How the CCSE exam works in 2026: questions, time, registration and results

The CCSE exam is a multiple-choice test run by the Instituto Cervantes (Spain's public institution for the Spanish language). It covers the Constitution, how Spain is organised, and Spanish culture and society. It has 25 questions taken from a public bank of 300. It lasts 45 minutes at most, and you pass with 15 correct answers. Wrong answers do not take away points.

What is the CCSE and who has to take it?

CCSE stands for "Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España" (Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain). The Instituto Cervantes designs and runs it.

It is one of the requirements to apply for Spanish nationality by residence, under article 6 of Real Decreto 1004/2015 (Royal Decree 1004/2015). Adults who apply for nationality must pass it. This includes people from Spanish-speaking countries. They do not need the DELE A2, but they do need the CCSE.

Minors and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court do not take the exam. Instead, they present certificates from their school or care centre.

Orden JUS/1625/2016 (Ministerial Order JUS/1625/2016) sets two more exceptions. People who cannot read or write, or who have learning difficulties, can ask the Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice) for an exemption. People who studied in Spain and finished the ESO (compulsory secondary education) can also be exempted.

What is the CCSE exam like?

These are the basic facts about the test:

• 25 questions in total.
• The questions come from the bank of 300 questions in the official handbook.
• There are two types of question. Some have three answer options and others are true or false.
• You have 45 minutes at most.
• Each correct answer is worth 1 point. A wrong or blank answer is worth 0. It does not take points away.
• With 15 correct answers or more, the result is "apto" (pass).

The law sets how the topics are split. 60 % of the questions are about the Constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of Spain. 40 % are about culture, history and society. With 25 questions, that means 15 and 10.

How many questions are there in each task?

The exam has five tasks. This is how the questions are split in the exam and in the 2026 handbook:

Task	Topic	Questions in the exam	Questions in the handbook
1	Government, law-making and citizen participation	10	120
2	Fundamental rights and duties	3	36
3	Territorial organisation and geography	2	24
4	Spanish culture and history	3	36
5	Spanish society	7	84

We counted the questions in the 2026 handbook one by one. The exam figures are the ones published by the exam centres, and they keep the same proportion as the handbook.

What is the official handbook and how much does it change each year?

Every year the Instituto Cervantes publishes a free PDF handbook with the 300 questions and their answers. The 2026 handbook is valid for all exam sessions in 2026. Always study with the handbook for the year when you take the exam.

Each edition changes some of the questions. In 2018 the Instituto Cervantes said it had changed 75 of the 300 questions, which is 25 %. Many guides say the change is still 25 % every year, but we have not found an official figure for 2026.

On Nacionaliza you can review the 300 CCSE questions and take a free mock exam in the same format. Nacionaliza is not an official website. The Instituto Cervantes also has a free app for practice.

How do I register for the CCSE exam?

You can only register and pay on the official Instituto Cervantes website, even if you then take the exam at a university or a language school.

These are the steps:

1. Create your user account on the Instituto Cervantes website.
2. Choose the date and the exam centre.
3. Enter your details exactly as they appear on your identity document.
4. Pay online, in the same shop. The steps are in the guide how to register for the CCSE exam.
5. Keep the registration receipt.

There are exam sessions on the last Thursday of every month, except in August and December. Each date has a registration period that closes about three weeks before, and each centre has a limited number of places. Check the dates and deadlines on the Instituto Cervantes website.

How much does the CCSE exam cost in 2026?

In 2026 registration costs 85 euros. The price includes the exam, the results certificate and access to the preparation materials.

Registration gives you two attempts. If you fail or do not attend the first time, you can take the exam again at the same centre without paying. For 2026, several exam centres, such as the Universidad de Málaga, give a period of 6 months for that second attempt. Older official information from the Instituto Cervantes said 18 months, so check this in your private area or with your centre before you wait too long.

Where do I take the exam?

You take the exam at centres recognised by the Instituto Cervantes. Many are universities and language schools in cities all over Spain. There are also centres outside Spain. You see the list when you choose the date during registration.

What do I need to bring on the exam day?

Bring the identity document you used to register, for example your NIE (foreigner identity number) or your passport. Also bring the registration receipt.

Arrive early, because the centre checks each person's identity before the exam starts. Read the exam notice they send you carefully, because each centre has its own rules about mobile phones and materials.

When do the results come out and how long is the certificate valid?

Results come out about 20 days after the exam. You get an email and you can see your result in your private area on the Instituto Cervantes website. The certificate only says "apto" (pass), "no apto" (fail) or "no presentado" (did not attend). It does not say how many answers you got right.

The certificate is electronic and has a secure verification code. It is valid for four years from the date the results record is approved, not from the day of the exam.

In your nationality application you can upload the certificate or allow the Ministerio de Justicia to check your result in the Instituto Cervantes database. All documents must be valid on the day you submit the application. If the certificate expires before then, you will have to take the exam again.

Are there adapted exams?

Yes. The Instituto Cervantes offers adaptations for people with disabilities, for example visual, hearing or mobility disabilities. Ask the exam centre for them when you register.

For people who cannot read or write there are special sessions on the last Tuesday of the month, except in August and December. The exam is oral. To register you need authorisation from the Ministerio de Justicia for the adapted test, and it is only available at some centres in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

Do wrong answers take away points?

No. A wrong answer is worth 0, the same as a blank answer. So it makes sense to answer every question.

How many questions do I need to get right to pass?

You need 15 correct answers out of 25, which is 60 %.

Can I study with the 2025 handbook?

It is not a good idea. Questions and facts change every year. For a 2026 exam, study with the 2026 handbook.

How long can I use the certificate?

Four years from the approval of the results record. You must submit your nationality application before it expires.