What is in the CIPLE A2 exam, part by part?
Short answer: CIPLE tests four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in three papers: Reading + Writing (1h15, 45%), Listening (30 minutes, 30%) and Speaking (15 minutes per pair, 25%). You need 55% overall to pass, and CAPLE's own page says both '4 components' and 'three components', so check how your exam centre describes it.
Knowing what you'll face on the day takes a lot of the guesswork out of preparation. This article covers what each part contains, how long it takes and how it is marked, based on what CAPLE publishes.
CIPLE is the A2 level of the Council of Europe's CEFR. CAPLE says it certifies a basic general ability to interact in a limited number of predictable everyday situations (CAPLE). By the end, you'll know what the papers look like and where to find practice material.
Is it four parts or three?
You'll see both numbers, so here's the short version. CAPLE's summary box says the exam has 4 components, lasts about 2 hours plus one 15-minute break, and costs €95 (CAPLE). But the text on the same page says the components are three: Reading and Writing together, then Listening, then Speaking (CAPLE).
The simplest way to see it is as four skills inside three papers. The paper names cover reading, writing, listening and speaking. CAPLE does not explain the difference between '4' and 'three' on the page, so treat the paper list below as the working structure and check your exam centre's instructions if you need certainty.
| Paper | Skills | Time | Share of total mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading and writing | 1h15 | 45% |
| 2 | Listening | 30 minutes | 30% |
| 3 | Speaking | 15 minutes with each pair of candidates | 25% |
The three weights add up to 100% (CAPLE).
Paper 1: reading and writing (1h15, 45%)
Paper 1 is the longest, and it carries the biggest share of your mark. You get 1h15 for it, and it counts for 45% of the total (CAPLE). It is split into two parts.
- Part I, reading. You read public notices and short texts. The questions are multiple-choice and simple matching (CAPLE).
- Part II, writing. You write two short texts on topics suited to the level (CAPLE).
CAPLE also lists the kind of skills behind these tasks. They include understanding notes, postcards, ads and medicine instructions, filling in forms such as a hotel or bank form, and writing a simple postcard or letter (CAPLE). Think of the paperwork you already meet at the pharmacy, the bank or a hotel desk.
There is one gap here. CAPLE gives a single 45% weight to the whole paper, without saying how much of it is reading and how much is writing. I also found no published number of items or tasks per part.
Paper 2: listening (30 minutes, 30%)
The listening paper lasts 30 minutes and is worth 30% of the total (CAPLE). You hear texts in an informal register, from public, professional or educational situations. All the questions are multiple-choice (CAPLE).
If you want to hear the real format before exam day, CAPLE has put an audio file for the listening paper online (CAPLE).
Paper 3: speaking (15 minutes per pair, 25%)
Speaking is usually held with two candidates at a time, where the centre can manage it (CAPLE). Each pair gets 15 minutes, and the paper is worth 25% (CAPLE). The test has three parts:
- Personal identification. The examiner talks with the candidates about who they are.
- Role-play. You act out everyday situations from public or personal life.
- A topical subject. You talk with the examiner about a subject linked to current events.
The three parts above come straight from CAPLE's description (CAPLE). Since you may sit the test with another candidate, listen to your partner and respond to them, not just wait for your turn to speak.
How is the exam marked?
The pass scale starts at 55% and goes up to 100% (CAPLE). Your final grade falls into one of these bands (CAPLE):
| Grade | Score |
|---|---|
| Muito Bom (very good) | 85–100% |
| Bom (good) | 70–84% |
| Suficiente (sufficient) | 55–69% |
| Insuficiente (fail) | below 55% |
Your result shows partial percentages for each language activity, plus the overall grade. The grade appears on the CAPLE website, on the certificate, and on the Comunicação de Resultados (results notice) for those who fail (CAPLE FAQ). For what happens after the result, see our guide to CIPLE results and the certificate.
Two things are not stated on the pages I read. There is no published minimum score per paper, so I can't tell you whether a weak paper can be balanced by strong ones. And the CIPLE page does not say who marks each part. If either matters to you, ask CAPLE or your exam centre.
What does exam day look like?
CAPLE's published schedule for national sessions puts the written paper at 09:00 and listening at 10:30. The speaking time is set by the exam centre. International sessions run in the afternoon: written at 15:00 and listening at 16:30 (CAPLE). The Faculdade de Letras exam centre page gives a slightly different listening time of 10:45 (ICLP), so rely on the convocation (notice) from your own centre.
The three papers add up to exactly two hours (75 + 30 + 15 minutes). Speaking, though, is booked separately for each pair, so the time you spend at the centre can stretch beyond two hours.
Bring the original ID document (passport, residence permit or other), plus a pencil, an eraser and a pen. That list comes from the Faculdade de Letras centre, not CAPLE's general page (ICLP). For dates, centres and booking, see CIPLE exam dates and centres and how to register for the CIPLE exam.
Common questions
Where can I find a sample paper? CAPLE publishes sample papers on the CIPLE page: the written paper, the listening paper with audio, and an answer key called CIPLE CHAVE (CAPLE).
Do I have to take a preparation course? No. Candidates can prepare in any way they choose, and CAPLE itself does not run preparation courses (CAPLE FAQ). Courses, private lessons and self-study with the sample exams are all possible. Our guide to free PLA Portuguese courses explains one option.
Are there adjustments for dyslexia? For candidates with a confirmed diagnosis, CAPLE recommends that the centre replays each audio track once and allows one third extra time per task in the reading, writing and speaking parts (CAPLE FAQ). Ask your centre early.
Is the school version the same? CAPLE says the school version, CIPLE-e, is for ages 12–15 (CAPLE). I did not check its format separately, so this article describes the regular CIPLE only.
How OneGrade can help
OneGrade is an online course of European Portuguese built around the CIPLE format. It has 5 modules and 10 teacher-checked CIPLE-style tasks. Every plan includes 6 months of access, and there are three plans: Basic, Premium and Exclusive. A course suits you if you want the parts in order and tasks checked by a teacher. If you already have the sample papers and a study partner, self-study can work well too. See the plans or take the level test first. OneGrade does not guarantee that you will pass.
This article explains CAPLE's published exam format in plain English. It is not legal advice, so check the official CAPLE page and your exam centre's notice before you apply.
Official sources
- CIPLE - Centro de Avaliação de Português Língua Estrangeira — CAPLE (Universidade de Lisboa) (checked 28 October 2026)
- Perguntas Frequentes – CAPLE — CAPLE (Universidade de Lisboa) (checked 28 October 2026)
- CIPLE – A2 – Certificado Inicial Português Língua Estrangeira (ICLP, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa) — ICLP / Faculdade de Letras, Universidade de Lisboa (checked 28 October 2026)