The CEFR splits language ability into six levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), C1 and C2 (proficient user). For Spanish, the Instituto Cervantes certifies each level with a DELE diploma, which never expires. At B1 you can cope while travelling; at B2 you can talk with native speakers without strain.
- CEFR levels
- Six, from A1 to C2
- Official Spanish exam
- DELE, issued by the Instituto Cervantes for Spain's Ministry of Education
- DELE exams on offer
- 9: six general, three for schoolchildren
- DELE validity
- Indefinite
- Contos stories
- A1 to B2
What can you do at each Spanish level?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is the Council of Europe's scale for describing language ability in any language. The DELE diplomas apply it to Spanish. Here is what each of the four levels Contos covers means, summarised from both.
| Level | CEFR description (summarised) | What the DELE diploma certifies (summarised) | Contos moves you up at |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Familiar everyday expressions; introducing yourself; simple exchanges if people speak slowly and help | Very frequent everyday expressions for immediate needs; basic personal information | Start here |
| A2 | Sentences about immediate matters: family, shopping, local area, work; simple routine exchanges | Simple, direct exchanges on familiar topics; describing your past and surroundings simply | 500 known words |
| B1 | Main points of clear standard input on familiar matters; coping while travelling; describing experiences and plans | Main points of texts on work, study and daily life; simple connected writing on familiar topics | 1,500 known words |
| B2 | Main ideas of complex text; regular interaction with native speakers without strain; clear, detailed writing | The gist of complex texts, including abstract and technical ones; fluent interaction with any speaker | 4,000 known words |
Above B2 come C1 (using the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes) and C2 (understanding virtually everything with ease). Contos stories stop at B2; by then most learners are ready for native books, films and podcasts.
What are the DELE exams?
The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) are Spain's official certificates of Spanish. The Instituto Cervantes awards them on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education, and designs them to the CEFR's guidelines. Key points from the Instituto Cervantes:
- Six levels, nine exams. General exams from A1 to C2 for candidates aged 16 and over, plus school versions for ages 11 to 17 (A1, A2/B1 and B2/C1).
- No prerequisites. You can sit any level without a previous course or a lower DELE.
- They don't expire. The diplomas have official validity, indefinite duration and international recognition.
- They count for citizenship. Spain's Ministry of Justice accepts DELE A2 or higher for the Spanish-language requirement in nationality applications from people from non-Spanish-speaking countries.
- Pass or fail. Results come as APTO (pass) or NO APTO, roughly two months after the written papers (three for the May and November sittings).
| DELE exam | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking (plus preparation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 45 min | 25 min | 25 min | 10 min (+10) |
| A2 | 60 min | 40 min | 45 min | 12 min (+12) |
| B1 | 70 min | 40 min | 60 min | 15 min (+15) |
| B2 | 70 min | 40 min | 80 min | 20 min (+20) |
Reading is the first paper at every level, and it grows fastest: from 45 minutes and 25 questions at A1 to 70 minutes and 36 questions at B2.
What does each level look like on the page?
Descriptors are abstract, so here is one story told four times. The Contos flagship series, The Building on Calle Sol, is written separately at each level: the same flat in Madrid, the same doorkeeper Carmen, the same noises at night. These are the opening lines of chapter 1 at each level.
Alba llega a su nuevo apartamento en Madrid.Alba entra en el portal con dos cajas. Tiene veintiséis años, los ojos curiosos, y acaba de mudarse al piso cuatro del edificio Flores.Carmen llevaba treinta años en el edificio, y conocía cada grieta, cada tubo, cada secreto de aquellas paredes.Carmen estaba limpiando la entrada cuando Alba bajó con tres cajas de cartón y una expresión de determinación que Carmen reconoció al instante.Notice what changes. A1 is one short present-tense sentence. A2 adds a list, an age and a new verb pattern (acaba de, has just). B1 moves into the past (llevaba, conocía) and builds rhythm with repetition. B2 holds two past tenses and a relative clause in one sentence. Across the free chapters, sentences average about 5 words at A1, 7 at A2, 12 at B1 and 13 at B2.
How do you find your Spanish level?
The only formal answer is an exam such as the DELE. For reading, a practical test works well: read a chapter written for a level and count the words that stop you.
- Almost none, and you are enjoying it: you are at the right level for building fluency.
- A few per paragraph, but you follow the story: the right level for learning new words.
- You lose the thread: drop a level. Hard text teaches less, not more; see extensive reading for why.
Contos doesn't test you: you choose a level when you start and it moves you up as your known words grow. For the hours each level usually takes, see how long it takes to learn Spanish.
Read chapter 1 at A1 and count the words you tap. If it is too easy, try the same story at A2.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Is B1 Spanish fluent?
Not in the everyday sense. B1 means you can handle most situations while travelling and talk about familiar topics with some effort. The CEFR puts regular interaction with native speakers without strain at B2.
Do DELE diplomas expire?
No. The Instituto Cervantes says DELE diplomas have official validity, indefinite duration and international recognition, for both the general and the school exams.
Which DELE level do I need for Spanish citizenship?
According to the Instituto Cervantes, Spain's Ministry of Justice accepts DELE A2 or higher for the Spanish-language requirement in nationality applications from people from non-Spanish-speaking countries. Check the current rules for your own case.
Do I have to take the DELE levels in order?
No. The Instituto Cervantes lets you sit any level without having done a course or passed a lower DELE. Pick the level you can pass; the diploma at that level is what counts.
What level are Contos stories?
Every Contos series is written for one level from A1 to B2, and the flagship series is written at all four. Chapters 1 and 2 of every series are free to read.