New Siele Exam Unites Spanish Speakers Worldwide!

History was made this week as the Spanish royal family announced the launch of the Siele: An international Spanish language proficiency test, equivalent to the Cambridge exam. The test was created in conjunction with the Cervantes Institute, The University of Salamanca, and Mexico’s National Autonomous University, and is the first evaluation of its kind for the Spanish language. As one of Madrid’s leading Spanish academies, AIL Madrid is excited to bring you all the details and to prepare you for the Siele, so let’s review the basics:



The Siele Format

The exam itself consists of 4 parts: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Similar to the Cambridge and TOEFL, the speaking section is recorded in case the grade is reviewed or contested at a later point. In addition, depending on your needs (if, for example, you only want to certify your writing skills), you can select to take only one section of the exam. Once taken, results will be given within 3 weeks and the score, between 0 and 1000, is valid for two years.

Why take the Siele?

King Felipe VI’s announcement comes in the wake of the news that the number of Spanish speakers in the United States now outnumbers those in Spain and Colombia, and is predicted to outnumber the number of speakers in Mexico by 2050 Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the world, outdone only by Chinese, and the Siele will ultimately provide a globally recognized method to certify Spanish language skills.

With the added weight of the king’s announcement, this information only further emphasizes the critical need for every student and professional to have at least a basic understanding of the beloved romance language. It also represents a growing relationship Spanish speaking countries and their respective dialects; in the words of Víctor Garcia de la Concha (head of the Cervantes institute), "The Siele is not just an evaluation, it is also a way to promote Spanish, and by that we mean everyone’s Spanish, with everyone on an equal footing."

To start learning and to join the growing network of Spanish speakers worldwide, sign up for Spanish classes now: beyond being a professional asset, learning a second language is also proven to improve your life in at least 7 ways, as well as opening up your travel options. Visit our website for course information or, if you’re unable to make it to Madrid, try our skype classes with native, professional teachers.

We’ll see you soon!