DELE C1 exam-day guide
DELE C1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official ID document (original, valid)
Bring the same identity document you used at registration, in its original physical form. Photocopies and expired documents are normally refused. Confirm with the provider which document types (passport, national ID, residence card) are accepted for your centre.
Exam admission/registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation issued by your registration provider. It usually states your candidate number, the centre address, and the session times. If you have not received it, contact the provider well before the exam date.
Know your exact centre address and access route
Centres are sometimes university buildings with several entrances and no clear signage on the day. Check the address on your confirmation, plan the route, and note how long the journey takes at the hour you will travel.
Black or blue ballpoint pens (at least two)
Written answers must be legible; answers in pencil or erasable ink may not be accepted. Bring spares. Confirm with the provider whether correction fluid or tape is permitted.
Pencil and eraser
Useful for the multiple-choice reading and listening answer sheets and for planning written tasks. Confirm with the provider whether answer sheets must be completed in a specific medium.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
Rooms do not always have a visible clock, and phones must be switched off and stored. A simple analogue watch helps you pace the reading and writing sections.
Clear water bottle with labels removed
Hydration matters across a long session. Many centres allow a transparent bottle; confirm with the provider what is permitted inside the exam room.
No phone, smartwatch, or notes in the exam room
Switch devices off and leave them in the designated area. Keeping a phone on your person during the test is commonly treated as a serious irregularity. Confirm with the provider where devices must be deposited.
Arrive well before the stated start time
Allow extra time for ID checks, room allocation, and settling in. Exact arrival requirements vary by centre; confirm with the provider how early you should be there and what happens if you arrive late.
Plan the break and food
The written papers are usually sat in one long session with a short pause, and the oral test may be on the same day or another day. Bring a snack for before or after, and check with the provider whether you may leave the building between parts.
Check your oral test time and pairing
The oral test is scheduled separately and may be at a different time from the written papers. Confirm with the provider your assigned slot and whether you will be examined with another candidate or alone.
Review the task formats the day before, not new material
Re-read the instructions for each task type (multiple-choice, matching, gap-fill, guided writing, opinion essay, oral presentation and dialogue) so no time is lost deciphering instructions on the day.
Plan the day
Do a full timed mock of one complete paper, then stop intensive study. Identify only two or three fixable weaknesses (for example, running out of time on the reading paper, or writing essays without a clear structure) and address those. Confirm your centre address, start time, and oral test slot with the provider if anything is unclear.
Prepare your documents and materials: original ID, printed confirmation, pens, pencil, eraser, watch, clear bottle. Pack them in one bag. Check the weather and transport plan, including a backup route. Sleep at your normal time rather than revising late.
Light review only: skim a summary of the writing task structures and a handful of useful discourse markers and formal expressions. Do not attempt new grammar or a fresh mock. Eat normally, avoid heavy caffeine in the evening, and set two alarms. Re-read the confirmation for the exact reporting time.
Eat a proper breakfast, take your bag with documents and pens, and leave earlier than the journey requires. On arrival, find the room list, complete the ID check, switch off your phone and deposit it as instructed, and locate the toilets before the session begins. Sit down, breathe, and read the instructions carefully before the clock starts.
Follow the invigilator's instructions exactly and do not turn pages before you are told. For listening, read the questions ahead of each audio and accept that you will not understand every word; answer what you can and move on. For reading, allocate time per text and transfer answers to the answer sheet as you go rather than leaving it to the end.
Read both tasks fully, then spend a few minutes planning each: audience, register, structure, and the grammar you intend to show. Watch the clock and reserve several minutes to check agreement, verb tenses, accents, and spelling. Write legibly and stay within the word limits indicated in the instructions.
Greet the examiners, speak clearly, and use the preparation time to note keywords, not a full script. In the monologue, structure your points and signal them; in the dialogue, respond to your partner or examiner, ask for clarification if needed, and keep the interaction going. It is fine to self-correct; silence is the main thing to avoid.
Do not try to reconstruct answers with other candidates in the corridor, and do not post task content online. Results and certificate collection are handled by the provider; note the date and method they announce and keep your candidate number safe.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document used at registration; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a photocopy is ever sufficient.
Arrive at the reporting time stated on your confirmation. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted to a paper, and rules differ by centre; confirm with the provider in advance rather than relying on being let in.
Phones, smartwatches, and any notes must be switched off and left outside the exam room. Possession of unauthorized material during the test is generally treated as an irregularity and can lead to annulment of results.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on when to open papers, when to write, and when to stop. Writing after the instruction to stop, or before the start, can be penalized.
Breaks and movement: ask permission to leave the room, and expect to be accompanied or supervised. Confirm with the provider whether food, drink, or medication can be taken into the room and under what conditions.
The oral test may be conducted with another candidate. Treat your partner courteously, share the interaction, and do not dominate or withdraw; the assessment covers interaction as well as accuracy and range.
Do not attempt to record, photograph, or reproduce exam materials. Sharing task content afterwards may breach the provider's rules and affect other candidates.
Scoring: each paper is marked separately and a minimum level is normally required on each before the overall grade is awarded. The exact weighting and pass requirements are set by the awarding body; confirm the current details with the provider rather than assuming.