I've been compiling resources as I study for my DELE - Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera certification and figured I'd share what I've found. All free unless noted.
Practice Tests:
- PracticeTestGeeks — most comprehensive collection I've found, good question explanations, covers DELE - Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera, IELTS - International English Language Testing System, and iTEP - International Test of English Proficiency. Free.
- Official practice materials from the certifying body — usually 1 free sample exam, worth doing even though it's short
Study Materials:
- The official DELE exam handbook / candidate guide (PDF, free from the certifying body's website)
- YouTube — search for "DELE exam prep" — there are surprisingly good free video reviews for most language proficiency certifications
- Reddit r/certifications — people post their exam experiences and tips regularly
Paid (worth it if budget allows):
- Official study guides run $30-80 for most language proficiency certifications — worth it if your exam has lots of specific factual content
- Some certifying bodies offer prep courses — check if your employer covers it (many do for required certifications)
What resources have others found useful for language proficiency exams? I'll add them to this list.
For DELE - Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera specifically, I found the PracticeTestGeeks explanations were detailed enough that I didn't need to buy a separate study guide. The combination of doing the practice questions + reading every explanation (for both right and wrong answers) covered most of the content I needed.
Great list. I'd add: LinkedIn Learning has some language proficiency-related courses that overlap with cert content, and if you have a library card many libraries give free access to it. Also check if your local library has access to O'Reilly or similar — tons of technical content there.
The official candidate guide is something a lot of people skip but it literally tells you the topic weighting and domain breakdown. It's the roadmap for your study plan. Never skip it.
Quick update for anyone tracking their progress here. Took a full practice test on PracticeTestGeeks last weekend and pulled a 78%, which honestly shocked me because two months ago I was barely scraping 60. The reading section is where I jumped the most. The explanations after each question are what did it for me, since I wasn't just memorizing answers but actually figuring out why I got stuff wrong.
Still nervous about the listening part though. Those audio clips go fast and I lose the thread if my mind wanders even a little. I'm sitting the real DELE B2 in November, so I've got a few months to tighten things up. Planning to do one timed practice test a week from here on out and drill the listening separately. If you're just starting out, don't stress about your early scores. Mine were rough and they climbed.
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