DELE exam preparation in New Zealand
One-to-one preparation for the DELE, the Instituto Cervantes' official Spanish diploma, at any level from A1 to C2. Your tutor works through past papers, times the four parts and rehearses the oral with you. In New Zealand the DELE is sat in Auckland or Christchurch under Instituto Cervantes Sydney; the last 2026 sitting is 14 November and registration for 2027 opens on 18 November 2026. In person in Auckland and Wellington or online, from a $25 trial.
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Who needs DELE exam preparation?
People who need their Spanish on paper: a university place in Spain or Latin America, a job that asks for a certified level, a Spanish visa or citizenship application, or simply a fixed goal with a date on it. The DELE does not expire, so it is worth sitting once and sitting it properly, with someone who knows how the exam is marked.
- Applying to a university in Spain or Latin America
- Jobs that ask for a certified Spanish level
- Spanish visa and citizenship applications
- Learners who want a fixed goal and a deadline
What does DELE preparation with a tutor involve?
It starts with a diagnostic: a past paper at your target level, marked against the official criteria, so you know which of the four parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking) needs the work. Then weekly lessons on the weak parts, timed sections between lessons, and full oral rehearsals in the last month. Someone already at the level usually needs about 10 lessons; a level below, 20 to 30.
Past papers, marked properly
The Instituto Cervantes publishes past exams. Your tutor marks your writing and speaking against the official scoring criteria, not just for mistakes, so you learn what earns marks.
The four parts, timed
Reading, listening, writing and speaking each have their own clock. You practise under time, because most candidates lose more marks to the clock than to their Spanish.
The oral, rehearsed
The speaking test is a short face-to-face exam with a set structure. Your tutor runs it the way the examiner will, with the preparation time and the prompts, until it feels routine.
Which Spanish levels do you teach?
We teach 4 levels, A1 to B2: from introducing yourself and ordering food at A1 up to holding a real conversation with native speakers at B2. Your tutor confirms where you are in your first lesson and tells you what comes next.
- A1Order a coffee, say who you are, ask for directions
- A2Get around on holiday, talk about your week
- B1Chat with your partner's family, follow a slow podcast
- B2Hold a real conversation, work in Spanish
Questions about dele exam preparation
Where can I sit the DELE in New Zealand?
Instituto Cervantes Sydney runs the DELE for Australia and New Zealand. Its exam-centre list names two New Zealand centres: one in Auckland (a private institute in Rosedale, on the North Shore) and one in Christchurch (Burnside High School). There is no Wellington centre, so Wellington candidates travel to Auckland or Christchurch. The DELE cannot be sat online; if you need a remote option, look at the SIELE instead.
When are the DELE exams?
The written exam is on the same day worldwide. Per Instituto Cervantes Sydney's dates and prices page, the 2026 sittings were 22 and 23 May (all levels), 16 and 17 October (Sydney only) and 13 and 14 November (A2 and the school exams on the Friday; A1, B1, B2, C1 and C2 on the Saturday), with registration closing on 30 September. The Instituto Cervantes says registration for the 2027 sittings opens on 18 November 2026. Not every centre runs every session, so confirm which sittings the Auckland or Christchurch centre offers when you register. Oral exam times are set by each centre.
How much does the DELE cost?
Exam fees are set per country and are paid to the exam centre, separately from lessons. Instituto Cervantes Sydney's 2026 list, in Australian dollars, is A1 AU$160, A2 AU$195, B1 AU$235, B2 AU$265, C1 AU$275 and C2 AU$285 (read October 2026). Check the current list before you register; the fee is not refunded if you fail.
Which DELE level should I sit?
The level you are at now, not the one you hope to reach: the DELE is pass or fail, and a fail costs the same as a pass. Our free level test gives a rough placement in two minutes and the levels page explains what each level means. If you are sitting it for a visa or an application, the institution tells you the level it wants. Instituto Cervantes Sydney notes that Spain's Youth Mobility visa accepts DELE A1 or higher, and universities usually ask for B1 or B2.
How many lessons do I need to prepare for the DELE?
If you are already at the level, a 10-lesson pack over two to three months covers the format, timed practice and the oral. If you are a level below, plan on 20 to 30 lessons over about six months. A 10-lesson pack is $400 online or $450 in person and is valid for 6 months, so it fits either plan. See pricing.
What is the difference between the DELE and the SIELE?
The DELE is a pass-or-fail diploma at one level, sat on paper on fixed dates and valid for life. The SIELE is a single multi-level test taken on a computer, on dates each centre sets, which reports a score on the same A1 to C2 scale. Preparation overlaps heavily; tell us which one you are sitting when you book and your tutor adjusts the practice.
Can I prepare for the DELE online?
Yes. Past papers, timed writing and the oral all work well over video, and online lessons are $400 for 10 rather than $450 in person. Most of our DELE students outside Auckland and Wellington prepare entirely online and travel only for the exam day.
Also see: Private tutor, Online lessons, Beginners, Kids, NCEA Spanish, Evening classes, In-person classes, Conversation classes, Business Spanish, Intermediate & advanced · Pricing