7 key tips to overcome the written expression and interaction of the DELE exam How are you? Are you thinking about preparing for the DELE exam? We have already done several articles talking about the different parts of the exam and giving you tips to pass it. However, we had never talked about the test.
How are you? Are you thinking about prepare for the DELE exam? We have already done several articles talking about the different parts of the exam and giving you tips to pass it.
However, we had never talked about the test of written expression and interaction…until now.
If you have difficulties in this test or looking for information about it, stay with us because in this text you will find everything you need:
We are going to give you 7 tips to pass this test. But, in addition, we will also see:
This is the most complete guide What you will find about the written part of the DELE exam.
Shall we start? Let's go there!
First of all, let's talk about the following test data interaction and written expression of the DELE exam:
In this year 2023, the dates that offers the Cervantes Institute of DELE are the following:
The registration date closed on January 11.
The registration date closed on February 15.
The registration date closed on March 15.
The registration date closed on March 15.
The registration date closes on May 10.
The registration date closes on July 12.
The registration date closes on September 6.
The registration date closes on October 11.
The registration date closes on October 11.
These are the dates of the DELE exam.
Be careful and don't get confused with the SIELE exam. The dates of this exam must be agreed with the center where you are going to take it.
Don't you know what SIELE is?
It is another Spanish language exam for foreigners, but it is done by computer.
If you are interested in knowing more, we have an article that explains the fundamental differences of the DELE and SIELE exams 😉.
The test of written expression and interaction The DELE exam has different durations at each level.
As you can see, the duration of the test increases as the level also increases, the tests become more complicated and therefore last longer.
In C1 and C2, the written test is mixed with other tests.
At the levels A1, A2, B1 and B2, the written expression and interaction test scores 25 points at most.
In all four levels, this is test 3.
The rest of the tests are:
The 4 tests add up to a total of 100 points.
In the level C1, the written test also scores 25 points, but it is mixed with listening comprehension.
In C2, the scores are different. The exam is divided into 3 large blocks in which the 4 communication skills are mixed. These 3 blocks are:
The written test is found in test 2. It has a maximum score of 33.3 points.
Test 1 also has a score of 33.3 points.
Test 3 scores a maximum of 33.4. This is how the 100 total points are added.
In the levels A1-B2, the DELE exercises of the written test (25 points) are evaluated along with reading comprehension (25 points).
Do you need help with reading comprehension? Don't worry!
We also have an article in which we give youtips for reading comprehension of the DELE exam and surpass it with a grade.
So, we have said that reading comprehension and written interaction and expression are evaluated together.
What score do you have to get to pass?
To be eligible for the exam you need to meet a minimum of 30 points adding the two. The maximum score that can be achieved is 50 (25 each).
In the level C1, we have the following situation:
Test 1: reading comprehension and use of the language (25 points) is evaluated with test 2: listening comprehension and written expression and interaction (25 points).
To be eligible for the exam you need to meet a minimum of 30 points adding the two. The maximum score is 50 adding the two.
Do you have problems with the use of language? You don't have to worry about this either! 😁
We have another article in which we give you tips for the DELE oral exam.
In C2, the three great tests are evaluated separately. You have to get a score minimum of 20 points in each one to be eligible.
It's time to see 7 tips to successfully overcome written expression and interaction in the DELE exam.
Pay attention!
The first advice what we give you is know the types of text offered at each level.
Normally you will have to write a text based on a specific text. Depending on the task or level, it can also be an image, a graph or an audio.
The texts proposed at each level are different themes, records, sizes and difficulties.
Understanding texts and knowing the different types, formats and genres is key to knowing what to write in each one. This way you won't be caught by surprise on the exam.
If you have prepared them in advance, you will already know how to make each one.
It is very important that you writing is related to the proposed topic and that it is coherent and cohesive. To do this, you will have to use connectors and a logical structure.
Additionally, you should pay attention to the spelling and try to use the grammar corresponding to the level of the exam.
In Dele A2 Written Expression and Interaction you are expected to write short and simple texts, between 50 to 80 words.
Normally at this level you do not start from a text so that you can write your essay, but rather the guidelines to follow and the type of text that you should write are simply indicated. The texts they usually ask you to write are:
In B1 the student is expected to write longer and more detailed textsthan in the previous level, with an extension of 100 to 150 words.
At this level, texts are used so that you can write a related essay, showing your opinion or informing about what is narrated in said text.
The types of texts that are usually given are public or personal sphere via:
In the DELE B2 exam the essays you have to write must be more sophisticated and complex, with a length of between 150 and 180 words in the letter writing task.
The types of texts that you will find at this level are:
The length of these texts will be 200 to 250 words.
In the level C1, the test of written expression and interaction is combined with listening comprehension.
Therefore, you will find written texts and also audios that will be your reference when writing.
To do this test well, you will need to have well-developed listening skills.
If you need it, we have an article on DELE exam listening comprehension and tips to improve this communication skill 😉.
The written and oral texts that you will find are frompublic, educational or professional sphere:
In Task 1 of the exam, the length of the written text will be 200 to 250 words and in Task 2, 180 to 220.
The expression and interaction written in the DELE C2 It is combined with listening and reading comprehension. The essays that you must do must have 100 to 400 words, depending on the task.
The texts that you will find are professional, academic and informative, of neutral or formal registration. Some examples would be:
Once you know what types of texts you are going to find in the DELE written test, the next advice we give you is that you know the topics that these texts usually deal with.
Each level has a series of topics that are often repeated. Knowing them in advance will be great for you. delve into lexical fields the level at which you are going to present yourself and focus on that vocabulary.
Do you want to know what these are? lexical topics at each level? Keep reading! 👉
In the test ofwritten expression and interaction A2, the topics usually covered in the written interaction and expression test are the following:
As you can see, they are simple topics that, above all, revolve around people on a personal level.
This way you can talk about you and demonstrate that you master the skills of this level.
They can also put you photos of people so you can talk about them.
Imagine that, for example, they ask you to explain what they were like before and how they are now.
In the B1, the main themes are usually these:
As you can see, the topics are very similar to those of level A2. In B1 we are going to go a little deeper and the lexicon will be more advanced.
Other topics such as health, the environment or the media are also added.
In this test you can find, for example, an email from a friend who asks you how your most recent trip was and what the next one will be, so that you use the past and the future in the same essay.
In the DELE B2, the topics no longer revolve so much aroundpersonal sphere, but they open up to others more complex topics such as art, gastronomy, literature, renewable energies...
These are the main topics that you will find:
There may be topics here that don't interest you or that you don't have many ideas about.
This should not worry you if you prepare in a quality school that offer DELE courses, like Hispania, Spanish school.
In these courses we will work on many texts related to these topics, seeing vocabulary, connectors and arguments you can use in your writings.
This way, after a few months of study you will no longer have that terrible feeling of not knowing what to say when they ask you to criticize a work of art 😉.
In the C1 level are added scientific topics and related to technology, with a technical vocabulary and very formal.
The main themes are:
An example of a task in this test would be, first, listening to a fragment of a lecture on one of the topics mentioned.
Then you would have tosummarize the main aspects in writing and give an opinion on this topic.
We reach the highest level, the C2.
Here you are supposed to have a Spanish language proficiency, so the oral and written texts presented to you will be very complex with a vocabulary full of technicalities.
These texts are difficult even for many native Spanish speakers, so read them carefully. The most recurring themes are:
In this test you will have to write coherent, clear and organized texts based on the information you will receive from audios and written texts.
You already know the themes and types of texts that you will find in the interaction and written expression test of the DELE exam. Brilliant!
You already have a great knowledge about what the exam will be like, now we are going to give you some practical and simple tips for carrying out said test.
If you want it the DELE examiner read your essays carefully, you need to offer a good cover letter.
How is this achieved?
Very easy: write with clear and clean handwriting.
If your handwriting is easy to understand, the paragraphs are well separated, and the paper does not have many crossings or typex smudges, your essays will have a good presence and will be more attractive.
This can make your grade improve.
Do not neglect this point, it is very important!
This tip is totally related to the previous one. If you want to do clean and neat writing, you need know clearly what you are going to put.
For this, good advice is make an outline before writing the texts. This way you will know what to say before you start writing and you will avoid making mistakes.
It can also help you save time when writing, since you will have a clear guide of what you want to say and how to do it.
Additionally, it will help you avoid common mistakes, such as lack of coherence or repetition of ideas.
Take your time to organize your ideas, identify key points and plan the structure of your texts.
but don't waste too much time on it, remember that you have a limited time for this test.
If, for example, you are in the DELE B1 test, whose duration is 60 minutes, dedicate as maximum 10 minutes in preparing these schemes.
The examiner will greatly value whether you are able to follow the instructions to the letter that they ask of you.
Why is it so important to follow these instructions? For many reasons.
First of all, if you stick to writing within the stipulated guidelines, you will demonstrate that you have a high level of understanding of the meaning of what they ask of you and the Spanish language.
Furthermore, if you write about what they ask of you and are organized, you ensure that the examiner understands your text well and there is no room for misinterpretations.
Finally, being organized in your writing following the proposed guidelines of the test is a requirement that occurs in all the exam tests. Therefore, if you do, you will get a higher score.
This advice is essential. If you want to write good essays, it is not enough to just know the types of texts, you also need to practice and write many similar texts before taking the exam.
If you take the exam without having practiced before, it is very difficult to do well, unless you are a gifted person!
As with any discipline or task, you need to practice a lot to master it.
If you constantly practice writing each type of text, you will achieve familiarize yourself with the structure and format of these.
Don't you know how to get main ideas from a text?
By reading and practicing frequently you will improve your organizational skills and be able to identify keywords on the fly
You will see patterns and instructions that repeat, so you will have much more agility and do the tasks every time with more fluidity. If you practice a lot, you will finish the tasks on time and you will not be racing against the clock.
On the other hand, if you practice your writing, you will have the need to expand your vocabularyto produce increasingly competent texts. Therefore, it is a good way to study Spanish and learn new words.
Finally, constant practice with all types of texts and tasks will give you a lot of security because you will already know what you are facing and you will have resources to carry out the tasks successfully.
There is nothing more confident than the feeling that you have the situation under control or that you can solve a problem on your own.
The last advice To improve your written expressions is to demonstrate what you know.
Written essays are an opportunity to demonstrate your grammatical knowledge of Spanish. Here are some tips to excel at grammar:
Now, demonstrate your knowledge of Spanish, but with coherence.
For example, if texts with questions ask you to describe an image in the present tense, it makes no sense to use past tenses here.
In this situation, as it is not related to the exam instructions, if you use the past tense it may be unfavorable for you, even though you show a good knowledge of the language.
Also be very aware of what you know and what you don't. If you don't control something one hundred percent, you can make mistakes and that will be disqualifying.
Don't complicate your life, use only the grammar you know.
We have already given you the 7 tips to pass the interaction test and written expression of the DELE exam.
In this last point we are going to talk about something that will surely interest you if you are going to take the exam.
We are going to tell you What are the written tests like at each level? and what needs to be done in each task.
In the level A1 there is two tasks for the written interaction test. Adding both, you receive a duration of 25 minutes.
A form is distributed with short answer questions about your basic personal information: identity, studies, profession, hobbies...
Some examples of questions you will find are:
Normally the number of words you must write for each question is indicated. It usually does not exceed 25.
In this task you have to write a small text (postcard, email, letter, advertisement...) of about 30 or 40 words.
They will give you readings with questions that you must answer with your writing.
For example, imagine that you are putting an apartment up for sale and you want to create an advertisement. In this ad you must talk about its location, its size, the number of rooms it has, its age, the price and other characteristics.
In the level A2 there is also two tasks, one of written interaction and another of written expression. The two together add up 45 minutes duration.
You will be given a epistolary text (postcard, mail, letter, etc.) for you to read and respond to by creating a similar text.
You will have to talk about your personal life, your habits, characteristics of the city you are in, your tastes, recent experiences, things you did on a specific day, future plans, etc.
Let's look at this Dele A2 written expression task with examples:
Imagine that a friend writes you a postcard from Mexico and you have to respond:
This text should not exceed 45 words. If you pass or fall short, it is possible to fail in DELE A2, at least in this test.
In task two of the Dele A2 written interaction, two options. You just have to choose one.
Option A: write a text on an everyday topic from your personal life, such as places you know, your work environment, your friends, etc.
For example, you may be asked to talk about the day you met your best friend:
Option B: write a text from images or data.
In this task you may be asked to describe the images and imagine things about them:
In both options, the number of recommended words to write is between 70 and 80.
In the level B1, the written test is made up of two tasks and hard 60 minutes in total.
You will be given a text that you will have to read and use your ability to understand words to rely on it and write a letter, a forum message, email, blog comment, etc.
It is similar to Task 1 at level A2, but here you are expected to use more past tenses, causal connectors, consecutive sentences, etc. That is, you use B1 grammar.
Furthermore, the writing should also be longer, between 100 and 200 words.
In the task 2 there are two options, you must choose only one.
In both options, the examinee's ability to write a descriptive or narrative text in which express opinion and information of personal interest is provided, such as personal experiences, anecdotes or feelings.
For example, imagine you are asked to describe an important family event in your life:
In both options, it is recommended that the text have between 130 and 150 words.
In the DELE B2 written expression and interaction test, the written test also has two tasks and has a duration of 80 minutes.
In this task, based on the notes taken on an oral text, you must write a text that summarize the relevant contents and express your opinion about these.
As you can see, in DELE B2 you already begin to include audio in this test for you to collect information and write your essay using it.
Do you want an example of what task 1 would look like? Clear!
Imagine that you love theater and you frequently attend the theater in your neighborhood.
In the audio, it is reported that this theater is going to close because it does not receive many customers.
You must write a letter indicating the following points:
In the DELE B2 written test, task 2, you have to write a formal text in opinion article for a newspaper, blog, magazine...
In this text you must present the main and secondary ideas in a clear, detailed and well-structured manner, and answer the questions they ask you, if any.
If They offer two options, of which you have to choose one:
In DELE C1 The written interaction and expression test is combined with listening comprehension. Together they make up test 3, which has two tasks and hard 80 minutes in total.
In this task, it is delivered an audio which consists of a conference, speech or presentation.
From this audio, the examinee must write a argumentative or expository text demonstrating your assessment and opinion about what is said in said recording.
In task 2, as always, there are two options to choose from.
In both, written information is offered and from it you must write argumentative texts using the information and expanding it in order to persuade, argue and value according to your opinion.
Additionally, it is very important that you use the proper registration according to the gender indicated.
In the option A, a review, a report or an article in a magazine must be written.
In the option B, you must submit a letter of complaint, request for a scholarship or recommendation.
Now we present an example of option A. Imagine that you have an opinion blog about culture and entertainment. You are going to do a review on a new magazine. In this review you must talk about the following:
In the level C2DELE interaction and written expression are worked on in test 2, along with other communication skills. It is composed of 3 tasks and has 150 minutes long.
Based on the information collected from different oral and written sources, you must write a detailed text, well structured and appropriate to the format and registration requested.
The required text will be professional, academic or public sphere.
For example, imagine that you belong to an environmental organization and they ask you to prepare a brochure on the current situation of forests in Spain.
In order to create the text, you need to collect information from a 5 minute interview What are you going to hear from experts talking about the topic.
You also have to extract information from a 500-word newspaper article and another related pamphlet.
Once you have collected the necessary information, you can now write your brochure.
The text you write in this task must have a length of 400 to 450 words.
Task 2 is called «Reworking».
In this task, a text that is poorly written in several senses. you you have to rework it and improve it.
The text may have errors in punctuation or spelling, you have to correct them.
On the other hand, the vocabulary used and the tone are not appropriate. Change them and adapt them to the genre or register to which they belong.
Finally, they may also ask you to improve the structure by adding or changing discursive connectors.
In this task you have to write a text from photos or graphics.
For example, based on a graph obtained, you may be asked to analyze it, make a summary and draw conclusions and give an assessment.
The length of this text will be 200 to 250 words.
And this has been all. If you want to see more examples of the tasks, you can find real exam models on the Instituto Cervantes website.
If you write in your search engine «prepare the DELE Cervantes test» you will find very valuable information about Cervantes Institute on the DELE exam.
What a great article we have made!
here it is everything you need know about the interaction and written expression testof the DELE exam, giving its specifications at each level.
And don't forget the 7 tips what we have given you to pass the test.
Did you know? Today we are generous... we are going to give you one more piece of advice.
If you want to pass this part of the exam successfully, the best thing you can do is sign up for our DELE preparation courses in Hispania, Spanish school 😁.
Do you want to improve your Spanish in a general way?
We also have the best face-to-face Spanish courses and online, with the greatest time flexibility so that you can study Spanish practically to your liking.
Do you have any questions about our courses or the DELE exam?
Are you good at the written interaction and expression test or do you find it difficult?
Leave a comment and we'll chat 🙌🏻.
Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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