DELE Exam Preparation Manual (Intermediate Level)

The candidate must demonstrate that they know how to function in basic situations of written and oral communication in any of the cultural norms of the Spanish language.

The level of language in reference corresponds to that of a person who visits a Spanish-speaking country as a tourist or visitor, more or less habitually, or that which is necessary to communicate with a native Spanish speaker outside of a Spanish-speaking country.

The candidate should be able to communicate in formal situations such as those in which two people enter when they do not know each other, in semiformal situations such as those between adults who know each other but do not belong to the same social circle, and in informal situations such as those between family and friends.

The following list is indicative of the themes that may appear on the various tests (the complete list is offered on the Cervantes Institute website):

• Scenarios which may appear: Housing and accommodation; city; country; vacation locations; transportation; restaurants; bars and cafes; shops, markets, or large stores; public buildings; places for leisure and entertainment; tourist destinations, places of work and study; health centers.
• Themes which may appear: personal identification; housing and accommodation; work, study, occupation; free time; travel and transportation; social relationships; health and physical state; purchases; food and drink; public service locations; weather and climate; communication problems.

Now check the notes which you made in the table at the beginning of this section and correct as necessary. In the Keys you will find explicatory comments which may be useful to you.

Before continuing with this part of the text, we suggest a second of reflection. The following basic questions were made by Spanish students who wished to take the exam to obtain the Spanish Diploma (Intermediate Level). Can you answer them?

1. How many tests are on the exam? Do they all last the same time? Which is the first? Are there breaks in between the tests?
2. How many texts do I have to read? How many do I have to write? How many do have to listen to?
3. Is there any type of set text for the reading test?
4. How many sections does the interview have? Am I going to have to talk with an examiner, or with another candidate?
5. How many questions does the vocabulary and grammar test have? What are they like?

Add your own question… If you don’t know the answers, look at the information on the following text.

Tests 1 & 2	Reading Comprehension and Written Expression	120 minutes 09:00-11:00	If taken on the same day in the same place, there is a 30 minute break in between tests 2 and 3
Test 3	Listening Comprehension	45 minutes 11:30-12:15
Test 4	Grammar and Vocabulary	60 minutes 12:15 to 13:15
Test 5	Oral Expression	From 10 to 15 minutes	The Oral Expression test should be taken before or after the written tests, as determined by the Exam Center. It could be in a different time and a different place.

These schedules are those shown by the Cervantes Institute in their indications to the Exam centers. The time of the exam is different for every candidate, and the corresponding Center examiner will notify of it.

Test 1: Reading Comprehension

• Text 1: Directive or informative text of non-journalistic content (instructions for use, informational brochures, official publications, etc.).
• Text 2: Journalistic text of an informative nature.
• Text 3: Journalistic text of opinion.
• Text 4: Simple narrative or descriptive text.

There are twelve questions about the four texts (normally three questions per text), of two kinds: True/false, or with three options from which to choose the correct answer according to the text. The latter is more frequent. The two types of questions will never be combined for the same text.

Test 2: Written Expression

You will have to write two texts, each between 150 and 200 words. In both cases there are prior instructions you should follow, and two options to choose the situation or theme which you find more agreeable.

• Text 1: A personal letter.
• Text 2: A composition of a narrative tone, descriptive or discursive.

Test 3: Listening Comprehension

You will have to demonstrate that you understand four texts, responding to the twelve question which you will be asked. The questions are of two types, predominantly multiple choice (three choices), as opposed to true/false.

The texts fundamentally will be news or notifications; one may be a conversation or interview of a non-colloquial tone between two people.

Test 4: Grammar and Vocabulary

You will have to complete three exercises, grouped into two sections:

• Section 1: There is an incomplete text, and you have to complete it, choosing in each case between a few options which you are given. There are 20 blanks, with three options to choose from for each. The content will be of grammar and vocabulary.
• Section 2: They are brief dialogues which can have three mechanical types:
  • Exercise 1: 10 dialogues with one word or phrase emphasized for which you will have to choose one option among three (vocabulary exercise).
  • Exercise 2: 10 incomplete dialogues with two options, where only one is correct (grammar exercise), plus 20 incomplete dialogues with four options, where only one is correct (grammar exercise).

Test 5: Oral Expression

This test consists of a conversation between the candidate and a panel (comprised of two people). The conversation will be a treatment of topics both related to the candidate (likes, tastes, customs, preferences, opinions, experiences, etc.), and of more general themes. It has three parts. In the first, they will offer you two series of pictures in the form of a story. You will have to chose one of them and describe them and tell the story. At the end, you present (you will have to improvise) the final vignette of the story. In the second part, you have to present a theme for which you will have previously prepared. For this, they will offer you three themes, of which you should choose one. There will be 15 minutes available before the interview to prepare the presentation. The third part consists of a conversation with the interviewer in regards to the theme which you have presented.

The Cervantes Institute is the one responsible for the holding and administration of the exam, but it is the University of Salamanca which prepares and evaluates the work of the candidates.

The panels are comprised of expert professors in the teaching of Spanish as a second language, and are responsible for the administration of the written tests and the assessment of the Oral Expression test.

The highest grade which you can obtain is 100 points. The five tests are grouped according to the following list:

• 1st Group- Reading Comprehension (20 points) and Written Expression (15 points)…35 points.
• 2nd Group- Grammar and Vocabulary (20 points)…20 points.
• 3rd Group- Listening Comprehension (15 points) and Oral Expression (30 points)…45 points.

Important note: you need to obtain at least 70% of the maximum possible points from each of the indicated groups:

• 1st Group- 24.5 points
• 2nd Group- 14 points
• 3rd Group- 31.5 points

If you do not obtain a grade of ADEQUATE in all of the groups, you will need to repeat the entire exam.