Having recently arrived in Spain, I’ve been adapting to life here while also self-studying Spanish. Lately, I’ve been thinking about taking a certification exam to test my learning progress and to boost my profile for future job or university applications. After doing some research online, I found quite a few types of Spanish exams—DELE, SIELE, and also the TEM-4/8 mentioned by friends back in China, which left me feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’m sure many of you are in the same boat, so I’ve put together this comparison to share. Let’s discuss it together!
A Comparison of Different Spanish Exams
The most mainstream and widely recognized exams are definitely DELE and SIELE; you could call them the ‘IELTS and TOEFL’ of the Spanish language world. China’s TEM-4 and TEM-8 exams, on the other hand, are primarily for university students majoring in Spanish. International students like us usually don’t encounter them, but I’ve included a brief comparison for the sake of completeness.
DELE vs. SIELE: How to Choose Between the Two Major International Certificates?
These are the two exams that people struggle with the most. To put it simply, DELE is a proficiency certificate that is valid for life, while SIELE is a proficiency test report valid for two years. If you are looking for a ‘one-and-done’ official certification from your Spanish exam, DELE is definitely the top choice. However, the downside of DELE is the slow result turnaround and relatively fewer exam dates. In contrast, SIELE is much more flexible—it’s computer-based, you can register anytime, and results are released quickly, making it ideal for those who urgently need a score report for university or job applications.
I’ve made a table below to make the differences clearer:
| Exam Type | DELE | SIELE |
|---|
| Certificate Type | Level Certificate | Score Report |
| Exam Format | Paper-based test + Oral interview | Fully computer-based |
| Exam Content | All four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) must be passed at once | Can test single skills or all skills; scores can be combined |
| Validity | Lifetime | 5 years 2 years |
| Results Time | Approx. 2-3 months | As fast as 3 weeks |
| Organizers | Instituto Cervantes | Instituto Cervantes, University of Salamanca, National Autonomous University of Mexico, etc. |
China’s TEM-4 and TEM-8
This section is mainly for reference for students majoring in Spanish in China. The TEM-4 and TEM-8 are benchmarks for assessing the teaching quality of Spanish majors in Chinese universities and are not open to the general public. In terms of difficulty, the TEM-4 is generally considered to be around the B1-B2 level, while the TEM-8 requires a C1 level. Although they are highly regarded within China, their international recognition is lower than that of DELE and SIELE. Therefore, if you didn’t major in Spanish in a formal program in China, you can pretty much ignore these two exams.
For most of us living, studying, or working in Spain, choosing between DELE and SIELE is the most practical option. My personal advice is, if you’re not in a hurry for your results, you should diligently prepare for the DELE—after all, it’s a prestigious credential that’s valid for life. If you’re in a rush to prove your language skills after using a Spanish self-study App, or if you’re not confident about passing all four sections at once, then go for SIELE to get a score first. I’m curious to know what everyone else chose. Feel free to leave a comment and share your exam preparation experience!
