The CCSE Exam Explained: Dates, Price and Registration
If you are applying for Spanish citizenship by residence, you will have to pass the CCSE exam, often called the Spanish citizenship test. The good news: it is very manageable with some preparation. All the questions are published in advance and more than 98% of candidates pass. Here is everything you need to know.
- What it is: the CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España, a test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain), run by the Instituto Cervantes (Spain's official institution for Spanish-language exams).
- Price: €85, with two attempts included.
- Format: 25 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes; you pass with 15 correct answers (60%).
- Language: the exam is always in Spanish.
- Dates: the last Thursday of every month, except August and December.
Who has to take it
The CCSE is required for foreign nationals applying for Spanish nationality by residence. Together with the DELE A2 (the official basic-level Spanish language diploma), it is how you prove your integration into Spanish society.
You are exempt from the CCSE if you are:
- Under 18.
- A person whose legal capacity has been modified by a court.
- Someone who completed compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Spain.
A common misunderstanding: citizens of Spanish-speaking countries are not exempt from the CCSE. They only skip the DELE A2.
What the test looks like
The exam has 25 questions drawn from a public bank of 300, all listed in the Instituto Cervantes' official 2026 manual. Each question has three options (or true/false) and only one is correct. You have 45 minutes and need 15 correct answers to pass. Wrong answers are not penalised, so always answer every question.
The questions are split into five tasks:
| Task | Questions in the exam | Questions in the bank | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Government, legislation and civic participation | 10 | 120 | 3 options |
| 2. Fundamental rights and duties | 3 | 36 | True or false |
| 3. Territorial organisation and geography | 2 | 24 | 3 options |
| 4. Culture and history | 3 | 36 | 3 options |
| 5. Spanish society | 7 | 84 | 3 options |
Tasks 1 and 5 alone account for 17 of the 25 questions. Master those and you are very close to a pass.
Exam dates
The CCSE is held on the last Thursday of each month, except in August and December. These are the upcoming sessions:
| CCSE | ⏳ | ℹ︎ |
|---|---|---|
| November 26, 2026 | November 5, 2026 | official date |
| January 28, 2027 | January 7, 2027 | official date |
| February 25, 2027 | February 4, 2027 | official date |
| March 18, 2027 | February 25, 2027 | official date |
| April 29, 2027 | — | expected date |
| May 27, 2027 | — | expected date |
| June 24, 2027 | — | expected date |
| July 29, 2027 | — | expected date |
| September 30, 2027 | — | expected date |
| October 28, 2027 | — | expected date |
| November 25, 2027 | — | expected date |
The rule is easy to remember: last Thursday of the month. What really matters, though, is the registration deadline, which closes about 3 weeks before each exam. For example, for the 26 November 2026 exam, registration ends on 5 November. Registration for the 2027 sessions opens on 23 November 2026. Some 2027 dates are already official and others are only planned, so always confirm dates at examenes.cervantes.es.
Price
The CCSE fee is €85. It includes two attempts: if you fail or do not show up, you can sit the exam once more without paying again.
How to register, step by step
- Go to the official registration page, examenes.cervantes.es/es/ccse/inscribirse, and create a user account.
- Choose an exam centre (accredited language schools and universities all over Spain) and an exam date.
- Enter your details exactly as they appear on your passport or NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, your foreigner identity number).
- Pay the €85 by card.
- You will receive a confirmation email. The centre then sends you a notice with the day and time of your exam.
- On exam day, bring the same original ID document you used to register.
If you cannot read or write, you can request the adapted test when you register: the questions are read aloud to you.
On exam day
- ID: bring the original of the same document (passport or NIE) you registered with.
- Be on time: arrive with time to spare for the time stated in your notice, and check the centre's address the day before.
- Adapted test: if you requested it, the examiner will read the questions aloud.
- Strategy: 45 minutes for 25 questions is plenty. Answer everything, because mistakes do not cost you points.
Results and validity
Results are published on the Instituto Cervantes website (examenes.cervantes.es) in about 3 weeks. The Instituto Cervantes sends the certificate directly to the Ministry of Justice, and you can also download it yourself. The certificate is valid for 4 years for your citizenship application.
After the CCSE, the remaining steps are: the citizenship-by-residence application to the Ministry of Justice (through its online portal), the DELE A2 if you are not from a Spanish-speaking country, the oath or promise, registration in the Civil Registry and finally your DNI (Spanish national ID card).
How to prepare
The big advantage of the CCSE is that all 300 questions are public. They all come from the Instituto Cervantes' official CCSE 2026 preparation manual (PDF, in Spanish). There are no surprises.
The hard part is that the questions are in Spanish, and memorising 300 of them without understanding them is tough. That is why on this site every question comes with an explanation in English, so you understand why each answer is correct and remember it. A simple plan:
- Study by topic in the topics section, starting with tasks 1 and 5, which carry the most weight.
- Take a 25-question, 45-minute mock exam to see where you stand under real conditions.
- Review your mistakes until they stop being mistakes.
You can start for free, without signing up, with 25 questions and one mock exam. For full access, see pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the CCSE exam in English?
No. The exam is always in Spanish. What you can do is prepare in English so you truly understand each question. If you cannot read or write, ask for the adapted test when you register.
How many questions do I need to get right?
15 out of 25, which is 60%. Wrong answers do not subtract points, so never leave a question blank.
I am from a Spanish-speaking country. Do I need the CCSE?
Yes. Citizens of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt from the DELE A2, but not from the CCSE.
What happens if I fail?
The €85 fee covers two attempts. If you fail or miss the exam, you can take it once more at no extra cost.
How long is the CCSE certificate valid?
Four years for your citizenship application. Results come out in about 3 weeks at examenes.cervantes.es.
This website is not the Instituto Cervantes and has no official connection with it. Always confirm dates, prices and requirements at examenes.cervantes.es.
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