CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) (Instituto Cervantes) has 5 parts: Tarea 1 · Gobierno, legislación y participación ciudadana, Tarea 2 · Derechos y deberes fundamentales, Tarea 3 · Organización territorial y geografía, Tarea 4 · Cultura e historia de España, Tarea 5 · Sociedad española. Pass mark: 15 of 25 correct (60%); no penalty for wrong answers. Cost: €85 worldwide, including one free second attempt within 6 months. Result: About 20 days after the exam, in your personal area online (APTO / NO APTO). Checked 2026-09-30.
Dates, places and waiting times
Fixed dates: the last Thursday of each month except August and December (10 sessions a year, two time slots each). Registration closes about 3 weeks before each date. source
- 1Registerat an Instituto Cervantes exam centre, before the deadline of the session (convocatoria)
- 2Examfixed national exam date
- 3ResultAbout 20 days after the exam, in your personal area online (APTO / NO APTO)
- 4Certificate4 years from the date of the certificate.
| Exam date | Part | Register by | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 26 Nov 2026in 24 days | Knowledge | Thu, 5 Nov 20263 days left | — |
| Thu, 28 Jan 2027in 87 days | Knowledge | Thu, 7 Jan 202766 days left | — |
| Thu, 25 Feb 2027in 115 days | Knowledge | Thu, 4 Feb 202794 days left | — |
| Thu, 18 Mar 2027in 136 days | Knowledge | Thu, 25 Feb 2027115 days left | — |
| Thu, 29 Apr 2027in 178 days | Knowledge | Thu, 8 Apr 2027157 days left | — |
| Thu, 27 May 2027in 206 days | Knowledge | Thu, 6 May 2027185 days left | — |
| Thu, 24 Jun 2027in 234 days | Knowledge | Thu, 3 Jun 2027213 days left | — |
| Thu, 29 Jul 2027in 269 days | Knowledge | Thu, 8 Jul 2027248 days left | — |
| Thu, 30 Sept 2027in 332 days | Knowledge | Thu, 9 Sept 2027311 days left | — |
| Thu, 28 Oct 2027in 360 days | Knowledge | Thu, 7 Oct 2027339 days left | — |
Showing 10 of 11 dates you can still book. Checked 2026-09-30; places can fill up before the deadline. Instituto Cervantes: CCSE dates ↗
Where
More than 200 CCSE exam centres in Spain recognised by the Instituto Cervantes. source
At a glance
Exam parts225 min in total
Tarea 1 · Gobierno, legislación y participación ciudadanaKnowledge · 10 questionsWithin the 45 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice / true-false
- Questions / tasks
- 10 questions
- Task types
- Government, state institutions, laws and civic participation.
- Scoring
- 1 point per correct answer
- Allowed aids
- Not stated on the official pages we read[2]
Tarea 2 · Derechos y deberes fundamentalesKnowledge · 3 questionsWithin the 45 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice / true-false
- Questions / tasks
- 3 questions
- Task types
- Rights and duties.
- Scoring
- 1 point per correct answer
- Allowed aids
- Not stated on the official pages we read[2]
Tarea 3 · Organización territorial y geografíaKnowledge · 2 questionsWithin the 45 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice / true-false
- Questions / tasks
- 2 questions
- Task types
- Territorial organisation and geography of Spain.
- Scoring
- 1 point per correct answer
- Allowed aids
- Not stated on the official pages we read[2]
Tarea 4 · Cultura e historia de EspañaKnowledge · 3 questionsWithin the 45 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice / true-false
- Questions / tasks
- 3 questions
- Task types
- Spanish culture, history and traditions.
- Scoring
- 1 point per correct answer
- Allowed aids
- Not stated on the official pages we read[2]
Tarea 5 · Sociedad españolaKnowledge · 7 questionsWithin the 45 minutes
- Format
- Multiple choice / true-false
- Questions / tasks
- 7 questions
- Task types
- Daily life, social customs and administrative procedures.
- Scoring
- 1 point per correct answer
- Allowed aids
- Not stated on the official pages we read[2]
Scoring, results and retakes
15 of 25 to pass
You need 15 correct answers out of 25 (60%). Wrong or blank answers do not cost points. The result is APTO, NO APTO or NO PRESENTADO.[4]
Constitution 60%, society 40%
Tasks 1–3 (15 questions) cover the constitution and administration; tasks 4–5 (10 questions) culture, history and society.[2]
Results and certificate
Results come about 20 days after the exam in your personal area. The electronic certificate has a secure verification code (CSV).[4]
Valid 4 years
The CCSE certificate is valid for four years from the date of issue.[4]
Second attempt included
If you fail, you can register once more without paying again. The second attempt must be within 6 months of the first exam date. You may ask once for a review of your marks.[3]
What is really tested
Derived from the official task descriptions and level descriptions — not from leaked questions.
What the test checks
- Knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and of Spain’s social and cultural reality.
- Biggest block: government, legislation and civic participation (10 of 25 questions).
- Society and daily life (7 questions) is the second block: procedures, customs, everyday situations.
- Questions are 30–40 words, written in plain peninsular Spanish, with a glossary.
- Since January 2026 all questions come from the 2026 preparation manual (25% renewed versus 2025).
Rules you need to know
Routes & levels3
For Spanish nationality by residence you must pass a DELE of at least A2 and the CCSE (civic knowledge test). Both are set and run by the Instituto Cervantes.[1]
Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries do not need the DELE, but they do need the CCSE.[1]
Spain has no national language or civic exam for residence permits: long-term residence asks for 5 years of legal residence, income and health insurance, not a test. DELE A2 and CCSE are for nationality.[6]
Registration1
Register at tienda.cervantes.org or in your personal area on examenes.cervantes.es, before the deadline of your date (about 3 weeks before).[5]
Costs & payment2
The CCSE costs €85, the same everywhere; the price includes a second attempt. The nationality fee (€104.05) is separate.[3]
You can ask for a refund within 14 calendar days after registering. You can change date if both registration periods are open and places are free.[5]
Retakes1
After a fail you can register again once without paying; take it within 6 months of the first exam date.[3]
Adapted exams1
Deaf candidates can take an adapted version in Spanish Sign Language (lengua de signos española).[3]
Exemptions1
Exempt: minors and people with judicially modified capacity. Holders of the Spanish ESO certificate can be fully exempted, and people who cannot read or write partly, if the Ministry of Justice grants a dispensa (exemption).[3]
On the exam day
- 1What to bring
Your registration confirmation e-mail, your original passport and TIE, and the Ministry of Justice dispensa if you have one.[3]
- 2On paper, in Spain
The test is on four exam sheets, at one of the 200+ centres in Spain recognised by the Instituto Cervantes, in two time slots per session.[7]
- 345 minutes for 25 questions
About 1 minute 45 seconds per question. Answer every question — a blank answer scores nothing, a wrong one costs nothing.[2]
Recent and planned changes
- In forceNew 2026 manual
The "Manual de preparación para la prueba CCSE 2026" renewed 25% of the questions compared with 2025. From January 2026 all official tests use its questions.[8]
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
Tarea 1 · Gobierno, legislación y participación ciudadana (Within the 45 minutes) · Tarea 2 · Derechos y deberes fundamentales (Within the 45 minutes) · Tarea 3 · Organización territorial y geografía (Within the 45 minutes) · Tarea 4 · Cultura e historia de España (Within the 45 minutes) · Tarea 5 · Sociedad española (Within the 45 minutes).
What is the pass mark for CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
15 of 25 correct (60%); no penalty for wrong answers source
How much does CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) cost?
€85 worldwide, including one free second attempt within 6 months. Refund possible within 14 calendar days after registering. source
How do you register for CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
Fixed dates: the last Thursday of each month except August and December (10 sessions a year, two time slots each). Registration closes about 3 weeks before each date. source
How long do you have to wait for CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
A session every month except August and December; register before the deadline. Places per centre can be limited. source
When do you get the result of CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
About 20 days after the exam, in your personal area online (APTO / NO APTO). source
What happens if you fail CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
After a fail, register once more without paying; the second attempt must be within 6 months of the first exam date. source
Where can you take CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)?
More than 200 CCSE exam centres in Spain recognised by the Instituto Cervantes. source
Official sources
Checked on 2026-09-30. Rules change — the official page always wins.
- [1]Real Decreto 1004/2015: Reglamento del procedimiento de nacionalidad española por residencia (texto consolidado) BOE (Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado) · page date 2024-09-10
- [2]Cómo es la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes
- [3]Preguntas frecuentes de la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes
- [4]Calificaciones de la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes
- [5]Fechas de la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes
- [6]Hoja 50 – Autorización de residencia de larga duración UE Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · page date 2025-05-01
- [7]¿Quiere obtener la nacionalidad española? Instituto Cervantes
- [8]Preparar la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes