The CCSE exam: an overview
The exam to obtain Spanish citizenship (CCSE, Spanish initials for ‘conocimientos constitucionales y socioculturales de España’), a series of exercises formulated by the Cervantes Institute, assesses candidates’ knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and social and cultural realities. Passing the CCSE is one of the requisites for Sephardic peoples of Spanish descent and foreign residents in Spain to obtain Spanish citizenship.
The Cervantes Institute took the following as references for CCSE exam formulation and content.
- The Council of Europe’s guidelines as set out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR) and the manual entitled Relating Language Examinations to the ‘Common European Framework of References for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment’ (CEFR).
- The Spanish Constitution and other Spanish governmental sources.
- Two of the Cervantes Institute’s inventories (cultural references and socio-cultural knowledge and behaviour).
The Cervantes Institute is a member of the following international associations:
- Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE).
- International system for testing proficiency in Spanish as a foreign language (SICELE).
- Evaluation and Accreditation of Quality Language Services (EAQUALS).
The Cervantes Institute subscribes to international standards and good practice in language assessment and certification in:
- Exam formulation.
- Testing procedures and administration (including the possible administration of exams under special arrangements).
- Marking and analysis of general results (including a procedure for attending to candidates’ requests for review of their individual results).
- User information (including a claims review procedure).