How I Prepared for DELE A2 and CCSE exams for my Spanish Nationality Application

When I got my Spanish residency back in May 2022, I already had my sights set on the next milestone: Spanish citizenship. I knew I’d be eligible to apply by May 2024, so I should have planned ahead and start early but I didn’t because I thought I had a lot of time, which was not the case.

If you’re more of a visual learner, check out my YouTube video where I dive into all the details about how I prepared for the Spanish nationality exams—DELE A2 & CCSE. Spoiler alert: I passed both exams.

Anyway, back in January 2024, I contacted a lawyer to help me prepare for the Spanish nationality application process. Aside from gathering the required documents, I needed to pass two exams: the DELE A2 (Spanish language proficiency) and the CCSE (Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge). Both exams were scheduled for May 2024, but I had to travel to Tarragona for the DELE exam because Barcelona slots were fully booked.

Exam Preparation Timeline:

• March 11 – May 17, 2024: Took an intensive Spanish language course
• May 6: Bought the DELE A2/B1 preparation course from Instituto Cervantes
• May 18: Took the DELE A2 exam in Tarragona
• May 30: Took the CCSE exam in Barcelona
• June 19: Received CCSE results—APTO (passed)!
• August 12: Received DELE results—APTO (passed)!

The Costs—I spent a total of 1,846€ and here’s the breakdown:

• DELE Exam: 134€
• CCSE Exam: 85€
• Online Prep Course: 50€
• 10-Week Intensive Spanish Course: 1,577€

How I Prepared

To prep for DELE, I took a 10-week Spanish intensive course at Speakeasy. Classes ran 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. I started at A2 level but finished at B1 to improve my grammar, conjugation, and overall fluency. Speaking Spanish with locals is still a challenge, but I’m getting there!

Two weeks before the exam, I bought the DELE online prep course from Instituto Cervantes, which included practice exercises and audio files for listening practice. It was a lifesaver and worth every euro.

Another game-changer in my DELE exam prep was the CONJUGAR Spanish Verb Flashcards. This handy set features commonly used Spanish verbs conjugated in simple past, present, and future tenses. But wait, there’s more—it also includes a Spanish workbook packed with practice exercises!

These flashcards were a lifesaver for understanding Spanish grammar and conjugation. They made tricky verb forms feel less intimidating and gave me the confidence to tackle exam questions with ease. If you’re serious about leveling up your Spanish skills, I can’t recommend these flashcards enough!

The Exams

The DELE exam was tough—4 parts (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) spread over 3-4 hours. I felt confident in everything except speaking, but thankfully, my listening score (21/25) pulled me through with an overall score of 81.55.

Here’s the overall scoring structure of general DELE exams for levels A1-B2:

DELE level A1-B2 test	Maximum score over the total 100 points on the DELE exam	Minimum score to PASS
Reading comprehension	25 points	30 points
Written expression and interaction	25 points
Oral comprehension (listening)	25 points	30 points
Oral expression and interaction	25 points

The CCSE test was a breeze—done in 20 minutes, and no sweat!

Quick tip: DELE exam results never expire which means you can take the DELE exam as early as your first year of residency, saving yourself the last-minute stress when it’s time to apply for Spanish nationality.

As for the CCSE exam, its results are valid for four years, so there’s still plenty of time to plan ahead. My recommendation? Knock out the DELE exam first, and once you’ve passed and have your results in hand, schedule your CCSE exam. Trust me, spacing them out makes the process way less overwhelming. Plus, you’ll thank yourself later for not cramming like I did!

Anyway, passing these exams felt like climbing a mountain, but the view from the top? Totally worth it. If you’re on a similar journey, plan ahead, prepare well, and don’t be afraid to invest in yourself.

Got questions? Drop a comment or send me an email.