DELE C1 Oral Expression: The 3 Tasks Explained

Updated: June 2026

The reading comprehension and oral expression and interaction test of the DELE C1 is the last part of the exam and is part of Group 2 (integrated skills). You have 20 minutes of preparation (with supporting material) followed by 20 minutes of examination in front of two examiners. It consists of 3 tasks that evaluate your ability to present, debate, and negotiate in Spanish.

General Structure

• Preparation: 20 minutes in a separate room with the materials for the 3 tasks. You can take notes.
• Exam: 20 minutes in front of two examiners (one interacts with you, the other evaluates).
• Task 1: Monologue (~5 minutes)
• Task 2: Debate (~5-6 minutes)
• Task 3: Negotiation (~5-6 minutes)

Task 1: Monologue (presentation of a topic)

Format: You receive a short text (article, graphic, data) on a topic. You must make an oral presentation of 3-5 minutes where you summarize the information, give your opinion, and develop the topic.

How to Prepare It (in 20 min)

1. Read the text carefully (2-3 min)
2. Identify the main ideas and your stance
3. Make an outline: introduction → development (2-3 points) → conclusion
4. Note down key words and connectors you want to use
5. DO NOT write a complete text to read; just guiding notes

Recommended Structure

1. Introduction: Present the topic and why it is relevant
2. Summary of the text: Briefly mention the main ideas of the material
3. Development: Expand with your opinion, examples, additional data
4. Conclusion: Summarize your stance and close

Useful Phrases

• “The text provided to me addresses the topic of...”
• “According to the presented data, it can be observed that...”
• “In my opinion, this phenomenon is due to...”
• “I would like to add that, from my experience...”
• “In conclusion, I believe that...”

Task 2: Debate (conversation with the examiner)

Format: The examiner takes a stance contrary to yours on the topic of Task 1. You must defend your opinion, counter-argue, and maintain a fluid conversation.

How to Prepare It

• Anticipate possible counterarguments to your stance
• Prepare data or examples to reinforce your position
• Think of concessions you can make without abandoning your thesis

Strategies During the Debate

• Listen actively: Do not interrupt; wait for the examiner to finish
• Rephrase before responding: “If I understood you correctly, you argue that...”
• Partially concede: “It is true that..., however...” shows argumentative maturity
• Use concrete examples: Illustrate your arguments with real or hypothetical cases
• Stay calm: It is an academic debate, not a personal discussion

Useful Phrases for Debating

• “I understand your point of view, but I believe that...”
• “Allow me to disagree on this point...”
• “While it is true that..., we cannot ignore that...”
• “That argument precisely reinforces my position, since...”
• “That statement needs to be qualified, since...”
• “From another perspective, we could argue that...”

Task 3: Negotiation

Format: You are presented with a situation in which you must reach an agreement with the examiner. For example: organizing an event, resolving a neighborhood conflict, planning a project. Each person has a role with different interests.

How to Prepare It

• Read your role and your “interests” or “conditions” carefully
• Identify which points are negotiable and which are not
• Think of compromise proposals
• Prepare alternatives: “If X is not possible, we could...”

Negotiation Strategies

• Start by stating your position: Make it clear what you need or want
• Ask the other person: “What would you think if...?” “Would you be willing to...?”
• Propose alternatives: Show flexibility by offering options
• Seek agreement: The goal is to reach a solution, not to “win”
• Summarize agreements: “So, we agreed that...”

Useful Phrases for Negotiating

• “My proposal would be the following...”
• “What would you think if instead of that...?”
• “I would be willing to accept... as long as...”
• “We could reach a middle ground if...”
• “I’m afraid that is not possible for me, but as an alternative...”
• “I believe we have found a satisfactory solution for both.”

How to Use the 20 Minutes of Preparation

The recommended distribution:

• Minutes 1-7: Task 1 — Read the text, make your presentation outline
• Minutes 8-12: Task 2 — Anticipate counterarguments, prepare rebuttals
• Minutes 13-18: Task 3 — Read the situation, identify your interests, think of proposals
• Minutes 19-20: Quick review of notes and key vocabulary

Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication

• Eye contact: Look at the examiners, not at your notes constantly
• Open posture: Sit up straight, do not cross your arms
• Natural gestures: Use your hands to emphasize, but without exaggerating
• Smile: Show that you are comfortable and enjoying the conversation
• Rhythm: Do not speak too fast or too slow; make natural pauses

Common Mistakes in Oral Expression

• Reading from notes: Notes are a guide, not a script. Speak naturally.
• Too short monologue: If you finish in 2 minutes, you haven't developed enough.
• Not interacting: In tasks 2 and 3, you must listen and respond, not just speak.
• Excessive fillers: “Um...”, “well...”, “I mean...” in excess detracts from fluency.
• Poor vocabulary: Use synonyms, avoid repeating the same words.
• Not concluding: Always close your intervention with a clear conclusion.

Read also: Common mistakes in the DELE C1 and how to avoid them

Evaluation Criteria

The examiners assess:

• Coherence and fluency: Is your speech organized and fluid?
• Grammatical accuracy: Do you make errors that hinder understanding?
• Lexical range: Do you use varied and precise vocabulary?
• Interaction: Do you respond adequately? Do you maintain the conversation?
• Pronunciation and intonation: Is your speech clear? Is your intonation natural?