Structure
The exam has 25 questions, lasts at most 45 minutes and you pass with 15 correct answers. The questions come from a bank of 300 and are split into five tasks:
- Task 1, Government, Legislation and Citizen Participation: 10 multiple choice questions with three options
- Task 2, Fundamental Rights and Duties: 3 true or false questions
- Task 3, Territorial Organisation and Geography: 2 multiple choice questions
- Task 4, Culture, History and Traditions: 3 multiple choice questions
- Task 5, Society, Daily Life and Procedures: 7 multiple choice questions
Registration and fee
You register online on the Instituto Cervantes website, where you also pay. Payment is only possible electronically.
In 2026 registration costs 85 euros, the same price worldwide; Instituto Cervantes reviews it every year.
On the exam day
Before the exam you receive an email with the date, place and time. Go to the centre on the day and at the time shown on your registration receipt. Staff identify every candidate on arrival, so bring your identity document.
Results and validity
Results are published about 20 days after the exam, and you get an email when they are available. You have one calendar month from publication to ask for a review.
The certificate is valid for 4 years from the date the results record is approved.
How to prepare
Study the questions task by task, then take the mock exams: they have the same structure as the real exam, and together they contain all 300 questions.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does the CCSE exam have?
The CCSE exam has 25 questions, taken from a bank of 300.
How long is the exam?
The CCSE exam lasts 45 minutes at most.
How many correct answers do I need to pass?
To pass the CCSE exam, you need 15 correct answers out of 25.
How much does the CCSE exam cost?
In 2026 the CCSE exam costs 85 euros. The price is the same worldwide and is reviewed every year.
When do the results come out?
CCSE results are published about 20 days after the exam. You get an email when they are published.
How long is the certificate valid?
The CCSE certificate is valid for 4 years from the date the results record is approved.
Sources (in Spanish)
- Preguntas frecuentes CCSE, Centro de Idiomas de la Universitat de València
- Exámenes CCSE, Instituto de Idiomas de la Universidad de Sevilla
Updated: November 2026