tests. The final result is only APTO or NO APTO. Source: Cómo son las pruebas DELE.

How do I register and what does it cost?

In Spain (adult general DELE), registration is online via the Instituto Cervantes portal. Outside Spain, you register at your exam centre. Fees and exact dates depend on the centre and the session — I do not list fees here. See How to register and When is the DELE.

How much does DELE preparation with Spanish Tinto cost?

A 50-minute 1:1 lesson is $40 (€37). You start with a 25-minute half lesson for $15 (€13). Packs of 5, 10 or 20 lessons lower the price per lesson. Full table: Spanish tutor cost.

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