TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Last updated: 1 September 2026
About these Terms
These Terms apply to the Certificado de Español Legal / Legal Spanish Language Certificate examination (the Exam), the mock examination, scheduled preparation courses and bespoke preparation courses supplied through CEREL.ONLINE. By registering, booking or participating, you agree to the Terms that apply to the service you purchase.
CEREL.ONLINE is operated in the United Kingdom by Liz Merchant and Daniel Cristiano (we, us or our). Our contact details are info@cerel.online and 8 Dighton Road, London SW18 1AN.
Important status of the certificate
| CEREL is an independent legal-Spanish language examination. It is not an official qualification, is not an accredited CEFR award and is not endorsed, governed or issued by a government, university or official language-accreditation body. Its level is approximately comparable to advanced CEFR C1, but passing CEREL does not confer an officially accredited CEFR qualification. |
PART A – THE CEREL EXAMINATION
Eligibility and suitability
Candidates must be at least 18 years old. The Exam is designed for candidates with advanced Spanish and assesses language performance in legal and professional contexts. It does not assess whether a candidate is qualified to practise law or provide legal advice.
Registration and formation of the contract
Submitting an enquiry or registration form does not by itself reserve a place. A booking is confirmed only when we have accepted the registration, received any required payment and sent written confirmation. Places may be limited and are allocated subject to availability.
You must provide complete and accurate information. The candidate’s name must be supplied in the form in which it should appear on the certificate.
Fees, cancellation and refunds
The applicable fee and payment arrangements will be communicated before the booking is confirmed. Unless stated otherwise, payment must be received by the stated deadline.
Exam fees are non-refundable if you cancel, do not attend, fail to begin or complete the Exam, or are disqualified. We may, at our discretion, offer a transfer to another date where exceptional circumstances are supported by appropriate evidence.
If we cancel the Exam and cannot offer a suitable alternative, we will refund the Exam fee paid. We are not responsible for additional costs incurred by a candidate, such as equipment, internet, travel or preparation costs.
Exam format and administration
The Exam assesses Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. The published format and timings are indicative and may be adjusted where reasonably necessary to preserve the integrity, accessibility or administration of the Exam. Candidates will receive practical instructions before the relevant examination date.
The Exam is conducted online. You are responsible for a suitable computer, stable internet connection, functioning audio and video equipment, a quiet environment and compliance with the instructions provided. We are not responsible for failures caused by your equipment, internet connection or third-party services outside our reasonable control.
We may require reasonable evidence of identity.
Reasonable adjustments
Candidates who require a reasonable adjustment should contact us as early as possible before the Exam. We will consider reasonable requests individually and may ask for relevant supporting information. Adjustments cannot alter the skills or standards being assessed.
Conduct, confidentiality and exam integrity
The Exam is administered on the basis that candidates act honestly and complete every part of the assessment themselves. By taking the Exam, each candidate confirms that all answers and work submitted are their own and that they have not copied material, received unauthorised assistance or allowed another person to complete any part of the Exam on their behalf. Unless there is evidence to the contrary, CEREL.ONLINE will assess and issue results on that basis.
- Candidates must follow the examiner’s instructions and behave professionally and respectfully.
- Cheating, impersonation, plagiarism, unauthorised assistance, use of prohibited tools or materials, or interference with the Exam may result in disqualification without refund.
- Exam and mock-exam questions, recordings, answers, assessment materials and criteria must not be copied, photographed, recorded, downloaded, reproduced, disclosed, sold or shared.
- We may investigate suspected irregularities and withhold results or certificates while an investigation is carried out.
Results, pass standard and certificates
Candidates must achieve at least 50% in each of the four skills: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking. Achieving 50% overall is not sufficient if the candidate scores below 50% in any skill.
Results are determined by assessors appointed by CEREL.ONLINE. We aim to issue results and, where applicable, certificates within a reasonable period after assessment and validation. Any stated timeframe is an estimate unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.
A candidate may ask us within 14 days of receiving the result to review an alleged administrative or procedural error. A review does not constitute a re-mark unless we decide that a re-mark is appropriate.
We may withhold or revoke a result or certificate where there is evidence of fraud, impersonation, misconduct, an assessment irregularity or a material breach of these Terms.
Recordings
The speaking assessment may be recorded where candidates have been informed in advance. Any recording is used for assessment administration, quality assurance, moderation, handling queries and protecting Exam integrity. Further information appears in the Privacy Notice.
Mock examination
The mock examination is provided for familiarisation and preparation only. A mock result is not a CEREL result, certificate or guarantee of performance in the Exam. The confidentiality and intellectual-property obligations in these Terms also apply to the mock examination.
PART B – PREPARATION COURSES
Nature of the courses
CEREL.ONLINE provides Spanish-language tuition for lawyers, law students, paralegals and other professionals. Courses are language lessons, not legal, financial or professional advice, lectures on substantive law, or translation services. Examples of legislation, contracts and professional situations are used solely as language-learning material.
Participation in a preparation course is not compulsory for taking the Exam and does not guarantee a pass or any particular learning outcome.
Course arrangements
Course dates, times, duration, fees, class size and delivery method will be set out in the booking information or written proposal. Before or shortly after the course begins, we may provide a week-by-week plan. The plan may be adapted reasonably to the level and needs of the group or student.
We may recommend a language assessment before a bespoke course. If a student declines the assessment, the initial plan may not fully match the student’s actual level or needs.
Scheduled courses
Scheduled courses follow the advertised timetable. Payment is required before the course begins unless agreed otherwise. If a student misses a group lesson, the lesson will not normally be repeated, transferred or refunded.
Bespoke self-funded courses
Fees and payment dates will be stated in the invoice or proposal. A student who wishes to cancel or rearrange a lesson must give more than 48 hours’ notice. For a Monday lesson, notice must be given by the preceding Thursday. A lesson cancelled late or missed is chargeable in full.
Unless we agree otherwise in writing, a block of ten lessons must be completed within three months after the first lesson.
Company-sponsored courses
The client is the employer or organisation purchasing tuition for one or more students. Fees, cancellation arrangements and the period for completing lessons will be stated in the proposal or invoice; unless stated otherwise, the bespoke cancellation rules above apply.
The client must ensure that participating students are informed of the applicable course rules. Where reasonably required to administer the service, we may provide the client with attendance information, assessment outcomes and progress reports, as explained in the Privacy Notice.
Online platforms and equipment
Lessons are normally delivered through Zoom and may use Google Docs, Google Drive, Quizlet or similar learning tools. Students may need to create or use accounts with those providers and are responsible for reviewing the providers’ own terms and privacy information. A desktop or laptop computer is recommended.
We do not record lessons. Students and clients must not record lessons, take screenshots of other participants or distribute lesson content without our prior written permission and, where relevant, the permission of everyone concerned.
Learning materials
Course materials are supplied for the personal study of the enrolled student only. Unless expressly permitted, they must not be copied, uploaded, published, sold, shared or used to teach others. All intellectual-property rights remain with CEREL.ONLINE or the relevant third-party owner.
PART C – TERMS APPLYING TO ALL SERVICES
Changes, postponement and events outside our control
We may make reasonable changes to dates, personnel, platforms, materials or administrative arrangements. If an event outside our reasonable control prevents delivery, we may suspend, reschedule or provide a reasonable alternative. If we cancel a paid service and cannot provide a suitable alternative, we will refund the amount paid for the part not supplied.
Liability
We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, business, opportunity, goodwill or anticipated savings. Our total liability arising from a particular paid service will not exceed the amount paid for that service.
Complaints
Please raise complaints promptly by emailing info@cerel.online and include enough information for us to investigate. We will acknowledge and consider the complaint within a reasonable time.
Privacy
We process personal information as described in the CEREL.ONLINE Privacy Notice. Acceptance of these Terms is not treated as consent to optional marketing.
Changes to these Terms
The Terms in force when your booking is confirmed will apply to that booking. We may update the website Terms for future bookings. A material change affecting an existing booking will be communicated where reasonably necessary.
Governing law and courts
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction.
Contact
Email: info@cerel.online
Post: CEREL.ONLINE, 8 Dighton Road, London SW18 1AN, United Kingdom
PRIVACY NOTICE | 1 SEPTEMBER 2026
PRIVACY NOTICE
Last updated: 1 September 2026
Who we are
CEREL.ONLINE is operated by Liz Merchant in the United Kingdom. Liz Merchant is the controller responsible for deciding how and why personal information is used.
Email: info@cerel.online
Address: CEREL.ONLINE, 8 Dighton Road, London SW18 1AN, United Kingdom
Who this Notice applies to
This Notice applies to website visitors, people who contact us, Exam and mock-exam candidates, course students, prospective students, client contacts and individuals whose employer or organisation purchases a course for them.
Personal information we collect
- Identity and contact information, including name, email address, telephone number, postal address and employer or organisation where relevant.
- Booking and payment information, including the service booked, payment status, invoices and transaction references. We do not normally receive full payment-card details from payment providers.
- Exam information, including identity checks, responses, scripts, audio or video used in assessment, marks, assessor comments, results, certificates and records of suspected irregularities.
- Course information, including language level, assessment results, attendance, learning needs, progress and communications.
- Enquiries, correspondence, complaints, feedback and any information you choose to provide.
- Technical information, such as IP address, browser/device information, security logs and cookie or analytics information where used.
Please do not send special-category information, such as health information, unless it is necessary for a reasonable-adjustment request or another specific purpose. Where such information is necessary, we will explain how it will be used and apply an appropriate additional legal condition.
How we obtain information
We usually obtain information directly from you through the website, email, assessment, Exam or lessons. We may also receive information from an employer or organisation booking tuition, an authorised representative, assessors, payment providers, or the technical platforms used to deliver the service.
Why we use personal information and our lawful bases
We use personal information to respond to enquiries, assess suitability, register candidates or students, arrange bookings and process payments. We process this information where it is necessary to take steps before entering into a contract or to perform a contract with you.
We use personal information to administer the CEREL examination, mock examinations and preparation courses. This includes sending instructions, providing materials, assessing and marking work, and issuing results or certificates. The lawful basis for this processing is the performance of our contract with you.
We use identity information, examination responses, assessment records and related information to verify candidates’ identities, maintain examination integrity, moderate assessments, assure quality, investigate suspected irregularities and respond to queries concerning results. We process this information where it is necessary to perform our contract with you and for our legitimate interests in maintaining the reliability, fairness and integrity of our examinations.
We retain invoices, transaction records and other relevant information for accounting, taxation, regulatory compliance, the management of legal claims and compliance with our legal obligations. The lawful bases for this processing are compliance with a legal obligation and our legitimate interests in managing and protecting our business.
Where an employer or another organisation purchases a course for a student, we may provide the client with agreed information concerning attendance, assessment and progress. We process this information where it is necessary to perform the relevant contract and for our legitimate interests in administering and reporting on the service purchased by the client.
We use technical information, system logs and security records to operate and protect the website and our services, prevent fraud or misuse, maintain backups and investigate security incidents. The lawful bases for this processing are our legitimate interests in operating a secure and reliable service and, where applicable, compliance with a legal obligation.
We may use contact information to send news about relevant examinations or courses where you have requested it or where direct marketing is otherwise permitted by law. The lawful basis will be your consent or our legitimate interests, as applicable. You may unsubscribe or object to direct marketing at any time.
When information must be provided
Information marked as required is needed to answer an enquiry, make a booking, administer the Exam or course, or meet a legal requirement. If required information is not provided, we may be unable to accept or continue a booking or issue a result or certificate.
Who receives personal information
We disclose information only where reasonably necessary. Recipients may include:
- CEREL administrators, tutors, assessors, moderators and authorised contractors;
- website hosting, WordPress, form, email, cloud-storage and IT-support providers;
- payment providers, banks, accountants, insurers and professional advisers;
- Zoom, Google Workspace/Drive/Docs, Quizlet, Testmoz and other platforms used for exams or learning;
- an employer or organisational client, for agreed attendance, assessment and progress reporting; and
- courts, regulators, law-enforcement bodies or other parties where disclosure is required by law or necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
These providers may act as processors under our instructions or as independent controllers under their own privacy notices. We do not sell personal information.
International transfers
Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where UK data-protection law requires safeguards, we use an adequacy regulation, approved contractual protections or another lawful transfer mechanism. You may contact us for further information about the safeguards relevant to your information.
How long we keep information
We keep information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting and dispute-resolution requirements. Our general retention periods are:
- Enquiries that do not lead to a booking: normally up to 12 months after the last substantive contact.
- Booking, payment, invoice and core contractual records: normally six years after the service ends.
- Exam scripts, speaking recordings, detailed marking records and moderation material: normally up to two years after results are issued, unless needed for a query, investigation or legal claim.
- Certificate and result-verification records: up to ten years after issue so that a certificate can be verified and protected against fraud.
- Course attendance, assessment and progress records: normally up to two years after the course ends, with essential contractual records retained for up to six years.
- Marketing records: until consent is withdrawn, an objection is made or the information is no longer useful; a minimal suppression record may be retained to respect an opt-out.
- Security logs and routine backups: according to the relevant technical retention cycle, unless needed to investigate an incident.
We may keep information for longer where required by law or where reasonably necessary for an active complaint, investigation or legal claim. We may securely delete or anonymise it earlier when it is no longer required.
Marketing
Marketing is optional and is not a condition of taking an Exam or course. You can unsubscribe through any link provided or by emailing info@cerel.online. We will not treat acceptance of the Terms as consent to marketing.
Cookies and similar technologies
The website may use strictly necessary cookies for security and core functions. Analytics or other non-essential cookies will be used only where permitted and, where required, after consent. Browser controls can block or delete cookies, although this may affect some functions. Any cookie banner or cookie settings shown on the website provide additional current information.
Automated decision-making
We do not make decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects solely by automated means. Exam results are determined through human assessment and administration.
Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect information against accidental loss, misuse, alteration, unauthorised access or disclosure. No internet or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Your data-protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to:
- request access to your personal information;
- ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- ask us to erase information;
- ask us to restrict how information is used;
- object to processing based on legitimate interests or to direct marketing;
- receive certain information in a portable format; and
- withdraw consent at any time where processing relies on consent, without affecting earlier lawful processing.
These rights are not absolute and exemptions may apply. We may need to verify your identity before responding. To exercise a right, email info@cerel.online.
Complaints
Please contact us first so that we can try to resolve your concern. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): ico.org.uk, telephone 0303 123 1113, or Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Children
The Exam is restricted to people aged 18 or over. Our professional courses are not directed at children. Please contact us before providing information about anyone under 18.
Links and third-party services
The website and services may link to third-party websites or platforms. Their own privacy notices govern the information they collect as independent controllers. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.
Changes to this Notice
We may update this Notice to reflect changes in our services, providers or legal obligations. The current version will be published on the website with its revision date. We will communicate material changes directly where appropriate.
Contact us
Controller: Liz Merchant, operating CEREL.ONLINE
Email: info@cerel.online
Post: CEREL.ONLINE, 8 Dighton Road, London SW18 1AN, United Kingdom