Learning a language can be quite fun. Not only can you learn a lot about culture, you also get to see new perspectives. Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world. If you learn Spanish through songs, apps or any other medium, you get the chance to open a lot of new opportunities for yourself. But in order to use your skills, you need to show credible language skill and you can do that by taking proficiency tests.
For leveling up, check out this list of the Spanish language proficiency test which can help you prove your language skills.
1. DELE
The Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language) is probably the official exam Spanish learners take most often. The exams are designed and evaluated by the Universidad de Salamanca (Spain), and the Instituto Cervantes is the one in charge of organizing the examination sessions. The DELE diplomas are divided into six levels (from A1 to C2), and you can take the exams at the level you want, i.e., there is no need to take all the exams from A1 to C2—you can go for C2 right away if you think you are ready.
2. CELU
Ministries of Education and of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, the “Certificate of Spanish: Language and Use” is an internationally acknowledged Spanish proficiency exam any foreigner whose mother language is not Spanish can take. The certificate has no expiration date, and taking the exam costs around $100. The certificate can be presented as proof of your level of proficiency in Spanish in academic institutions and public and private companies. The exams do not include grammar exercises, only writing, listening and speaking activities.
3. ACTFL
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages has been dedicated to expanding the teaching and learning of languages for decades. It offers a wide range of tests and assessments on several languages (one of which is Spanish), and it is the way to go if you want to assess your level of mastery of Spanish in the USA. The different tests can be taken individually (reading, writing, listening and reading), so you can decide which ones you want to do. The exams give you university credits. The Speaking exam can cost up to $159. The writing exam costs around $105 and the listening and reading exams cost $50 each.
Check out these proven ways to improve Spanish pronunciation.
4. SIELE
SIELE stands for Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española (Spanish Language International Evaluation Service). It is promoted by the Instituto Cervantes, the Universidad de Salamanca, the Universidad Autónoma de México and the Universidad de Buenos Aires, so you can be sure of the quality. Besides this, the SIELE Spanish Certificate is recognized and accepted by universities and organizations all around the world. There are different exam options for you to choose from, each of them including exams in one or more universal language skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking).
5. TELC
The European Language Certificates are the certificates you should definitely have if you are planning to study, work and/or live in Europe. The evaluation criteria are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and you can take up to 10 different Spanish exams depending on the level you are aiming for (from A1 to B2). Immigrants can use the certificate in order to prove their knowledge of Spanish, which will ease the citizenship application process in some European countries like Germany or Austria. The certificate also allows you to study at universities and even have access to the work market.
6. LTI
LTI’s language tests provide an accurate overview of your employees’ Spanish levels. Several assessments are available depending on the needs and skills to be evaluated: oral or written expression, or comprehension. An online evaluation of Spanish language skills remote testing tool oral and written expression is evaluated by certified evaluators. The pricing changes.
Try out these Spanish tongue twisters.
7. Lengalia
The test is composed of three sections and should take about 20 minutes to complete. In addition to testing grammar and reading, this test has a very unique component: oral comprehension questions. Unlike the other tests on our list, this one is not divided into sections. Instead, all types of questions are presented at the same time. The listening comprehension questions require you to play a brief audio file and choose the correct answer based on what you heard.
8. Bates
Although the test starts with easy questions, it is a rather difficult test. I am a Spanish native speaker who has been a Spanish language teacher for almost 20 years and I hesitated in one question! So if you do not have any previous knowledge of Spanish, this test can really be challenging for you. When you get your results, you can see the percentage of correct answers and have a look at the ones you answered incorrectly. There are no grammar explanations, though.
9. Tía Tula
After you finish a test, you can have a look at your answers and see where you made mistakes. The system also gives you the correct answers to the questions you did not answer correctly. Five tests (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1), with 20-28 questions each. The system recommends spending no more than 15 minutes on each test. You can choose to take all the tests or just the one(s) you want. If you start in order, you will be able to take the test for the next level only if you pass the previous test. If you do not pass a test, the level of that test is your level of Spanish.
10. Akademija Oxford
The test includes 50 questions. It took me two minutes to do it. My students took an average of seven minutes. The downside of the test is that, in the end, you only get your results and your level of Spanish. There is no way of seeing the questions you answered incorrectly or their correct answers. To make the most of your Spanish language skill, you can take any of the listed Spanish language proficiency tests and succeed greatly in many fields.
To make the most of your Spanish language skill, you can take any of the listed Spanish language proficiency tests and succeed greatly in many fields.
