Free Practice Questions for DELE A1
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Key Facts: DELE A1 Exam
DELE A1 is awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education and is valid for life with no expiry date.
The DELE A1 exam has four tests worth 25 points each, totalling 100 points, with pass (APTO) or fail (NO APTO) as the only outcomes.
Candidates must score at least 30 out of 50 in both test Group 1 (Reading + Writing) and Group 2 (Listening + Speaking) to earn an APTO.
The Reading Comprehension test lasts 45 minutes and contains 25 questions across four tasks using short everyday texts.
The Listening Comprehension test lasts 25 minutes and contains 25 questions across four tasks; all audio texts are played exactly twice.
The 2026 DELE A1 exam fee is €112 in Spain (approximately $128 USD at US Instituto Cervantes examination centres).
DELE A1 corresponds to CEFR A1 breakthrough level, certifying the ability to understand and use very basic familiar expressions in everyday situations.
The University of Salamanca collaborates with the Instituto Cervantes in preparing DELE exam forms and grading the tests (official DELE A1 exam guide).
DELE A1 is the official beginner Spanish certificate from the Instituto Cervantes, testing basic reading, listening, writing, and speaking at CEFR A1 level; passing requires 30/50 in each of two test groups.
Sample DELE A1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the DELE A1 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 135+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Lee el siguiente texto y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Hola, me llamo Ana. Tengo veinte años. Soy de Madrid. Vivo con mis padres y mi hermano pequeño.' Where is Ana from?
2Lee el siguiente anuncio y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Clases de español para principiantes. Lunes y miércoles, de 18:00 a 20:00. Precio: 50 euros al mes. Información: llama al 612 345 678.' On which days are the Spanish classes held?
3Lee el mensaje y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Hola, Pedro. Mañana no puedo ir al gimnasio porque tengo que trabajar. ¿Vamos el jueves? Un abrazo, Luis.' Why can Luis not go to the gym tomorrow?
4Lee el siguiente texto y elige la respuesta correcta. 'El supermercado Mercado Azul abre de lunes a sábado de 9:00 a 21:00. Los domingos está cerrado. Aceptamos tarjeta y efectivo.' When is the supermarket closed?
5Lee el correo electrónico y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Hola, Carmen. ¿Puedes venir a mi casa el sábado a las cuatro? Voy a hacer una fiesta de cumpleaños para mi hijo. Trae algo de comer si puedes. Gracias, Rosa.' Why is Rosa having a party?
6Lee el cartel y elige la respuesta correcta. 'PISCINA MUNICIPAL Abierta de martes a domingo. Niños menores de 5 años: gratis. Adultos: 3 euros. No está permitido comer dentro de la piscina.' How much does an adult ticket cost?
7Lee el siguiente formulario y elige la respuesta correcta. Nombre: Martín Apellidos: García López Nacionalidad: mexicana Profesión: médico Teléfono: 699 111 222 What is Martín's profession?
8Lee el texto y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Esta es mi familia. Mi madre se llama Elena. Mi padre se llama Jorge. Tengo una hermana mayor, Sofía. Ella tiene veintidós años y estudia enfermería.' What does Sofía study?
9Lee la nota y elige la respuesta correcta. 'Papá, esta tarde voy a casa de Javier a estudiar. Vuelvo antes de las nueve. Hay comida en la nevera. Sara.' What time will Sara be back home?
10Lee el anuncio y elige la respuesta correcta. 'RESTAURANTE EL PATIO Menú del día: 10 euros Abierto de 13:00 a 16:00 y de 20:00 a 23:00 Cerrado los lunes Reservas: 91 234 56 78' What is the price of the menu del día?
About the DELE A1 Exam
The DELE A1 (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, Level A1) is an internationally recognised, lifetime-valid certificate of breakthrough Spanish proficiency, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish government. It corresponds to the lowest CEFR level (A1 — breakthrough), certifying that candidates can understand and use familiar everyday expressions, introduce themselves and others, ask and answer basic personal questions, and interact in a simple way when the other person speaks slowly and clearly. The exam has four components (2020 specification): Reading Comprehension (45 minutes, 4 tasks, 25 items), Listening Comprehension (25 minutes, 4 tasks, 25 items), Written Expression and Interaction (25 minutes, 2 tasks), and Oral Expression and Interaction (10 minutes speaking + 10 minutes preparation, 3 tasks). To earn an APTO (pass), candidates must score at least 30 out of 50 in each of the two test groups: Group 1 (Reading + Writing) and Group 2 (Listening + Speaking). The 2026 DELE A1 is available on multiple exam dates at accredited centres worldwide.
Exam sponsor: Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports; the University of Salamanca collaborates in preparing and grading the tests.. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
50 questions
Time Limit
45 minutes (Reading) + 25 minutes (Listening) + 25 minutes (Writing) + 20 minutes (Oral prep + speaking); total approximately 1 hour 55 minutes of active test time.
Passing Score
APTO/NO APTO. Must score at least 30 out of 50 in Group 1 (Reading + Writing) AND at least 30 out of 50 in Group 2 (Listening + Speaking).
Exam / Certification Fees
€112 in Spain (approximately $128 USD at US Instituto Cervantes centres for the 2026 exam year; fees vary by country).
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Reading Comprehension
Four tasks with 25 questions: one personal email or postcard (5 items), nine short notes, signs and notices matched to six sentences (6 items), nine short ads matched to six people (6 items), and one informational text such as a cultural agenda (8 items).
Listening Comprehension
Four tasks with 25 questions: five short dialogues with picture options, five short messages or announcements matched to pictures, eight statements from one monologue matched to sentence endings, and one conversation with seven sentences to complete. Speech is slow and clear, and every recording is played twice.
Written Expression and Interaction
Two writing tasks: Task 1 is a form with short answers about yourself (15–25 words); Task 2 is a short postcard, email, message or ad (30–40 words) covering the given points. Two raters score each task holistically from 0 to 3.
Oral Expression and Interaction
Three speaking tasks with 10 minutes of preparation and about 10 minutes of speaking: a 1–2 minute personal presentation (name, age, nationality, home, job or studies, character, languages), a 2–3 minute talk on a chosen topic, and a 3–4 minute conversation with the interviewer that ends with two questions from the candidate.
Preparing for the DELE A1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: APTO/NO APTO. Must score at least 30 out of 50 in Group 1 (Reading + Writing) AND at least 30 out of 50 in Group 2 (Listening + Speaking).
- Exam length: 50 questions
- Time limit: 45 minutes (Reading) + 25 minutes (Listening) + 25 minutes (Writing) + 20 minutes (Oral prep + speaking); total approximately 1 hour 55 minutes of active test time.
- Exam / certification fees: €112 in Spain (approximately $128 USD at US Instituto Cervantes centres for the 2026 exam year; fees vary by country). Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 135 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
DELE A1: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DELE A1 and who awards it?
The DELE A1 is an official certificate of breakthrough Spanish proficiency at CEFR A1 level, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports. It is valid for life and internationally recognised as permanent proof of basic Spanish communication ability.
How is the DELE A1 exam structured?
The exam consists of four pruebas under the 2020 specification: Reading Comprehension (45 minutes, 4 tasks, 25 items), Listening Comprehension (25 minutes, 4 tasks, 25 items), Written Expression and Interaction (25 minutes, 2 tasks), and Oral Expression and Interaction (10 minutes speaking + 10 minutes preparation, 3 tasks). Each test group is worth 50 points.
What score do I need to pass the DELE A1?
The DELE A1 uses an APTO (pass) / NO APTO (fail) grading system. You must score at least 30 out of 50 in Group 1 (Reading + Writing) AND at least 30 out of 50 in Group 2 (Listening + Speaking). Failing either group means an overall NO APTO, and surplus points in one group cannot compensate for a deficit in the other.
How much does the DELE A1 cost in 2026?
The 2026 fee is €112 in Spain. US Instituto Cervantes centres charge approximately $128 USD. Fees vary by country and examination centre; check the official Instituto Cervantes portal for local pricing.
What Spanish level do I need to prepare for the DELE A1?
The DELE A1 is designed for beginners. Candidates who have completed approximately 60–120 hours of guided study should be prepared. The exam tests basic vocabulary, present-tense verbs, numbers, time, days of the week, and simple everyday communicative exchanges.
Does this practice set match the real DELE A1 format?
The real DELE A1 examination contains 50 scored receptive items (25 reading and 25 listening) plus open-ended written and oral production tasks. OpenExamPrep provides independent practice questions covering reading comprehension, listening comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary to reinforce testable skills.