Quick answer
The SIELE exam is a digital Spanish test you can book on demand rather than on fixed dates. It gives a score from 0 to 1000, up to 250 points per test, mapped to levels A1 to C1, costs €155 for the full exam, stays valid for 5 years, and in Málaga you can sit it at the University of Málaga's accredited exam centre.
In this article
What is the SIELE exam?
SIELE, the Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española, is a computer-based Spanish exam backed jointly by the Instituto Cervantes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires. Unlike DELE, it is not a diploma you pass or fail: you always receive a numeric score, and that score tells you, test by test, which CEFR level you reached.
It was built for people who need proof of their Spanish quickly, on a date that fits their plans, rather than waiting for one of a handful of fixed sessions a year. If you want the full picture of how it compares to DELE before you choose, read our DELE or SIELE comparison, which also has a free guide you can keep.
SIELE Global or a single test: which should you book?
SIELE offers two ways in. SIELE Global is the complete exam: all four skills, one score out of 1000, and the only option that leads to the SIELE certificate. The alternative is one of five modules, S1 to S5, useful when an institution only asks you to prove one or two skills; a module gives you a report (informe) on the skills you sat rather than the full certificate.
| Option | What it covers | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| SIELE Global | All four tests | €155 |
| S1 | Reading + listening | €55 |
| S2 | Reading + writing | €75 |
| S3 | Listening + speaking | €100 |
| S4 | Speaking only | €75 |
| S5 | Writing + speaking | €100 |
If the university, employer or coordinator simply asks for “SIELE” without naming a module, SIELE Global is the safe choice, because it is the only option that covers all four skills and gives the total score. Private exam-preparation hours are the easiest way to prepare for a single-skill test, since the plan can focus only on the skill you are certifying.
How is the SIELE Global exam structured, and how long does it take?
The four tests in SIELE Global are computer-based and take 180 minutes in total:
| Test | What it checks | Duration | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 5 tasks, 38 questions | 60 minutes | up to 250 |
| Listening comprehension | 6 tasks, 38 questions | 55 minutes | up to 250 |
| Written expression and interaction | 2 writing tasks | 50 minutes | up to 250 |
| Spoken expression and interaction | 5 tasks | 15 minutes | up to 250 |
Reading and listening are marked automatically by the computer. Writing and speaking are marked by trained examiners, which is why the full result takes longer than the automatic part of the exam. Because SIELE is a multilevel exam, each test mixes tasks of different difficulty, so one sitting can place you anywhere from A1 to C1.
How is SIELE scored, and what level does it give you?
Each test is worth up to 250 points, for a total score from 0 to 1000. That total is not a single CEFR level: each of your four test scores is converted to its own level, from A1 to C1, using official bands published on siele.org. The cut-offs are close but not identical across skills; for reading comprehension they run like this:
| Score on the reading test (0 to 250) | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 0 to 32 | Below A1 |
| 33 to 65 | A1 |
| 66 to 117 | A2 |
| 118 to 177 | B1 |
| 178 to 216 | B2 |
| 217 to 250 | C1 |
Listening, writing and speaking use slightly different ranges for the same levels: B1 starts at 112 points in listening, 104 in writing and 125 in speaking, for example. All four tables are published on siele.org. One detail trips people up: SIELE stops at C1. If you need a certified C2, you have to sit DELE instead, since SIELE does not test or certify that level.
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How much does the SIELE exam cost?
SIELE’s own booking page lists the fees in euros: €155 for SIELE Global, €55 for S1, €75 for S2 and S4, and €100 for S3 and S5. The booking page asks for your country before anything else, so check the price it shows for your country and centre before you pay.
That fee is separate from any preparation course. Our own preparation prices, in euros for Málaga, are on the Málaga prices page:
| Format | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive course | 40 hours | €560 |
| Semester course | 60 hours | €810 |
| Private hours | 1 to 50 hours | €35 an hour, down to €24 an hour on a 50-hour pack |
Vamos Academy is not an official exam centre, so these prices cover preparation only. You pay the SIELE fee directly to SIELE when you register.
How long is a SIELE certificate valid, and when do you get your results?
A SIELE certificate is valid for 5 years. After that, you would need to sit it again if an institution still asks for proof. Results take up to 3 weeks and appear in your personal area on siele.org, faster than DELE’s roughly three months, because reading and listening are marked by computer and only writing and speaking wait for a human examiner.
That speed is exactly why SIELE suits last-minute plans. If you are adding a Spanish requirement to an Erasmus application a few weeks before a deadline, SIELE’s turnaround can fit where DELE’s fixed calendar will not.
How do you book the SIELE exam from Málaga?
Registration always goes through SIELE directly, never through us, and the steps are the same wherever you sit it:
- Choose your country and the exam mode: SIELE Global or one of the modules S1 to S5
- Choose the date and the testing centre
- Register, creating your account on siele.org
- Enter your personal details
- Review your purchase, pay, and receive your confirmation by email
In Málaga, the University of Málaga’s Centro Internacional de Español (CIE-UMA) is an authorised SIELE exam centre and offers SIELE Global and all five modules. If you need a specific module or date there, the centre asks you to contact it 10 days in advance. If Málaga does not have a date that suits your plans, SIELE’s own centre finder lists the authorised centres, since availability depends on each centre’s own calendar.
We help with every step of registration once you book preparation with us, at no extra charge.
How do you prepare for the SIELE exam in Málaga?
Because SIELE has no fixed exam calendar, you can build your preparation around your own deadline instead of working backwards from a registration cut-off, as DELE candidates have to. A typical plan for a candidate who already tests close to their target level looks like this:
| Stage | Format | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base preparation | Intensive course | 40 hours over 4 weeks | €560 |
| If the diagnostic shows a gap | Private hours | 5 to 10 hours | €160 to €300 |
| Longer run-up, around work or study | Semester course | 60 hours | €810 |
The course starts with a diagnostic test, so you know your real level and your weakest skill before you plan anything else. From there, you finish the Intensive course, take a mock exam, then decide with your teacher whether to add private hours on the weak skill or go straight to booking the real exam. If your exam is close and your gap is narrow, private hours alone, billed from €35 down to €24 an hour depending on the pack, are usually the faster route. If you are further from your target level, it is worth building that level first on our Intensive course and taking the free Málaga level test before you commit to exam-specific weeks.
What is included across every format: a diagnostic test, our own worksheets and mock exams, a SIELE workbook written by our teaching team, specialised editorial materials, the official models and mock exams on siele.org, practice with the digital exam interface, and help with registration at no extra charge. What is not included is the SIELE fee itself, paid directly to SIELE when you register.
SIELE or DELE: which one for Erasmus, university or nationality?
Both exams can be used for university entry. Where they differ is what sits behind them and how fast you get an answer. DELE is a diploma that never expires and is the one actually required for Spanish nationality, together with the separate CCSE test; SIELE is not accepted for that process. For nationality specifically, see DELE A2 and CCSE for Spanish citizenship.
For Erasmus, the honest answer is to check what your own coordinator asks for, since programmes vary. If your deadline is tight, SIELE’s three-week results can be the deciding factor over DELE’s fixed, far-apart sessions. If you want paper-exam detail instead, our DELE B1 exam guide covers that format, its pass mark and a six-week preparation plan.
Frequently asked questions
What does SIELE stand for?
SIELE is the Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española, the International Spanish Language Evaluation Service. It is a joint exam from the Instituto Cervantes, UNAM, the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires, and it certifies Spanish with a numeric score rather than a diploma level.
Is the SIELE exam hard?
It tests the same four skills as any CEFR-based exam: reading, listening, writing and speaking, at a difficulty that matches the level you are being scored on. The clock is a real factor: each test runs to a strict time limit, 180 minutes in total for SIELE Global. Because the exam is multilevel, every test also mixes easier and harder tasks, so expect some questions above your level.
What score do you need to pass SIELE?
There is no pass or fail. With SIELE Global you always receive a certificate with your total score out of 1000 and a level, from below A1 to C1, in each of the four tests. Whether that score is “enough” depends entirely on what the university, employer or programme asking for it actually requires.
How long does it take to get your SIELE results?
Up to 3 weeks from your exam date, in your personal area on siele.org. Reading and listening are marked automatically; writing and speaking need a human examiner, which is why the full result can take up to three weeks to appear.
Can you take the SIELE exam without a preparation course?
Yes, nothing requires a course first. If you already have a solid level, you can book directly and prepare with the official models and mock exams on siele.org. If a diagnostic shows a gap in one specific skill, private hours targeted at that skill are usually faster than a full course.
Is SIELE accepted for university and jobs?
Generally yes: both DELE and SIELE can be used for university entry, and SIELE’s digital certificate, with a score for each skill, is designed for universities and international companies. Always check what the institution asking for it accepts. For Spanish nationality specifically, DELE together with the CCSE test is the one that is actually asked for.
How much does a complete SIELE plan cost, course plus exam fee?
The exam fee is €155 for SIELE Global, paid directly to SIELE. Our preparation adds €560 for a 40-hour Intensive course or €810 for a 60-hour Semester course, so a full plan runs from about €715 to €965 before accommodation, depending on the course you choose.
SIELE or DELE: which should you choose for Erasmus?
Both are normally accepted, but check what your specific coordinator asks for before you book either one. SIELE’s advantage is speed, with results in up to 3 weeks against DELE’s roughly three months, which matters when your deadline is close. Our Erasmus course page has more on timing a course before your semester starts.
Ready to book your SIELE exam?
Confirm your level, decide between SIELE Global and a single test, then build your preparation weeks backwards from your own deadline, not a fixed calendar.
Book your SIELE exam preparation now · Get the free DELE or SIELE guide by e-mail · WhatsApp us your dates, or call +34 951 120 697.
Related reading - DELE B1 Exam: Format, Pass Mark and a 6-Week Plan in Málaga - SIELE vs DELE: Which Spanish Exam Should You Take? - DELE A2 and CCSE for Spanish citizenship: the two exams explained
Sources: exam format, test durations, validity and scoring bands from the official SIELE pages SIELE Exams: Formats and Test Sections and SIELE registration and fees; results time from the SIELE home page and the CIE-UMA SIELE page; exam centres from the SIELE centre finder and the University of Málaga Centro Internacional de Español SIELE page, an authorised SIELE exam centre; our own prices and course details from the Málaga prices page, the DELE or SIELE comparison and the DELE and SIELE exam preparation page, checked on 28 October 2026. Always confirm your exact fee and session on siele.org before you register.
Updated 28 October 2026.
