If you are thinking about taking the DELE exam or the SIELE exam, it's important that you know the main advantages and disadvantages of both. We will compare their characteristics, times, costs and modalities to be clear about how they work and obtain your diploma.
How many levels does each exam have?
For the DELE exam, there are 3 levels, A, B and C, with 2 sub-levels inside. This means that you can apply from DELE A1, which will be the most initial, to level C2, the highest, so in total there are 6 levels available to choose from.
On the other hand, in the SIELE exam you have up to 5 levels. This is a multilevel exam, meaning that all students take the same exam, and depending on the result you will have a level A1, A2, B1, B2 or C1 (C2 is not included).
How are they rated?
In a DELE exam you can have only 2 results: Eligible or Not Eligible.
On the other hand, in the SIELE you will always have a qualification depending on your level. The minimum is A1, unless you have less than 40 points (in this case you will not get certified), and the maximum is C1, I feel this is one of the main benefits of this exam.
Can minors do it?
A DELE section has been set up for schoolchildren. If you are under 17 years old, you can take the DELE A1 exam for schoolchildren and also the A2-B1 double exit exam. Unlike the exam for adults, this one includes a topic that is more accessible to teenagers or children, because it does not take on such abstract or work topics.
On the contrary, in the SIELE you need to be 18 years old to be able to do so.
How many stages do they have?
In the DELE exam you must present yourself with all 4 language skills. This implies that in the DELE exam you must take a test that qualifies your “Reading Comprehension”, another that evaluates your “Listening Comprehension”, in addition to a “Compression and Written Expression” test, and finally another one for “Oral Expression and Interaction”.
In the SIELE, meanwhile, the format is more flexible and you have 5 modalities: the first is the Global one, that is, you are examined from the four competencies evaluated by a DELE exam. However, it is possible to examine, for example, only Oral Expression competence, allowing students to have greater flexibility.
How long does it take to take the test?
The DELE exam will take longer or take less time depending on the level.
In the SIELE, since it is a multilevel exam that is the same for all students, the “Oral Expression” section lasts between 15 and 20 minutes, while that of the other 3 competencies lasts between 50 and 60 minutes.
When does the certification expire?
The DELE doesn't expire and once you get your Apto, it's forever.
On the other hand, the SIELE does expire and is valid for 5 years, one of the disadvantages and at the same time one of the reasons why students do it when they need to certify their level for something specific in a short period of time.
Are the Oral Test and the Written Test done on the same day?
On the DELE exam, if you're lucky, it's possible that the Oral Test will be the same day as the rest of the tests. But in many cases the Oral Task is done a day before or after, which can cause difficulties in terms of the time available to do it.
At SIELE, all competitions take place on the same day.
Is it in-person or virtual?
The DELE exam is done in person and face to face with an examiner in the Oral Test, while the Written “Reading Comprehension” Test is done on paper.
The SIELE, meanwhile, is a completely digital exam. Even “Oral Expression” tests are done with a computer: the student's voice is recorded and then listened to by an examiner, which can be an advantage if you are afraid of exams or go blank during oral exams.
When are the exams?
There are fixed calls for the DELE exam. There are no exams every month nor are all levels examined in each call. An exam is usually done every 2 or 3 months and, for example, for higher levels, such as C2, there are usually only 2 exams a year, in May and November.
In the SIELE there is greater flexibility, since a person who wishes to take the exam can take it within 3 days if they wanted to. However, unlike the DELE, there are not so many accredited centers where you can perform the SIELE.
When do the results come out?
In the DELE exam, the results are usually given in an average of between 2 and 3 months, just as the electronic result takes longer. But if you want your diploma, you'll have to wait 2-3 more months.
In the SIELE there is less red tape and it is faster, since the results take up to 3 weeks.
What language is the website in?
The website where you can find information about the DELE is completely in Spanish.
On the SIELE website, information is available in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
How much does the exam cost?
The DELE exam does not have a fixed price, but it varies according to the level, but it also depends on the city and center where you are taking it, and can range from 150 to 300 euros.
In the SIELE, the prices are fixed. The global exam costs 150 euros, but since you can also apply for a specific skill, in that case you will pay between 55 and 100 euros, depending on the ability.
How to prepare for the exam?
As the DELE exam has a longer track record, it is easier to find information on the internet, such as books or my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/aporelDELE) and my online courses (https://aporeldele.com/cursos), while for SIELE there is not so much information, but on the exam website you can take an online course explaining the structure of the test and different strategies for passing it.
I hope this comparison was useful to you if you were hesitating between the two exams. Now you know very well how DELE and SIELE are similar and different. Thank you César (from the channel) https://www.youtube.com/c/SpanishLanguageCoach) for their collaboration. Here you can see the video we made together comparing the DELE and the SIELE:
If you want to prepare effectively and strategically to take the DELE exam, with all the confidence and security you need to get the APT, sign up for my DELE online course: https://aporeldele.com/cursos
