Every year, thousands of students across the world take the Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE), a standardised exam that assesses proficiency in Spanish. Whether you want to gain entrance to a Spanish-speaking university or need it for your career, the DELE qualification is extremely valuable. Not only is it respected by both leading universities and employers, but it is the only accredited qualification that is issued internationally by Spain’s Ministry of Education.
If you are planning on taking the DELE exam, you will need to focus your efforts towards learning and polishing your Spanish, as well as your test-taking techniques. Here are some handy tips to get you started.
The first thing you need to do to prepare for the DELE exam is to make a study plan. Depending on your background with Spanish and how confident you are with the language, you may need to focus your efforts on certain areas. It will also depend on which level of test you are taking. Levels range from A1, which is the lowest level, to C2, which is the most advanced.
While the content of the exam differs by level, it will assess your writing and reading skills, as well as your listening comprehension, speaking, and interaction abilities.
When creating your study plan, it is best to focus on the areas that need the most improvement. For example, if you learned Spanish by mostly speaking informally with friends, you may need to focus on your writing, reading, and grammar skills. However, if you learned Spanish by reading Spanish texts, you may have to improve your listening and speaking abilities. Taking Spanish exam preparation courses like those offered at IH Madrid will help you discover your strengths and weaknesses, so you know where to focus your efforts.
IH Madrid’s DELE Exam Prep course will help you discover where you need to focus your efforts
One benefit of choosing to take a DELE Spanish preparation course in Spain is that there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the language and take your learning to the next level. When preparing for the exam, try to use the language as much as possible in your social life. Get outside and interact with all different types of people. Ask questions and make conversation, but do not forget to practise proper grammar!
In addition, if you have made local friends in Madrid, ask if they can help you study by providing feedback on your grammar, vocabulary, and use of Spanish expressions. Practising with native speakers is also beneficial because it will help you adjust to listening to Spanish spoken with an accent, which you will have to do on the exam.
Reviewing past exams is a great way to prepare yourself for the challenges of the DELE, which is why it is incorporated into IH Madrid’s DELE exam preparation courses. Going over past exams will allow you to discover what the questions are like and how they are formatted, and know what to expect from the instructions. It will also help you estimate how long it will take you to complete each section, which can be crucial, because the DELE exam has a strict time limit.
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