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DELE A1 Speaking Structure & Evaluation Criteria | OralPrep Guide

The DELE A1 speaking test lasts 10 minutes in the exam plus 10 minutes of preparation and consists of 3 tasks: personal presentation (1-2 min), short talk about a topic (2-3 min), and conversation with the interviewer (3-4 min). Two official criteria are assessed — language use and task achievement — on a 0-3 scale by the interviewer (40%) and the assessor (60%).

The DELE A1 speaking test (Instituto Cervantes) is called Prueba de Expresión e Interacción Orales. It is designed for beginners, so the tasks are short and highly guided.

The official timing is: 10 minutes in the exam plus 10 minutes of preparation. Below is the exact structure and what examiners evaluate.

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Structure of the DELE A1 Speaking Test

The test is divided into three tasks:

1. Personal presentation (1–2 minutes)

You speak about basic identity information in a short monologue.

Typical content: name, origin, age, studies/work, family, daily routine.

Goal: show you can produce simple, clear sentences.

Tip: prepare 8–10 safe sentences you can adapt.

2. Short talk about a topic (2–3 minutes)

You speak about your immediate environment, supported by a sheet with verbal stimuli.

Example themes: your home, your neighborhood, food, hobbies.

Goal: describe and explain with very basic connectors (“y”, “pero”).

3. Conversation with the interviewer (3–4 minutes)

You interact about what you just presented, and you also ask two prepared questions.

What they look for: reacting, asking for clarification, basic turn-taking.

Tip: learn 3 repair phrases: “¿Puede repetir?”, “No entiendo”, “¿Qué significa…?”

Official Evaluation Criteria

According to the official rubric, there are two criteria:

1. Use of language (Uso de la lengua) Pronunciation, basic vocabulary, and simple grammar.

2. Task achievement (Cumplimiento de la tarea) Whether you answer what is asked and maintain a basic interaction.

The evaluation is split between two roles: Interviewer (40%) + Grader (60%), with a 0–3 band scale.

Example (Task 1)

“Hola, me llamo Ana. Soy de Italia y tengo veintidós años. Vivo en Madrid. Estudio español y trabajo en una cafetería. En mi tiempo libre me gusta caminar y escuchar música.”

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the DELE A1 speaking exam?

10 minutes in the exam plus 10 minutes of preparation time.

What are the three tasks in DELE A1 speaking?

Personal presentation (1-2 minutes), short talk about a topic (2-3 minutes), and conversation with the interviewer (3-4 minutes).

What evaluation criteria are used in DELE A1?

Use of language (pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar) and task achievement (answering what is asked and maintaining basic interaction). Grading is split between interviewer (40%) and grader (60%) on a 0-3 scale.

How can I prepare for the personal presentation task?

Prepare 8-10 safe sentences about basic identity: name, origin, age, studies/work, family, and daily routine that you can adapt.

What repair phrases should I learn for the conversation?

Learn these 3 repair phrases: 'Puede repetir?', 'No entiendo', 'Que significa...?'