Instituto Cervantes: Prep Material for the DELE
There's no one that wants you to do better on the DELE than the Instituto Cervantes, but I'm consistently surprised at how low awareness is for the level of (100% free!) resources they provide to help you prep.
The institute was created in 1991 by the Spanish government to promote the spread, awareness, and study of the Spanish language. Its mission is similar to the Alliance Française on the French side, so you can be sure that they provide high quality resources and not trying to make a quick buck.
The free resources they have should be fully exhausted before spending a dime on prep for the DELE. Here's just a small example of what they provide:
- Breakdowns of every section including timing, structure, and content for all levels A1 - C2
- List of nouns, tenses, verbs, etc. for every single level of the exam A1 - C2
- Practice exams with guided answers and rubrics for most sections (but not all) for every level A1 - C2
- Approved publications, books, etc. that deep dive the test and can help you self-study (broken down by level)
For those seeking citizenship (as of 2025, A2 level required) and are non-literate, they even provide resources to help prepare for and take the exam (oral only).
The DELE is valid for a lifetime, and I find many folks are also not aware how many other institutions accept it. France, for example, accepts the DELE as proof of corresponding Spanish level for any hiring opportunities. The DELE is obviously valid for entry into Spanish higher education programs, but is also accepted in many Latin American countries (though there is movement recently towards SIELE) as certification of your level for a variety of undergrad and grad programs.
I think this is one of the highest quality exams to spend time on if your goal is employment, immigration, or study abroad in the Spanish-speaking world.