---
title: "DELE A1 Speaking Structure & Evaluation Criteria | OralPrep Guide"
description: "Learn the official DELE A1 speaking test structure (tasks, timing, and preparation) and how the oral exam is evaluated with real criteria."
lang: "en"
slug: "dele-a1-speaking-structure-criteria"
pubDate: 2026-04-27
alternates:
  en: "dele-a1-speaking-structure-criteria"
  es: "examen-oral-dele-a1-estructura-criterios"
  fr: "dele-a1-expression-orale-structure-criteres"
  de: "dele-a1-mundliche-prufung-struktur-kriterien"
  it: "esame-orale-dele-a1-struttura-criteri"
---
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.

<li>**Typical content:** name, origin, age, studies/work, family, daily routine.</li>
<li>**Goal:** show you can produce simple, clear sentences.</li>
<li>**Tip:** prepare 8–10 safe sentences you can adapt.</li>

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

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

<li>**Example themes:** your home, your neighborhood, food, hobbies.</li>
<li>**Goal:** describe and explain with very basic connectors ("y", "pero").</li>

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

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

<li>**What they look for:** reacting, asking for clarification, basic turn-taking.</li>
<li>**Tip:** learn 3 repair phrases: "¿Puede repetir?", "No entiendo", "¿Qué significa...?"</li>

## 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."

### Get ready for DELE A1

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