CCSE exam: how many questions, how long, and what you need to pass
Sources: Instituto Cervantes, CCSE specifications; Instituto Cervantes, CCSE preparation page; Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6; Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10, read 17 October 2026.
The CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) is the test of Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge that applicants for nationality by residence take together with the DELE. It has 25 questions, lasts 45 minutes and you pass with 15 correct answers out of 25.
CCSE sittings: the next one and 2027
Registration for 2027 opens on 23 November 2026. The first 2027 sitting is on 28 January 2027, with registration until 7 January 2027; the Instituto Cervantes has published ten, from January to November.
Fee: €85 in 2026. The 2027 fee is not on the Instituto page yet.
Checked on 26 October 2026 on the Instituto Cervantes page. All ten 2027 sittings with their dates.
Dates, registration deadlines and fee of the 2026 sittings: CCSE and DELE 2026: dates, fees and rules. Who has to sit the DELE A2, by nationality: the list by nationality.
The CCSE at a glance
| Questions | 25, in 5 tareas |
|---|---|
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple choice with 3 options, or true or false |
| To pass | 15 correct answers out of 25 (60%) |
| Content | 60% the Constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of Spain; 40% Spanish culture, history and society |
| Run by | The Instituto Cervantes, which designs and administers it |
| Certificate | Valid for 4 years from its date |
On 17 October 2026 the Instituto Cervantes website was in maintenance and, on 25 October 2026, the PDF of the CCSE specifications is no longer at its original address (examenes.cervantes.es redirects to a maintenance page on cervantes.org). The figures for questions (25), time (45 minutes) and pass mark (15 of 25) come from the copy Internet Archive keeps, captured on 6 March 2023, which we read on 25 October 2026; the Instituto's "Examen CCSE" page, in its copy of 16 October 2026, still says 25 questions. We will re-read the official file when the Instituto publishes it again and correct this page if anything differs.
How to pass
- Download the free official material. The Instituto Cervantes publishes a preparation manual for the CCSE (2026 edition) with 300 questions classified by tarea, and an official app. Both are free.
- Practise against the clock. 45 minutes for 25 questions is under two minutes a question, so run full mocks and not only topic quizzes.
- Check every wrong answer and read the explanation in the language you understand best. The questions on the real exam are in Spanish, so learn the Spanish terms as well.
- Compare your mock score with the 15 you need. Our free mock scores out of 25 and names the area to study next.
What the law says
- The Instituto Cervantes designs and administers the CCSE. The test is taken in person, and the Instituto Cervantes can also administer it remotely in the cases it sets (Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6.2).
- All questions are closed-answer and carry the same value (article 6.3).
- Exam centres check your identity before the test with your passport together with your foreigner's identity card or, for a family member of an EU citizen, your residence card; EU citizens use their passport with the identity document of their country of origin (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.4).
- Preparation courses are never compulsory to sit the tests (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.1).
- If you do not attach the certificates yourself, you must authorise, in the nationality application form, direct access to your results in the Instituto Cervantes database (Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6.4).
Who is exempt from the DELE is covered in Exentos del DELE A2 y del CCSE (Spanish). The residence years and the full route are on Nacionalidad española por residencia (Spanish), in French and in Arabic.
Questions
How many questions are on the CCSE?
The CCSE has 25 questions, grouped in 5 tareas. They are multiple choice with 3 options, or true or false.
How long is the CCSE exam?
The test lasts 45 minutes.
How many questions do I need to get right to pass the CCSE?
You need 15 correct answers out of 25, which is 60%.
How long is a CCSE certificate valid?
Four years from the date of the certificate (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.4).
What is the CCSE made of?
By law 60% of the questions are about the Constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of Spain, and 40% about Spanish culture, history and society. All questions are closed-answer and carry the same value (Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6.3).
Where can I practise the CCSE for free?
The Instituto Cervantes publishes a free preparation manual with 300 questions and an official app. CiviqPass also has a free practice mock with explanations in Arabic, French or English.
Which tools can you practise with? Compare CCSE practice apps and sites.
CCSE questions on the Constitution, each with its answer and the article word for word: 98 questions with answers.
Start the free CCSE mock: 25 questions
The mock and its explanations are in Arabic, French and English. Open it in العربية or Français.
Explanation written with AI from the official source cited on this page.
CiviqPass is an independent practice service for the CCSE and DELE A2 (reading, listening and writing). Each answer and every figure links to its source. Last updated 17 October 2026.