The CIPLE exam: a complete guide to the A2 Portuguese test

Updated

Short answer: CIPLE is the official A2 exam in European Portuguese, run by CAPLE at the University of Lisbon. It takes about 2 hours and has three parts: reading and writing (45%), listening (30%) and speaking (25%). The fee is €95 and you pass with 55%. You register online at an exam centre up to 21 days before the exam.

If you live in Portugal and need to prove your Portuguese, sooner or later someone will mention CIPLE. Maybe you need it for permanent residence, maybe for a nationality application, maybe just as a goal for yourself. This guide explains what the exam is, how it works, what it costs, how to register and what happens on the day. Each fact links to the official source. Rules change, so check the date at the top of the page and the sources at the end.

What is CIPLE?

The name is short for Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira, which roughly means "initial certificate of Portuguese as a foreign language". It's one of the exams of CAPLE (Centro de Avaliação de Português Língua Estrangeira), the Portuguese assessment centre of the University of Lisbon. CIPLE corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the CEFR (CAPLE).

At A2 you can understand sentences and common expressions about everyday things such as your family, shopping, your area and work. You can also handle simple, routine exchanges and describe your background and immediate needs in simple terms (Council of Europe).

The exam is in European Portuguese, the Portuguese spoken in Portugal.

Who takes CIPLE, and what for

Permanent residence. To get an autorização de residência permanente you need at least 5 years on a temporary residence permit and proof of basic Portuguese. A certificate from a test at CAPLE is one of the documents AIMA accepts (AIMA). Our guide Portuguese for permanent residence lists all the options.

Portuguese nationality. Since 19 May 2026, people applying for nationality by naturalisation must show, "through a test or a certificate", that they know enough of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, art. 6.º). The same law gave the Government 90 days to update the Nationality Regulation. As of 8 October 2026 we could not find the updated regulation in the Diário da República, so it is not yet clear which tests or certificates will count under the new rules. Under the previous regulation, a CAPLE certificate at A2 level was accepted as proof of Portuguese (Regulamento da Nacionalidade, art. 25.º). If you are applying for nationality, check with IRN before you book the exam.

Work, study or your own goals. A recognised certificate is also useful for job applications, or simply as proof of progress.

The regular CAPLE exams are for candidates aged 16 or over. There is a school version, CIPLE-e, for ages 12 to 15 (CAPLE FAQ).

The exam format

The whole exam lasts about two hours, and you get a 15-minute pause partway through. This is how CAPLE splits the time and the marks (CAPLE).

Part Portuguese name Time Weight
Reading and writing Compreensão da Leitura e Produção e Interação Escritas 1 h 15 min 45%
Listening Compreensão do Oral 30 min 30%
Speaking Produção e Interação Orais about 15 min per pair of candidates 25%

At national sessions in Portugal the day starts early, with the written paper at 9:00 and listening at 10:30. Speaking runs on its own schedule, and your centre tells you when it's your turn (CAPLE).

Reading and writing (45%). This part tests how well you understand written texts and how well you write and reply in writing. Write your answers in blue or black pen on the official sheets: anything in pencil or on draft paper is not marked (CAPLE rules).

Listening (30%). This part tests how well you understand spoken Portuguese. If you arrive late for it, you can't take it (CAPLE rules).

Speaking (25%). You go in with another candidate, and the two of you have about 15 minutes (CAPLE). Don't be thrown by the camera: the speaking test is always filmed (CAPLE rules).

Scoring: what you need to pass

You get a percentage, and you pass with 55% or more (CAPLE).

Result Score
Muito Bom (very good) 85–100%
Bom (good) 70–84%
Suficiente (pass) 55–69%
Insuficiente (fail) below 55%

The certificate also shows your percentage for each skill (CAPLE FAQ).

Dates and where to take it

CIPLE takes place in the international exam seasons of May, July and November. In Portugal there are extra national dates as well, called CIPLE-P (CAPLE, FAQ).

The exams are run by approved centres called LAPE: universities, schools and language centres in Portugal and abroad. Each centre decides which exams it offers in each season and how many places it has (CAPLE FAQ).

Places are limited, so register early.

How much does CIPLE cost?

The exam fee is €95 (CAPLE). It is not refunded if you withdraw or don't show up (CAPLE FAQ).

CAPLE also lists some optional extras: an urgent certificate (€30), a second copy (€25) and delivery of the certificate (€25) (CAPLE).

How to register

  1. Choose when and where. Dates are in the calendar; the list of centres shows where you can sit the exam.
  2. Register online on the CAPLE platform. Registration is open all year, up to 21 days before the exam date. You only see exams that still have places at the centre you chose (CAPLE FAQ).
  3. Pay within 24 hours, by Multibanco (in Portugal) or credit card. If you don't pay in time, the registration is cancelled (CAPLE FAQ).
  4. You receive a confirmation email.

You can take one exam per season, and you don't have to pass A1 first. If you have special needs, for example dyslexia, tell the centre when you register: adjustments such as extra time may be possible (CAPLE FAQ).

On the day

From the CAPLE rules:

  • Bring the original ID document you registered with: citizen card, passport or residence permit.
  • Get there 20 minutes before the start. Lateness is treated strictly: arrive more than 15 minutes late for reading and writing, and you lose that part, and for listening there is no late entry at all.
  • Pens: blue or black only. Pencils and erasers are allowed, and scrap paper is on the centre, so leave your notebook at home: notes aren't allowed in the room anyway.
  • Phones and any other electronic devices, dictionaries, books, notes and correction fluid or tape are not allowed. Using a phone can cancel your exam.
  • One rule catches people out: don't put your name, or anything else that could identify you, on the test papers.

If you miss the whole exam for reasons beyond your control, you can ask in writing, within 5 working days, to move to the next season. This is possible once (CAPLE rules).

Results and your certificate

  • Results go online on the CAPLE website. Keep your candidate code handy, because you'll need it to see yours (CAPLE FAQ).
  • You can ask for a review through your centre within 5 working days of the results. CAPLE replies within 25 working days (CAPLE rules).
  • If you pass, you get a certificate. You collect it at your exam centre 15 to 20 working days after the results come out (CAPLE FAQ).
  • CAPLE does not give an expiry date for its certificates (CAPLE FAQ). Whether an older certificate is accepted is up to the office that receives it.

How long does it take to prepare?

It depends on your starting point and on how much time you can give it each week, so be wary of anyone who promises a fixed number of weeks. The free level test takes 3 minutes and shows where you are today, which is the best place to start planning.

How to prepare for CIPLE

  1. Learn European Portuguese. Pronunciation, vocabulary and some grammar differ from Brazilian Portuguese, and the exam is in European Portuguese.
  2. Time yourself. At home it's easy to take forever over a reading text. On the day you get 1 h 15 min for reading plus writing and half an hour for listening, so practise with a timer.
  3. Write by hand. The exam is on paper and in pen, so practise short texts on paper too.
  4. Speak out loud every week. Speaking is a quarter of the score, and it is the part people who study alone tend to skip. Introduce yourself, describe your day, ask and answer simple questions.
  5. Use daily life in Portugal. Signs, forms, menus and announcements on the metro are good reading and listening practice.
  6. Book early. Places at popular centres fill up, so pick your date first and plan your study backwards from it.

How OneGrade can help

We built OneGrade for people in exactly this situation: living in Portugal, needing A2, and wanting the grammar explained in English. The course goes from zero to A2 in five modules. Tests are marked automatically, and a teacher checks your CIPLE-style writing and speaking tasks. If you want more speaking practice, add live lessons in a group of up to five or one-to-one. We'll get you ready for the level; passing the exam is up to you on the day. See the plans and prices or start with the free level test.

CIPLE at a glance

| Level | A2 (CEFR) | | Run by | CAPLE, University of Lisbon | | Parts | Reading and writing (45%), listening (30%), speaking (25%) | | Length | about 2 hours, plus a 15-minute break | | Pass mark | 55% | | Fee | €95, not refundable | | When | May, July, November, plus extra national dates in Portugal | | Registration | online, up to 21 days before the exam; pay within 24 hours | | Certificate | at your centre 15–20 working days after the results |

This guide explains the official rules in plain English. It is not legal advice. Always check the CAPLE website and the office you are applying to before you book.

Official sources