CCSE pass mark: how many questions you must get right
The CCSE has 25 closed-answer questions and lasts 45 minutes. You pass with 15 correct answers, which is 60%. Every question is worth the same, so a blank or wrong answer simply adds nothing. You can get up to 10 wrong and still pass.
Sources: Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 6; Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10; Instituto Cervantes, FAQ and preparation page (archived copies of 7 August 2026, because the Cervantes site was under maintenance from 17 to 20 October). BOE texts read on 20 October 2026.
How many correct answers you need
The CCSE pass mark is 15 correct answers out of 25, or 60%. With 14 you fail, with 15 you pass. The Instituto Cervantes does not penalise wrong or blank answers (exam FAQ), and every question has the same value (Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 6.3). So it makes sense to answer all of them.
What the 25 questions are like
The 25 questions are split into 5 tasks. Each is a choice between three options or a true/false, and only one answer is correct. By law, 60% of the content is the Constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of Spain, and 40% is culture, history and society. Out of 25 questions that is 15 and 10, as the Cervantes FAQ confirms.
The real exam questions are in Spanish. To see what they look like, open our 8 practice questions with their answers.
How much time you get per question
The exam lasts 45 minutes. Spread over 25 questions that is 108 seconds each, 1 minute 48 seconds on average. In our view, true/false questions read faster and leave room for the ones that need thought.
What your mock score tells you
A useful mock is marked out of 25 and under the same time limit. With 18 or more you are clearly above the 15. Between 13 and 17 you are on the edge and should review the block where you lose the most. Below 13, study the Constitution first, since it is 15 of the 25 questions. That is a rule of thumb of ours, not an official figure.
How to get to 15 correct answers
- Take a full mock today to find out whether you are 3 correct answers short or 10.
- Study the Constitution and the organisation of the State first. That is 15 of the 25 questions.
- Download the free official material. The Instituto Cervantes publishes a preparation manual with 300 questions sorted by task and an official app.
- Practise against the clock until you finish all 25 questions with time left to check.
If you already meet an exemption, you do not need to take the CCSE: who is exempt from the DELE A2 and the CCSE (page in Spanish). The full steps are in the years and exams checker, and the format in CCSE exam: how many questions.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions does the CCSE exam have?
25 questions, grouped in 5 tasks, with three options or true/false.
How many questions do you have to get right to pass the CCSE?
You need 15 of 25, which is 60%.
How much is each CCSE question worth?
All the same (Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 6.3). Answering every question is the best option.
How long is the CCSE?
45 minutes, about 108 seconds per question.
How long is the CCSE certificate valid?
Four years from its date, according to Orden JUS/1625/2016.
The mock has 25 questions and 45 minutes, like the exam, and at the end gives you your score out of 25 to compare with the 15 you need. No account needed, with the questions and explanations in English.
Free CCSE mock with a score out of 25