DELE Exam in November: Be prepared

Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language

On November 22nd and 23rd, the DELE exam will take place and I started to think about the nervous state in which candidates often find themselves as they begin to contemplate how to pass their particular level.  

The first issue to consider is the total duration of the exam; it lasts between three and four hours depending on the level of the candidate. This period of time may seem too long but it must be recognized that every test needs to provide the candidate with ample time to complete it calmly. The candidate does not need to worry about the time aspect of the exam. Spending two hours carrying out a monotonous task is much different than doing a range of exercises which greatly differ in form.

The DELE exam comprises of four tests which correspond to the four main disciplines: reading, listening, writing and oral. 

It is important to remember that candidates need a soft pencil when answering the exam questions. Why a soft pencil (let’s speak about test number 2, for example)? The reason is simple: if during the exam the candidate decides to change one of their answers, the candidate will be able to rub it out completely and it will also prevent any scanning problems which can arise during the marking process if a candidate has clumsily tried to change their answer; this may show up as two answers and the answer would therefore be discounted. A pen (blue or black please; bright colors like green or red are not appropriate for an exam) is also required for the written part of the exam.

Reading comprehension

Let’s start with the first of the four tests: the reading comprehension. This test lasts for slightly longer than an hour and is comprised of reading and answering questions about five texts in which each of the five texts signifies a different task. Remember that the most important thing is to read the instructions carefully and only answer using information which appears in the text, not with what you know from your own experience. The objective is to demonstrate that you understand the texts, not to write about Spanish culture in general. We recommend that you begin by reading the questions carefully to give yourself an idea of what you are looking for in the text.

Listening comprehension

In the second test (listening comprehension), panic often sets in as candidates worry that they will not be able to understand some of the recordings and this lack of understanding often leads to a mind blank.  It is at this point that the candidate must remember the “glass half full or half empty” idiom and the importance of remaining positive.  There is a big difference between someone who thinks, “Great, I understand 50% of the text!” and someone who thinks “Oh my God, I haven’t understood 50% of what I’ve heard!” It may seem silly but this mindset is crucial to whether the candidate will succeed or not. It is also important to remember that you will consecutively listen to each recording twice which will give you the opportunity to concentrate on the difficult passage, which you failed to understand the first time, again.   

In my experience as a Spanish teacher and DELE tutor for different levels, I can assure you that this attitude often enhances the candidate’s ability to perform on the exam. Being able to keep cool under pressure is a valuable skill...

Written paper

In the third test, the written paper, it is very important to strictly adhere to what is being asked and not to be overwhelmed by its duration. Given our awareness to the fact that many students find it difficult to write a text in Spanish, we must focus our preparation on written practice, learning key phrases which can be included in the essay or letter, learning ways to open and close a letter and becoming accustomed to using a conditional structure of some sort (if you are at a higher level) etc. It is very important to remember that you must complete both written tasks; you should not complete one to a high standard and the other to a poor standard.

Oral section

Finally we come to the oral section of the exam. Candidates should always remember that the oral examiner is not interested in stopping the candidate from speaking but quite the contrary. If the examiner proposes a conversation topic or provides the candidate with a photo which is particularly difficult or too topical, the candidate can always resort to explaining why he or she does not like this topic. The examiner is keen to hear the candidate speak even if it is not one hundred percent related to the topic which he or she has suggested. It is better to go off on a tangent a little bit than to be as quiet as a mouse…

Bearing in mind that 70% must be achieved in every test to pass the DELE exam, candidates should remember the glass cup full attitude which will remind candidates that they can make errors amounting to 30% and still pass the exam!

A positive attitude, that’s the answer!

Good luck and may the force be with you...