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Guide to the SEILE Test

February 28, 2020

Guide to the SEILE Test

Do you need to prove your Spanish proficiency? A quick and easy way to do it is to take the SEILE Exam.

The SIELE Exam is a Spanish online examination to help students and professionals prove their degree of Spanish proficiency quickly and easily through its online registration, flexible exam process, and quick results.

What is SIELE

SIELE is the Servico Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española (International Assessment Service for the Spanish Language) and is an electronic means of proving your Spanish language proficiency.

SIELE is a multi-level exam where each task presents a different degree of difficulty in Spanish, ranging from level A1 to C1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which standardizes plurilingual education around Europe. Therefore, each exam question helps you discover your official proficiency level in Spanish.

The SIELE is modular, so each candidate may choose between a complete Exam Certificate in Spanish or an individual Skills Report of the competency areas (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).

Why take the SIELE Exam?

• Fast and easy – Everything is managed electronically and results are guaranteed within a maximum of three weeks. You can print the certificate from your computer or prove your proficiency with the secure verification code.

• Adaptable – Choose the most complete modality of SIELE Global or any of the 5 independent modalities.

• Flexible – You can decide when and in which exam centre you want to take the exam.

• Uniform – It is pan-Hispanic, so the exam includes different linguistic variations of Spanish.

• Professional – Companies and organizations can quickly find candidates that best suit their needs and the test is recognized by more than 75 associated organizations and universities in over 20 countries.

What are the SIELE Tests like?

SIELE Test 1

Reading comprehension

This test comprises 5 tasks and 38 questions. The candidate must answer a series of questions about text reading and comprehension. The maximum time to complete this test is 60 minutes and will be immediately and automatically scored, with a maximum value of 250 points.

SIELE Test 2

Listening comprehension

This test comprises 6 tasks and 38 questions. The candidate must answer a series of questions by both listening and/or speaking. The maximum time to complete this test is 55 minutes and will be immediately and automatically scored, with a maximum value of 250 points.

SIELE Test 3

Written expression and interaction

This test comprises 2 tasks in which the candidate must answer a series of questions by reacting to the content. The maximum time to complete this test is 60 minutes and has a maximum value of 250 points. The content of this exam is recorded and evaluated later by SIELE expert scorers.

SIELE Test 4

Spoken expression and interaction

This test comprises 5 tasks in which the candidate must answer (by speaking) a series of questions orally through a recording system. The maximum time to complete this test is 15-20 minutes and has a maximum value of 250 points. The content of this exam is recorded and evaluated later by SIELE expert scorers.

Why take an independent modality?

Whether you need to prove your Spanish proficiency for professional or academic reasons, it may only be necessary to take just part of the SIELE exam through one of its independent modalities.

For example, some entities may only need to certify your level of Spanish oral expression and interaction, which you can do with the independent S4 modality in a 15-minute exam. Here you can obtain a report that supports your competence in a more affordable and quicker manner than if you were to complete the entire SIELE exam.

Consult your associated education or business institution before taking the exam to determine which option is best suited for your needs.

What certification will I receive?

If the candidate has sat the complete exam (SIELE Global), he or she will receive a Certificate that has international recognition and 2-year validity. It includes per-test scoring in relation to the CEFR levels and a numerical score from 0 to 1000, representative of the sum of the scores for each of the four tests.

If the candidate has sat an independent exam modality, he or she will receive a report including the CEFR equivalent score. Both accreditations are valid for a two-year period.

How and when do I receive my results?

Within a period of three weeks, you will receive an email informing you that your scores are available on the SIELE platform. You can download your Certificate or Report when you access your personal area.

If you have sat the SIELE Global exam, you will also receive a digital badge available for both personal and authorized third party use.

When and where can I take the SIELE Exam?

You can participate in the SIELE exam in more than 70 countries in over 300 centres around the globe – including here at Ashton Testing Services in Vancouver. Select specific dates when searching for centres on siele.org, or by contacting the center directly to set up a time and date.

How do I register for the SIELE Exam?

Online registration is quick and easy. At Ashton Testing we have new dates every month. Buena suerte!