If you’re preparing for the DELE C1 exam, it’s important to be aware of the updates introduced in 2024. This guide covers all the new changes to the oral exam, so you can prepare confidently and know exactly what to expect.
Have There Been Major Changes to the DELE C1 Oral Exam?
Not really. According to the Instituto Cervantes, the updates are minor and specific—they haven’t redesigned the entire exam. However, these changes are still important for both candidates and teachers to understand.
What’s New in the Oral Exam Format?
One of the key updates is a change in the naming of the productive tests:
- Written Test: Now called Written Expression, Mediation, and Interaction
- Oral Test: Now called Oral Expression, Mediation, and Interaction (EMIO)
These new labels better reflect what’s evaluated in each part of the exam.
How Will Scoring Work?
The Instituto Cervantes has taken steps to make grading more consistent. To do this, they’ve introduced a summary sheet for the examiners listing the main ideas from the input texts (especially for Task 1). This allows examiners to objectively assess whether candidates include the most relevant content.
In addition, there are new evaluation categories that vary depending on the task. For the oral test, you’ll see new categories like:
- Task 1: Mediation and Task Fulfillment
- Task 2: Appropriateness and Task Fulfillment
- Task 3: Interaction and Task Fulfillment
These categories help ensure each part of the oral exam is scored based on its specific goals.
Structure of the Oral Exam
The oral exam may be scheduled on a different day than the written part. You’ll have 20 minutes of preparation time before the exam begins, during which you’ll prepare Tasks 1 and 2. You’re allowed to take notes and refer to them during the test.
The oral exam lasts approximately 15–20 minutes and includes three tasks:
Task 1: Summary, Evaluation, and Opinion (3–5 minutes)
In this monologue, you’ll:
- Summarize a written text (750–850 words),
- Evaluate its content,
- Share your personal opinion on the topic.
The examiner will not interrupt you during this time. After 3 minutes, they will notify you that you have 2 minutes left, especially if you haven’t started evaluating the text or sharing your opinion yet.
This task is now scored with a specific focus on mediation and task fulfillment. The examiner uses a reference sheet with key ideas from the input text to assess your summary accurately.
Task 2: Interview Based on Task 1 (4–6 minutes)
This is an interview in which you’ll:
- Defend the opinion you gave in Task 1,
- Justify your point of view with reasons,
- Respond appropriately to the examiner’s follow-up questions.
It’s an interaction task, but the main goal is to explore your opinion more deeply through conversation.
Task 3: Negotiation (4–6 minutes)
You’ll be asked to:
- Choose between two illustrated prompts (e.g., photos, charts, ads, slogans, etc.),
- Discuss the options with the examiner,
- Reach a joint decision through negotiation.
This task is not prepared in advance. The aim is to demonstrate your ability to interact naturally and make decisions in Spanish. The updated version of Task 3 emphasizes shared responsibility between the candidate and the examiner.
It is now assessed with a dedicated category: Interaction and Task Fulfillment.
Final Tips
- You can find the official sample exam on the Instituto Cervantes website:
Modelo 0 – DELE C1 PDF
DELE C1 Information Page - Don’t stress! The changes are mostly clarifications, not radical updates.
- Prepare each task carefully and practice managing your time during the oral exam.
- Stay calm, be clear, and communicate confidently.
Good luck with your DELE C1 journey—¡Ánimo y suerte!
Y, si quieres preparar el DELE de cualquier nivel o estudiar español, puedes contactar conmigo:
Prepara el DELE conmigo
Cursos DELE en grupo o clases individuales online
Clases presenciales en Madrid o Getafe en grupo o individuales
Soy examinadora acreditada por el Instituto Cervantes de todos los niveles del DELE: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 y C2.