Overview
The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) are awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education at six levels, A1 to C2. Tests are grouped: at most levels reading and writing form one group and listening and speaking another, and you need a minimum score in each group, not just overall. At C1 and C2 the tasks become integrated, combining several skills. DELE diplomas do not expire. The Cervantes also offers SIELE, a separate multi-level test.
The Goethe-Zertifikat runs from A1 (Start Deutsch 1 for adults, Fit in Deutsch 1 for young learners) to C2 (Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom). From B1 upward the exam is modular — Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen — so you can take and pass modules separately in many cases. Digital versions of the written modules are available at selected Goethe-Instituts on site, while Sprechen remains face to face.
Both are used for university admission, professional recognition and in some countries for residence or citizenship procedures. Because official requirements vary, we start from your target body's statement of which exam and level it accepts.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Students applying to Spanish or German universities or exchange programs
- Healthcare and other professionals who need B2 or C1 for recognition or work
- Residents who need a certified level for a residence or citizenship application
- Candidates who passed some Goethe modules and need to retake one
- Learners who want an internationally recognized certificate of their level
Common problems we help with
- Your DELE oral preparation time is spent reading notes instead of planning a talk
- Your German Schreiben tasks are marked down for register or missing content points
- Hören tasks with fast, natural speech are hard to follow
- You failed one DELE group or one Goethe module and are not sure why
- You don't know whether to take B2 or C1, or DELE or SIELE
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Level-placement diagnostic in Spanish or German
- Advice on level, exam session and, for Goethe, which modules to take together
- DELE practice: comprensión de lectura, comprensión auditiva, expresión e interacción escritas and orales
- Goethe practice: Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen, including formal and semi-formal emails, forum posts and presentations
- Marked writing with attention to task points, register, connectors and grammar
- Oral exam simulations, including presentation and discussion with a partner or examiner
- Timed mock papers based on official model tests
Not included
- Legal, residence or citizenship advice — official sources decide what you need
- Promising a pass, diploma or certificate
- Any participation in the real exam
What you receive
- Level and exam recommendation
- Written recommendation of exam, level and session, with pass rules explained.
- Study plan
- Weekly plan built around the groups or modules most at risk.
- Marked writing
- Annotated tasks with a corrected version of key sentences and a checklist of recurring errors.
- Oral simulation report
- Feedback on task completion, fluency, accuracy, range and interaction after a mock speaking exam.
How it works
Confirm requirement
We check what your university, employer or authority accepts.
Place and plan
Diagnostic, level choice and a timeline to the next suitable session.
Practice by task
Coaching and homework organized around each exam's task types.
Simulate
Timed mock papers and an oral simulation, followed by a final plan for the last weeks.
Exam features we prepare you for
- DELE grouped scoring
- At B1 and B2 you need a minimum in each of two groups (written skills and oral skills); strong reading cannot offset weak speaking beyond that.
- DELE C1 and C2 integrated tasks
- Tasks that combine reading, listening and writing or speaking, for example writing a report from an audio and a text.
- DELE oral with preparation time
- Using timed preparation to plan a structured monologue and anticipate examiner questions.
- Goethe modular format (B1–C2)
- Separate modules you can take together or individually; we plan which to take first.
- Goethe Schreiben
- Emails and forum contributions that address every content point in the right register, and at C1 more complex argumentative texts.
- Goethe Sprechen
- Joint planning tasks, presentations and discussion with a partner, practiced with a coach.
Pass rules change your strategy
Both exam families require you to reach a minimum in each group or module, so a single weak skill can block the certificate. Each Goethe module has its own pass threshold, and DELE sets minimums per group. We look at the weakest area first and prepare it until it is safely above the threshold before polishing the stronger skills. Check the current exam regulations for the exact scoring of your level.
DELE or SIELE, Goethe or another German test?
SIELE reports a score across levels and has results valid for a limited period, while DELE awards a permanent diploma at one level. For German, TestDaF and telc are also widely used for university admission. We help you compare them against your target's list, but the official requirement always decides.
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
Sample Goethe-Zertifikat B2 Schreiben feedback
A fictional candidate writes a forum post about whether students should work part-time while studying. The post is fluent but misses a required content point.
Content points
You gave your opinion and an example, but did not mention alternatives to part-time work, which the task asked for. Add a short paragraph on scholarships or internships.
Register and structure
The informal greeting suits a forum, but the conclusion is abrupt. Use 'Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass…' to close.
Grammar focus
Verb position in subordinate clauses: 'weil ich habe keine Zeit' → 'weil ich keine Zeit habe'.
Illustrative example with invented content; it is coaching feedback, not an official Goethe-Institut assessment.
What you’ll need to provide
- The official requirement and deadline
- Previous certificates or results
- Your preferred exam centre and session
- Written and spoken homework
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- Language and level
- Number of groups or modules you need to prepare
- Amount of marked writing and oral simulations
- Time available before the exam session
Turnaround depends on
- Fixed exam sessions and registration deadlines
- Distance between your current level and the target level
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
Can I take only one Goethe module?
From B1 upward the Goethe-Zertifikat is modular, so candidates can usually take modules individually or together. Check your exam centre's current rules and whether your target institution accepts results from different sessions.
Do DELE diplomas expire?
No, DELE diplomas are permanent. Some institutions may still ask for recent evidence of your level, so check their requirement.
Which level do I need?
The organization receiving your certificate decides. Universities commonly ask for B2 or C1; some procedures accept lower levels. We work from the official requirement.
Do you teach Spanish or German from scratch?
This service focuses on exam preparation for learners who are close to their target level. For building general language skills first, general language tutoring is a better start.