DELE A2 exam-day guide
DELE A2 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid passport or national ID document
Bring the same identity document you used at registration; the name and number must match your enrolment exactly. Confirm with the provider which documents it accepts for your centre, since rules for non-nationals and residence permits vary.
Printed confirmation of your exam registration
Many centres ask for the enrolment confirmation or the email with your candidate code and session details. Check your centre's instructions and keep a printed copy as well as a digital one.
Know your exact session time and centre address
Verify the reporting time and the building entrance on your confirmation. Arrive with margin for security checks and for finding the room; do not rely on the time you remember from registration.
Confirm which parts are examined on which day
DELE A2 is normally taken in a single sitting covering reading, listening, writing and the oral test, but oral scheduling can differ by centre. Confirm your personal timetable with the provider, as some centres schedule oral tests on a separate slot.
Black or blue pens and a pencil with eraser
Answers are usually written in ink on the answer sheets and multiple-choice answers marked as instructed. Bring two pens and a pencil; confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or extra materials are permitted.
Wristwatch without smart features
Rooms may not have a visible clock and phones must be switched off and stored. A plain analogue or non-connected digital watch helps you pace the sections; confirm with the provider whether any watch is allowed in your room.
No phone, smartwatch or notes in the exam room
Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed. Possession of unauthorised material during the test can lead to removal from the exam; ask invigilators where to leave bags and phones.
Water in a transparent container and a light snack for the break
Sittings can be long. Check the provider's rules on drinks and food in the room and whether there is a break between papers.
Plan your route and a backup arrival time
Travel to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for transport delays. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted once a paper has started; confirm the centre's late-entry policy.
Review the task types and timing the day before
Re-read the instructions for each paper and the number of items and minutes, so you spend no exam time decoding the format. Use official sample materials to check the task types.
Prepare for the oral test format
Expect a short prepared or guided monologue and an interaction with the examiner, following the tasks described in the official specification. Practise speaking clearly at a steady pace rather than memorising a script.
Check the scoring and pass rule in advance
The final grade combines the written papers and the oral test, and there is a minimum required in each group. Confirm the current weighting and pass conditions with the provider or the official exam description before exam day.
Plan the day
Do a timed run-through of each paper using official sample materials, then review only your recurring errors. Confirm your centre address, reporting time and which papers fall on which day, and check that your ID is valid and not expired. Prepare your bag with pens, pencil, confirmation printout and ID, and stop starting new topics.
Re-read the instructions and timing for each paper so the format is automatic. Practise the oral tasks aloud for ten to fifteen minutes, ideally with a partner, focusing on fluency and clear pronunciation. Set out clothes, ID, confirmation and stationery by the door, charge nothing you cannot bring into the room, and go to bed at a normal hour rather than revising late.
Eat a proper breakfast, leave devices and notes at home or stored as instructed, and travel to arrive ahead of the reporting time. At the centre, follow signage, present your ID when asked, and locate the room and any bag storage. Once seated, fill in your answer sheet details carefully and read the paper instructions before starting.
Read the questions before each text or recording, answer the easier items first and mark your choices clearly. For listening, use the pauses to preview the next questions and never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing; confirm the marking rule with the provider. Transfer answers exactly as instructed within the time allowed.
Read both tasks fully, note the required length and the communicative purpose, and plan for a minute or two before writing. Write legibly, respect the word limit, and reserve the last minutes to check agreement, tenses, spelling and whether you answered every part of the task.
Greet the examiner, listen to each instruction fully and ask for clarification only if the task allows it. Speak at a natural pace, use the preparation time to note key words rather than a full script, and keep going if you make a mistake instead of stopping to correct every error.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document used at registration and present it when requested; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted at your centre.
Arrive at the reporting time stated on your confirmation. Entry after a paper has started may not be allowed, and time lost is not usually made up; confirm the late-arrival rule with the provider.
Switch off phones and all connected devices and store them where invigilators instruct. Do not keep notes, dictionaries or unauthorised aids with you in the exam room.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on filling in answer sheets, timing and leaving the room. Do not communicate with other candidates during the papers or attempt to see their work.
Breaks between papers, if any, are set by the centre. Stay in designated areas, keep quiet near exam rooms, and return promptly when told; confirm the break arrangements with the provider.
The final grade combines the written papers and the oral test, and there is a minimum required in each group. Confirm the current weighting and pass conditions with the provider before exam day.
Results and certificates are issued through the organisation you registered with, and timing varies by centre. Ask the provider how and when results are released and how to request a review if needed.
If illness or another serious problem affects you on the day, tell the invigilator immediately and ask the centre what evidence and procedure apply; do not assume a later appeal will succeed without following the stated process.