What is SIELE?
The exam, administered by the International Service for the Evaluation of the Spanish Language (SIELE), is a document that certifies a student’s level of competency in Spanish. Once the candidate has passed the relevant official exam, the certificate in question will be issued.
For admission to or completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees at several Spanish universities, applicants must be in possession of an official Spanish certificate.
The needed level varies from one to another university, being B1 and B2 the most frequently requested levels.
This is your best option if you need to quickly demonstrate your level of Spanish.
The simplest way to quickly demonstrate your level of Spanish is to take the SIELE exam.
Academia Avenida al Español is an authorized center for SIELE registration and examination.
According to their equivalence with the CEFR levels, these are the SIELE test score levels:
Leading worldwide organizations in education and languages have acknowledged SIELE, which is aimed at professionals and students from the five continents.
The National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Salamanca, the University of Buenos Aires, and the Cervantes Institute all support SIELE. This ensures high levels of quality and ethical testing procedures. Moreover, the utilization of many Hispanic linguistic subgroups is recognised.
SIELE exam tests
The SIELE exam consists of four exams that measure each of the four Spanish language skills:
- Reading Comprehension (CL)
- Listening comprehension (CA)
- Written Expression and Interaction (EIE)
- Oral expression and interaction (OIE)
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe serves as the benchmark for each test’s requirements.
What is the difference between SIELE and DELE?
We provide a comparison table with the two alternatives’ differences, benefits, and drawbacks to assist you in determining which of the two best meets your needs:
| DELE | SIELE | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Spanish proficiency diploma at CEFR level (A1-C2) | Certificate of knowledge of Spanish on a point scale with equivalences to levels A1-C1 of the CEFR |
| Ownership | Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Spain. The Instituto Cervantes has held the academic, economic and administrative direction since 2002 | Cervantes Institute, UniversityNational Autonomous of Mexico, University of Salamanca, University of Buenos Aires |
| Managed from | 1989 | 2016 |
| Origin | Spain | Spain, Mexico and Argentina |
| Validity | Indefinite | Five years |
| International recognition | international recognition inregulated educational systems (for example, Brazil, France, Italy), institutions, companies, universities... In Spain: Spanish nationality, MIR, FIR, etc. | International recognition of SIELE higher education institutions |
| Head of administrative managementand commercial | Cervantes Institute | Technological and marketing company awarded: Telefónica Educación Digital |
| Recipients | ELE and L2, schoolchildren, youth and adults | ELE, L2 and L1, young people and adults |
| Method of administration | In exam centers, on paper, through international calls | In exam centers, on the computer,and through an appointment system. Progressively some tests will have an adaptive character (CL and CA). |
| Network of centers ofexam | More than a thousand exam centers in more than a hundred countries on five continents | The network currently has about a thousand examination centers around the world. The incorporation of new centers is continuous, so it is advisable to visit the portalsiele.org |
| Integration of varietiesfrom Spanish | Yes, especially from B1 | Yes, compulsorily, throughout the exam from its conception |
| No. of exams andlevels | Six exams for adult audiences: A1 - C2. Two school exams: A1-A2/B1 | An exam for an adult audience that includes tasks from A1 to C1 |
| Tests of the exam | Reading comprehension. Auditive comprehension. Written expression and interaction. Oral expression and interaction. | Reading comprehension. Auditive comprehension. Written expression and interaction. Oral expression and interaction. |
| Information about the result | Pass or fail on the mastery of the level of which the candidate is examined | Result of knowledge of Spanish expressed on a thousand-point scale with equivalence to CEFR levels |
| Type of certificate that is issued | Electronic qualification certification with official validity Official diploma for suitable candidates | Certificate (complete exam) or Report (only some test/s) of results, depending on the contracted modality |
| Communication ofresults | about two months | maximum three weeks |
What are the SIELE exams like?
GLOBAL SIELE
The single exam, which consists of four exams in a predefined order (CL, CA, EIE, and EIO) and lasts three hours with a 15-minute break, is the most comprehensive one for certifying your level of Spanish.
This certification contains:
- The results of each test, which has a maximum score of 250 points each, are compared to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (MERC).
- The sum of the four exams to determine the overall exam grade, which ranges from 0 to 1000.
| Reading comprehension | listening comprehension | Written expression and interaction | Oral expression and interaction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of tasks and questions | 5 tasks with a total of 38 questions | 6 tasks with a total of 38 questions | 2 tasks | 5 tasks |
| Type of questions | Questions formulated with texts that must be answered by selecting the correct options | Questions voiced and answered by selecting the correct options | Questions formulated through texts and answered in writing | Questions formulated through text and locution, and answered orally through a recording system |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 55 minutes | 50 minutes | 15 minutes |
| rating type | automatic | automatic | Manual by SIELE linguistic experts | Manual by SIELE linguistic experts |
| Maximum score | 250 points | 250 points | 250 points | 250 points |
| Results | In relation In relation to CEFR levels | In relation to CEFR levels | In relation to CEFR levels | In relation to CEFR levels |
Independent exams
There are four more testing modalities that integrate the various particular tests in addition to the SIELE Global.
How to prepare SIELE?
The SIELE exam can be prepared independently or through authorized online courses where the exam format and several tests that make it up are described.
The following links can be used to consult the contents to get ready for the SIELE exam:
If you need more information, access the following link: www.siele.org
SIELE exam dates
Our students will be able to select the date they want to take their SIELE exam whenever that date becomes available; we only require three days’ notice.
Price of SIELE exams
We advise that you research what is contained in the sections “What is included?” and “What is not included? because our long-term courses include the SIELE GLOBAL exam fee at their conclusion.
Since you will receive a certificate or report indicating the level you have attained, the cost of the SIELE exam is not affected by the level at which you take it.
Global SIELE: €155
ONLINE preparation course €50
Independent modalities:
- S1 exam: €55. Online preparation course: €35
- S2 exam: €75. Online preparation course: €35
- S3 exam: €100. Online preparation course: €35
- S4 exam: €75. Online preparation course: €35
- S5 exam: €100. Online preparation course: €35
Inscription
You can register online or in person:
- In person: You must bring a legitimate form of identification, select the exam type, and make payment in cash, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer.
- Telematically: In this situation, you will need to contact us in advance by phone (952 30 35 53 – 692 92 69 52 ) or email (info@academiaavenidaandalucia.es), and you’ll need to send us your valid identification document, the exam you’ve chosen, and any necessary supporting documentation, along with payment by transfer to our account number.
