What is the best Spanish language proficiency test? 

Spanish ranks as the number 2 language in the world with 329 million native speakers, who speak it as their first language. English (328 million) is slightly behind but the Chinese language(1.2 billion) is far ahead of Spanish. Spanish is the 4th most commonly spoken language behind English that is spoken in 112 countries to French that is spoken in 60 different countries to that is spoken in Arabic in 57 different countries.  Spanish is spoken in 44 countries, with at least 3 million mother-tongue speakers in 44 countries. The only continents without a large Spanish-speaking population are Antarctica and Australia.

There are several online as well as offline Spanish language proficiency tests that can help certify the language level a learner speaks fluently.  You have to invest some time and money to earn an official and valued Spanish certification. Thus selecting the right one for yourself is very important! Of these many are required to be given mandatorily for several different purposes such as when seeking admission in an educational institute or seeking citizenship or a job etc. All these tests assess a learner on all four parameters without a difference: reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

Most well known Spanish proficiency tests

• The Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española (International Service of Spanish Language Assessment) SIELE as it is also known as, is an online Spanish certification, that certifies the Spanish level-proficiency for young and adults who speak Spanish as a second or foreign language. Supported and promoted by the Cervantes Institute, UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the University of Salamanca (USAL) SIELE examination is entrusted as much as the DELE examination. 
• DELE, Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera, is the best of all these tests. Recognised worldover DELE examination is conducted by the Instituto Cervantes to determine Spanish proficiency for a non-native Spanish speaker at school levels and for adults and young speaking it as a second or a foreign language. The DELE examination is much different from other certificates of Spanish Language. The DELE exam works best for people who study according to the CEFR pattern. To attempt a DELE exam one must choose a CEFR level that they seek certification for. The DELE certification is valid for a lifetime after having been cleared. There are no restrictions on the nationality or age to give the DELE test; however, for learners less than 16 years of age, guardians or parents are required to handle the registration process. More than 1000 exam centres in more than 100 countries allow you to take part in the DELE examination.

Tests of Spanish competency to study in a University Spanish Course 

• With certification valid for a lifetime, LanguageCert’s EsPro USAL is a Business Language Testing Service (BULAT) offered under collaboration between the Universidad de Salamanca’s International Course and LanguageCert. The successful clearing of the EsPro offers access to all Spanish Universities. The test can be done in a paper or a computer-based version through several examination centres around the world.
• The EsPro certificate is well recognized by Mesa de Certificación Lingüística para el Español como Lengua Extranjera (Accreditation Commission for Spanish as a Foreign Language), CRUE Universidades Españolas (Conference of Chancellors of the Spanish Universities) and the Association of Language Centres in Higher Education (ACLES) that accept it as a proof of Spanish language proficiency.
• ACTFL, a US organization that aims to improve and expand the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction offers learners to schedule their exams anywhere, anytime through Language Testing International. You can perform even the oral test on your telephone and computer as a digital test provider. ACTFL measures learners on :
  • OPI (Oral Proficiency testing)
  • OPIc (Oral Proficiency Interview – computer)
  • LPT (Listening Proficiency Test)
  • WPT (Writing Proficiency Test)
  • RPT (Reading Proficiency Test)
  • ACTFL grade equivalents can be given in ILR and CEFR levels for those seeking it.
• A group of standardised tests developed by the U.S. College Council, CLEP (College Examination Program), measures competencies acquired in two- to four-semester language studies, depending on the test level. There are two sections for listening and one for reading with 121 questions to be answered in 90 mins. 
• D.I.E. (Diploma Internacional de Español) is another one of the most respected and recognised international certificates of Spanish Language offered by the FIDESCU Foundation, (part of the Ministry of Education & Culture). The D.I.E. test enables learners to assess their proficiency and knowledge in a particular field, such as business, tourism and health.

Spanish proficiency tests for employment 

There are several tests of Spanish proficiency for employment carried out by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce which examine the qualifications of Spanish learners for economic causes. German Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Madrid Spanish Chamber of Trade and Industry are two such organizations. 

Spanish proficiency tests for citizenship 

In order to become a Spanish citizen, it is obligatory to pass the CCSE, prueba de conocimientos constitucionales y socioculturales de España, test on the constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain. Spoken Spanish will not be sufficient in this case. The test will assess learners in two sections; on Spanish Government, law and citizenship, with 15 questions and another 10 questions will assess knowledge about Spain’s culture, history and society.

Apart from the aforementioned examinations the following are a few more Spanish proficiency tests to look at depending on your needs.

• CELU or the Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso  that is comparable to DELE, but focuses on South America)
• CSET Spanish or the California Subject Examinations for Teachers
• FLACS or the Foreign Language Association of chairpersons and supervisors  
• TELC or the European Language Certificates

The language is a part of the Indo-European languages that also comprises languages such as English, French, German, Scandinavian, Slavic and many of the Indian languages. Spoken by more than one-third of the world’s population, Spanish forms a part of the Romance language family that also includes French, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan, and Romanian. Speakers of Portuguese and Italian are often able to communicate to a limited extent with Spanish speakers due to quite a bit of similarity. With so many tests to assess and certify your knowledge, why not start studying Spanish today.