CIPLE (A2)

What is the CIPLE Exam?

The CIPLE (Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira or Initial Certificate of Portuguese as a Foreign Language) corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the European Council.

CIPLE attests to a basic general ability to interact in a limited number of predictable everyday situations of communication. It is also expected that in professional and educational settings, CIPLE speakers will be able to interact in situations of communication that require the usage of very limited Portuguese, which doesn’t differentiate from the general usage of the language.

What do you need the CIPLE Exam for?

The CIPLE Exam, as a certificate of proficiency in Portuguese language, is one of the requirements to get the Portuguese citizenship. This simple A2 Portuguese test ensures that those who become a Portuguese national have a basic understanding of the language. Everyone who’s eligible for the Portuguese nationality will need to take the CIPLE exam.

What is the structure of the CIPLE Exam?

The CIPLE exam has three components: Reading and Written Production, Listening and Oral Production and Interaction.

What do you find on the Reading and Written Production and Interaction section?

In the first section, you will be asked to read warning signs posted on public spaces and short texts. There are items of multiple-choice, correspondence and true or false.

In the second section, you are required to write a short message and to write a letter.

What can Portuguese speakers do at this level regarding the Reading and Written Production and Interaction component?

Portuguese speakers at this level can:

• understand simple information/instructions mentioned in warning signs posted on the side of the streets/roads and public service spaces.
• read timetables, for example, of public transport, of office hours of services.
• understand simple information concerning orientation and movement in space.
• understand basic information/instructions concerning housing.
• identify the general components of a menu.
• understand basic indications for the taking of medication, namely for what they’re for (headaches/ sore throats) and dosage (to take after meals).
• understand general information on exhibited products.
• understand notes/memo messages, postcards.
• identify the sections of newspapers/magazines, like, for example, sports, and classified ads.
• understand the basic information of a news article, classified ads and simple captions of a newspaper.
• fill out forms regarding personal information, for example, checking in at a hotel, opening a bank account or registering with a service provider.
• write informal texts like, for example, a postcard or a letter with a simple message on personal matters.
• write short messages or make simple requests to colleagues about routine matters

What do you find on the Listening section?

In this section you will be asked to listen to informal speeches, which is typical of communication in public, professional settings, or educational domains. There are items of multiple-choice, correspondence, true or false.

What can Portuguese speakers do at this level regarding the Listening component?

Portuguese speakers at this level can:

• understand simple social remarks (namely, greeting, thanking, asking for something/giving information about someone, congratulating, toast, expressing wishes).
• understand general information on personal identification and characterisation (family relations, professional ones, studies, hobbies).
• understand routine questions/instructions at border posts.
• understand simple information concerning orientation and movement in space.
• understand simple instructions concerning times and dates.
• understand predictable basic information about a place to be visited.
• understand simple instructions on renting (price, very general conditions) and running a room or a house (meal times, kitchen use, etc.).
• understand simple information concerning food.
• understand simple questions and instructions related to health.
• understand basic information/instructions at post offices and banks.
• understand invitations made in very simple ways.
• understand information and opinions, given in a simple way, about recent events.
• understand automated telephone messages.

What do you find on the Oral Production and Interaction section?

This component takes place, whenever possible, with two candidates at the same time. In the first section, there will be an interaction between the examiner and the candidates on personal identification. Then, you will simulate communication situations in public or personal domains. And in the last section, there will be an Interaction between the examiner and candidates on a topic relating to current events.

What can Portuguese speakers do at this level regarding the Oral Production and Interaction component?

Portuguese speakers at this level can:

• take part in simple communicative exchanges, generating social relations: greeting, thanking, asking/giving information about someone, congratulating, toasting, expressing wishes.
• give general information regarding identification and characterisation: family and professional relations, studies, hobbies, the sphere of interest.
• answer routine questions/to instructions at border posts by providing the required information.
• request information/instructions, in a simple manner, on directions and movement within walking distance or using public transport.
• book (face-to-face) a room at a hotel or equivalent space, ask simple factual questions about accommodation and make simple remarks/complaints about the service.
• ask for products on display in shops and simple information about them.
• call the waiter appropriately and order a meal at a restaurant, if the dishes are on display or if there are any illustrations of them. Ask simple questions about the menu.
• make simple complaints/observations, for example, about food, accommodation, etc.
• ask for information and make simple requests at the post office or bank.
• give basic information about a health problem.
• ask for help in emergency situations.
• in a tourist situation, ask for simple information related to a place, a monument…
• participate in a simple conversation, in an informal situation, about personal experiences, the sphere of interest, current events, and expressing opinions and feelings.

How much time do you have for each section?

Reading and Written Production and Interaction: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Listening: 30 minutes

Oral Production and Interaction: 15 minutes

How is the CIPLE scored?

The Reading and Written Production and Interaction section is worth 45% of the exam’s total grade.

The Listening section is worth 30% of the exam’s total grade.

The Oral Production and Interaction is worth 25% of the exam’s total grade.

What is the final score?

If you score between 85% and 100%, you will get a “Very Good”.

Who scores between 70% and 84%, is given a “Good”.

And the grade “Sufficient” is given to the candidates who scores between 55% and 69%.