As promised, I took the Spanish test today. I didn't watch the clock strictly but all in it took
maybe half an hour? It tells you in the recap how long each section took, 12 minutes for speaking and 9 for grammar for a total of 21 minutes. I'm going to quote Cavesa's (quite thorough) review below and add my 2 cents to each portion to compare/contrast our experiences. But first, results: for the speaking portion I got 6.9 (nice), with the CEFR equivalent given B1-B2. Okay, as I expected pretty much, since I seldom practice it. That said, I did have an iTalki session right before where I spoke Spanish for half an hour, so that helped (I figured it I was going to get this test done this weekend, might as well while Spanish was still buzzing in my head). Description:
Individuals at this level can participate in conversations on familiar topics in everyday situations by asking and answering a variety of questions. They can usually talk about events and experiences in various time frames. They can usually handle social interactions when there is an unexpected complication. Sounds about right, although as for the last part I don't think I could handle that too gracefully. Ah, there's always improvement to be had. On grammar I got a 608, or B2. To be clear, the grammar section is more about understanding grammar and picking correctly in multiple choice questions as opposed to getting a written or spoken text checked for grammatical accuracy, so this sounds about right.
Cavesa wrote:So, what was it like and what were the results. The overall grade was C1, with C1 for the "grammar part" and B2 for the "oral part". As you see, my main question "should I prepare for DELE B2 or C1?" rests unresolved
I'm not planning on testing any time soon but the test didn't really clear much up for me either, I knew that my production lagged wayyyy behind my receptive skills. That said, the reinforcement was nice (i.e., I'm not deluding myself too much).
Cavesa wrote:The first exam is on speaking. As a short video explains, the first part is based on research showing that an average person holds 7 items in the short term memory. When you're beginning, it's just 7 sounds in the language. As you improve, you remember bigger and bigger chunks and are able to repeat them. The test serves you longer and longer, and more complex, sentences to repeat. Not easy, but I still see how the AI grades that.
Yeah, I was wondering during this about how it grades partial answers, i.e., if I bungle the first part but get the last part correct, or vice versa, do I get credit? I really fell off on the end of this portion.
Cavesa wrote:The second part of the first exam are 60s answers to open questions. I did well in the first two, in my opinion, but really badly in the third one. I will not tell you the questions, to not spoil it and affect your results, should you decide to take it. This is something I am not really sure about, how does the AI grade your speaking, what is being evaluated and how.
I was the opposite, I bungled the first one (favorite book to read--mainly because I kept getting stumped on how to describe thrillers in Spanish and got caught up in that when I probably could've just described the plot--whatever). The last two I was able to flow on, and actually got cut off on the last one by the time limit. There were still hiccups and circumlocution, but I was able to keep talking on the given subject.
Cavesa wrote:I think this exam was surprisingly correct, I think I am B2ish, even though with rather unusual set of strengths and weaknesses. I think it serves well for one's orientation, but of course a normal oral DELE exam is the golden standard.
Yeah, agree here. I think it's pretty correct for me, but I kind of knew my productive skills need polish.
Cavesa wrote:They say it is well done and talk about how it eliminates guesses and so on. Well, I had expected a much longer and more complex exam, truth be told. I don't know, whether I should trust the result, which was 897.0 points and therefore C1. No idea, whether the test goes up to C2 (for example SIELE doesn't), or whether the questions are selected based on the result from the first exam (to not annoy an advanced learner with basic questions and the opposite). I found the reading bits very easy, and most of the grammar questions too. No idea where I lost points, or what is the maximum (so how many things I had probably wrong).
Pretty much the exact same complaints, I'm not sure which were wrong or why but I didn't feel like the questions were super difficult.
Cavesa wrote:I don't know how reliable this result is. I know my writing (of normal texts) is most probably not C1, no idea whether it is even B2. My comprehension is C1 or the listening one even C2. My grammar and vocab? Not sure.
I definitely would not think my writing or speaking is B2, but to be fair I got B1-B2 on the speaking portion. My reading/listening skills are definitely leagues ahead of my other skills, and reading even more so than listening.
Cavesa wrote:I had expected to be disappointed with the oral exam (we all know that oral computer graded exams are rather controversial) and satisfied with the grammar one. It's the opposite. The oral exam is a very pleasant surprise and in my opinion does have value for your orientation. I have more doubts about the grammar one. I'd say the best online exam for Spanish and French grammar is on Kwiziq, but it doesn't test other stuff, and isn't available for other languages (but it is free!).
No regrets concerning the money, I think I got the value, especially in the speaking part, and have ideas on how to continue. In spite of all the previous failed plans, I'd like to take a real Spanish exam this year. Finally.
I'll agree largely with this with the exception I've barely used Kwiziq, but I didn't hate it. I just don't want to pay what they want me to. That said, I took the free test a while back and recall it being decent.
Apologies for the novel-length post.
Edit: It would've been cool to have been able to do this before the SC and then after. Ah well.