The DELE A2 is the second level of the official Spanish language certification issued by Spain's Instituto Cervantes. It represents a meaningful step up from A1 — at this level, you can communicate in simple, routine tasks, understand frequently used expressions, and interact in familiar everyday situations.
For many Australian learners, the DELE A2 is the first certification that feels genuinely useful — it proves you can handle real-world interactions during travel, understand basic media and signage, and have simple conversations with Spanish speakers.
Who Should Sit the DELE A2?
- Learners with 6–10 months of consistent Spanish study
- Those who have passed DELE A1 and continued studying
- People who have travelled to a Spanish-speaking country and can handle basic interactions independently
- Secondary school students in their second year of Spanish
- Adults who have completed a beginner Spanish course and want official recognition
DELE A2 Exam Structure
Group 1 — Written Skills (70 minutes total)
| Component | Duration | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 30 minutes | 4 tasks — texts up to 150 words; matching, multiple choice, gap fill |
| Listening Comprehension | 25 minutes | 4 tasks — slightly longer recordings; dialogues, announcements, interviews |
| Written Expression | 40 minutes | 2 tasks — complete a form; write a short text of 60–80 words (letter, email, description) |
Group 2 — Oral Skills (10–15 minutes)
3 tasks: describe an image, answer personal questions, engage in a role-play situation.
Scoring
Maximum 30 points per group. Minimum 15/30 required in each group to pass overall.
Grammar Requirements for A2
Everything from A1 is assumed — plus the following A2 additions:
- Preterite tense (indefinido): regular verbs and the most common irregulars (ir/ser → fui, hacer → hice, tener → tuve, estar → estuve, poder → pude)
- Imperfect tense (imperfecto): regular forms and the three irregulars (ser → era, ir → iba, ver → veía); used for habits and descriptions in the past
- Immediate future: ir + a + infinitive (Voy a comer = I'm going to eat)
- Simple future: introduction to -é, -ás, -á endings for predictions
- Reflexive verbs: levantarse, ducharse, llamarse, acostarse (daily routine)
- Direct object pronouns: lo, la, los, las (Lo compro = I'm buying it)
- Gustar and similar verbs: me gusta, me duele, me parece, me interesa
- Comparatives: más... que, menos... que, tan... como, mejor, peor
- Quantifiers: muy, mucho, poco, demasiado, bastante
- Connectors: pero, porque, cuando, si, aunque, también, tampoco
- Imperative (basic): formal commands (haga, tome, siga)
Core Vocabulary Themes for A2
A2 vocabulary extends significantly beyond A1. Alongside the A1 themes, you need:
- Work and professions (what you do, workplace, colleagues)
- Health and body (parts of the body, common ailments, doctor vocabulary)
- Shopping (types of shops, prices, sizes, complaints)
- Travel and tourism (booking, accommodation, transport, asking directions)
- Leisure and culture (cinema, sport, music, reading, television)
- House and home (rooms, furniture, describing your home)
- Food — extended (cooking methods, meals, dietary preferences)
- Feelings and emotions (estoy contento/a, triste, nervioso/a, cansado/a)
- Simple descriptions of events (what happened, where, when)
Reading at A2: What to Expect
At A2, texts are slightly longer (up to 150 words) and cover more varied topics. You might encounter:
- Short articles from a local magazine or newspaper
- Personal emails or letters between friends
- Simple advertisements or programme listings
- Short descriptions of people, places or events
- Information leaflets or simple instructions
Tasks include true/false questions, multiple choice, matching headings to paragraphs, and selecting the correct word from a list to complete gaps.
Listening at A2: What to Expect
Recordings are still slow and clear, but slightly more varied in register than A1. You might hear:
- Conversations between friends discussing plans or past events
- Someone describing their daily routine or job
- Short radio or television announcements
- Simple interviews about preferences or habits
- Voicemails, messages or instructions
Recordings are played twice. Tasks typically involve selecting correct answers, matching information, or completing tables.
Writing at A2: What to Expect
You'll write a text of 60–80 words. Common topics include:
- Writing an email to a friend about your weekend or holiday
- Describing your daily routine
- Completing a form with personal and professional information
- Writing a short description of your town, family or home
Focus on task completion, vocabulary range and grammatical accuracy. You don't need complex sentences — consistent, correct simple sentences score well.
Speaking at A2: What to Expect
The oral exam at A2 follows the same three-task structure as A1, but with slightly more expected from you:
- Photo description — More detail expected. Describe what you see, speculate about the situation, connect it to your own experience.
- Personal questions — About your past (¿Adónde fuiste de vacaciones?), your preferences and your plans.
- Role-play — More interactive. You might be shopping, booking accommodation, asking for directions or making a complaint.
Key tip: Use connectors to link sentences. Instead of "Me gusta viajar. Viajé a España. Fue muy bien." say "Me gusta mucho viajar porque es interesante y aprendo cosas nuevas. El año pasado fui a España y lo pasé fenomenal."
16-Week A2 Study Plan
| Weeks | Focus | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Review all A1 grammar; solidify present tense and ser/estar | Habla Horizon A1 guides, Language Transfer review |
| 4–6 | Preterite tense — regular verbs, then key irregulars | Habla Horizon grammar guides, conjugation drills |
| 7–8 | Imperfect tense — contrast with preterite | Grammar exercises, Anki cards for irregular forms |
| 9–10 | Reflexive verbs, direct object pronouns, gustar-type verbs | Grammar workbook exercises |
| 11–12 | Extended vocabulary: health, work, travel, home | Themed Anki decks, Habla Horizon vocabulary guides |
| 13–14 | Practice papers under timed conditions | Preparación al DELE A2 (SGEL or Edelsa) |
| 15–16 | Speaking practice, writing essays, final review | iTalki tutor, writing corrections via Preply or HelloTalk |
Recommended Resources for DELE A2
- Preparación al DELE A2 (SGEL) — Official prep book with full practice exams and audio.
- Dreaming Spanish — Beginner/Elementary — YouTube channel with comprehensible input at A2 level.
- Notes in Spanish — Beginner Pod — Free podcast aimed at A2 learners, with transcripts.
- SpanishPod101 — A2 Level — Structured audio lessons with grammar explanations in English.
- Anki — A2 vocabulary deck — Focus on the second 500 words from the "5000 Most Common" deck.
- Graded readers at A2 — Short novels designed for A2 learners. Look for the ELI Readers or Leer en Español series.
Booking the DELE A2 in Australia
The process is identical to DELE A1. Register at examenes.cervantes.es for the May or November session. Fee is approximately €150–170 (AUD $248–280). Your nearest examination centre in Australia will be listed during registration.
After A2: Where to Go Next?
With DELE A2 in hand, you're well placed to continue towards B1 — the level at which Spanish becomes genuinely practical for professional use and independent travel. The gap between A2 and B1 is significant — expect 6–12 more months of committed study. Explore our DELE B1 Guide for a full breakdown of what lies ahead.