SIELE to CEFR Converter
Enter your SIELE Global score (0 to 1000) or a per-section score (0 to 250), see the equivalent CEFR level, and instantly know what your result unlocks for Spanish university admission and professional use.
Your SIELE Score
Pick the score type from your certificate, then enter the number.
SIELE reports CEFR per section and overall
SIELE is multilevel by design: a single sitting places you on the CEFR scale per section. The overall SIELE Global (0 to 1000) is the sum of four section scores (0 to 250 each).
Pick your input: overall or per-section
Use SIELE Global (0 to 1000) for the headline equivalence. Use per-section (0 to 250) to find a specific skill's CEFR level (Reading, Listening, Writing, or Speaking).
Read the CEFR level off the table
Per Instituto Cervantes: section 33-99 = A1, 100-165 = A2, 166-232 = B1, 233-249 = B2, 250 = C1. Overall thresholds are 0-300 / 301-450 / 451-625 / 626-750 / 751-1000.
Your effective CEFR is the LOWEST per-section
Even with a strong overall, your usable CEFR is the lowest section CEFR. A profile of R=B2 / L=B2 / W=B1 / S=B2 has effective CEFR B1, regardless of overall score.
SIELE and CEFR: what each one is
Two definitions to keep separate before reading any conversion.
SIELE: a numeric multilevel Spanish test
The SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluacion de la Lengua Espanola) is the international Spanish test, co-administered by the Instituto Cervantes, the University of Salamanca, UNAM (Mexico), and the University of Buenos Aires. Four sections (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking), each 0 to 250, summed to a SIELE Global of 0 to 1000. Online and proctored, results in ~3 weeks, certificate valid 5 years.
Use the SIELE Score Calculator to compute your SIELE Global from per-section inputs before converting to CEFR.
CEFR: the European reference scale
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages defines six proficiency levels (A1 to C2) used across all European languages. SIELE certifies you at the level your scores indicate (A1 to C1; SIELE has no C2). The CEFR level is what universities and employers actually evaluate.
Compare with the DELE to CEFR Converter if you have a DELE diploma instead, or SIELE to DELE to map directly between the two Spanish certificates.
SIELE score to CEFR
Per Instituto Cervantes mapping. Use the row that matches your input type (per-section or overall).
| Per-section (0 to 250) | SIELE Global (0 to 1000) | CEFR | What this unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 751 to 1000 | C1 | Spanish postgraduate (most), competitive Spanish-speaking jobs |
| 233 to 249 | 626 to 750 | B2 | Spanish university undergraduate (CRUE standard threshold) |
| 166 to 232 | 451 to 625 | B1 | Foundation programs, work permits, au-pair |
| 100 to 165 | 301 to 450 | A2 | Basic professional contexts, NOT Spanish citizenship (DELE A2 only) |
| 33 to 99 | 0 to 300 | A1 | Initial Spanish residence, tourism, basic exchanges |
| 0 to 32 | N / A | <A1 | Below the SIELE certification floor; retake recommended |
| N / A | N / A | C2 | SIELE does not certify C2; take DELE C2 directly |
SIELE has a C1 ceiling by design. Your effective CEFR (the level employers and admissions teams quote) is the LOWEST of your four section CEFR levels, not the overall score.
When the SIELE CEFR equivalence is enough vs when DELE is required
Most use cases accept the CEFR level regardless of which Spanish test certified it. Two cases require DELE specifically (no SIELE substitute):
The Spanish naturalisation law (Real Decreto 1004/2015) names DELE A2 as the language certificate. SIELE A2-equivalent score (overall 301-450, or per-section 100-165) is NOT accepted. Citizens of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt.
The Spanish Ministry of Health requires DELE for non-Spanish-speaking foreign-trained doctors. SIELE C1 score (751+ overall, or 250 per section) does NOT satisfy this requirement.
All 76 CRUE Spanish public and private universities accept SIELE B2 (626+) interchangeably with DELE B2. Verify with the specific program for any additional requirements.
Most Spanish master's and PhD programs accept SIELE C1 (751+) interchangeably with DELE C1. A few highly competitive Sciences and Medicine programs require DELE specifically.
CRUE Latin American partner universities accept SIELE at the corresponding CEFR level. Mexican and Argentinian universities (UNAM, UBA) often prefer SIELE because they co-administer the test.
For workplace Spanish certification, both SIELE and DELE are equally recognised. SIELE is often preferred when faster results matter (3 weeks vs 3 months for DELE).
SIELE to CEFR questions, answered
How do I convert my SIELE score to a CEFR level?
SIELE reports CEFR alignment in two ways. Per-section: each section is scored 0 to 250, with 33-99 = A1, 100-165 = A2, 166-232 = B1, 233-249 = B2, 250 = C1. Overall (SIELE Global, 0 to 1000): 0-300 = A1, 301-450 = A2, 451-625 = B1, 626-750 = B2, 751-1000 = C1. The certificate shows your CEFR per section, and your effective level is the LOWEST of the four section levels (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking).
Why does SIELE not certify CEFR C2?
By design. SIELE has a C1 ceiling because the test was built as a single-sitting multilevel exam optimised for accurate measurement from A1 to C1, the levels most commonly tested for university and work. C2 (Mastery) requires specialised tasks (synthesis from multiple complex sources, register switching at near-native level) that are difficult to assess online in 3 hours. For Spanish C2 certification, candidates take DELE C2 (the dedicated Cervantes diploma) instead.
Is SIELE accepted for Spanish citizenship?
No. The Spanish naturalisation law (Real Decreto 1004/2015) names DELE A2 specifically as the language certificate. A SIELE score in the A2 range (301-450 overall, or 100-165 per section) is NOT accepted as a substitute, even though it certifies the same CEFR level. To apply for Spanish citizenship by naturalisation, you must take DELE A2 (or higher), not SIELE.
Is SIELE accepted at Spanish universities?
Yes, by all 76 Spanish universities under CRUE (the Spanish university rectors body), and by most Latin American universities through the Asociacion Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado. SIELE 626+ (B2 equivalent) is accepted for undergraduate admission, and SIELE 751+ (C1 equivalent) for most postgraduate programs. A few highly competitive Sciences and Medicine programs require DELE specifically.
Why does SIELE show different CEFR levels per section?
Because language proficiency is rarely uniform across skills. SIELE certifies your CEFR level in each of Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking independently. Your effective level (what employers and admissions teams quote) is the lowest of the four. Example: R=B2, L=B2, W=B1, S=B2 means your effective level is B1, even though three sections are B2. To raise your effective level, target the weakest section.
How long is a SIELE certificate valid?
SIELE certificates are valid for 5 years from the test date. After 5 years, you must retake SIELE (or take DELE, which never expires) to refresh certification. The 5-year limit reflects the design assumption that language proficiency can shift over time without active use; DELE makes the opposite assumption (lifetime validity).
Is the SIELE Global the same as taking DELE B2?
Not exactly. SIELE Global is a single-sitting test that returns your CEFR level wherever it lands (A1 to C1). DELE is taken at one specific level. If you score SIELE 626-750, you are CEFR B2 equivalent, which is what DELE B2 certifies. The certificate format differs (SIELE shows numeric score; DELE shows Apto / No Apto), but the underlying CEFR level is the same. Universities and employers accept both at the equivalent level for most use cases.
Should I focus on overall SIELE Global or per-section CEFR?
Both. The overall score (0 to 1000) is the headline number employers and university admissions teams scan first. The per-section CEFR levels are what determines your effective CEFR (the lowest of the four). For most use cases you need both numbers to look strong: an overall in the B2 range AND no individual section dropping below B2. Identify your weakest section early and target it.
Keep going
SIELE Score Calculator →
Compute your SIELE Global score from per-section inputs (R + L + W + S, each 0 to 250). Effective CEFR + per-section CEFR + university tier indicator.
DELE to CEFR Converter →
Look up the CEFR level for any DELE diploma (A1 through C2). Includes the citizenship and MIR use cases where DELE is specifically required.
SIELE to DELE Converter →
Translate a SIELE score directly to the equivalent DELE level via the shared CEFR scale, with per-use-case acceptance notes.
Ready to take SIELE?
Practice with realistic SIELE-style tasks at every CEFR level, AI-rated Writing and Speaking feedback, and a study plan built to lift your weakest section, all from LingUp.
Start PracticingSIELE is a registered trademark co-administered by the Instituto Cervantes, the University of Salamanca, UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico), and the University of Buenos Aires. This converter is not affiliated with or endorsed by these institutions.
