Official Catalan language certificates

Catalan universities award certificates in Catalan language to language services students who demonstrate the knowledge required for each level (beginner, basic, elementary, intermediate, proficiency, proficiency for teaching and research, mastery).

We explain which language skills can be achieved at each level.

A2

Basic level

Basic level users (A2) can understand commonly used phrases and expressions and those relevant to the academic world (basic personal information, studies, request for address, purchases, administrative procedures at the university head office, etc.). They can communicate in common and straightforward situations that require a simple and direct exchange on topics of study, residence and the environment in which the user will move. They can give simple descriptions of aspects of their personal experience or background, aspects of the immediate environment and issues related to immediate needs

CIFALC

LPS

B1

Elementary level

Elementary level users (B1) can understand the main concepts of clear information on topics related to university, studies, curriculum, leisure, etc. They can deal with most of the linguistic situations that may arise when travelling to study or work in an area where the target language is spoken. They can produce simple and coherent speech on topics that are familiar or of personal interest to them. They can describe facts and experiences, dreams, hopes and ambitions, and give brief reasons and explanations for opinions and projects.

CIFALC

LPS

B2

Intermediate level

Intermediate level (B2) users can understand the main concepts of complex texts on both specific and abstract topics, including technical discussions in the field of academic specialisation. They can express themselves with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible, without this causing difficulties for either speaker. They can produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of topics, related to the academic field, and express a point of view on an issue, setting out the advantages and disadvantages of different options.

CIFALC

LPS

C1

Proficiency Level

Proficiency level (C1) users can understand a wide range of long and complex texts and grasp their implicit meaning. They can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without having to search for words or expressions in an obvious way. They can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. They can produce clear, well-structured, and detailed texts on complex topics, and demonstrate correct use of organisational structures, connectors, and cohesion mechanisms.

CIFALC

LPS

C2

Mastery level

Mastery level (C2) users can effortlessly understand virtually everything they read or listen to (theses, reports, papers, exams, notes, lectures, oral presentations, etc.). They can summarise information from different oral or written sources (theses, reports, papers, exams, lectures, oral presentations, etc.), reconstruct facts and arguments and present them coherently. They can express themselves spontaneously, fluently and accurately, distinguishing subtle nuances of meaning even in the most complex situations.

CIFALC

LPS

The CIFALC and the LPS

CIFALC and LPS certificates CIFALC and LPS certificates

The Interuniversity Commission for Linguistic Training and Certification of Catalonia (CIFALC) is an interuniversity commission that brings together the language services of the twelve Catalan universities: Autonomous University of Barcelona, University de Barcelona, University of Girona, University of Lleida, Open University of Catalonia, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Pompeu Fabra University, Rovira i Virgili University, University of Vic, Ramon Llull University, International University of Catalonia and Abbot Oliba CEU University. The role of CIFALC is to coordinate these language services with regard to the teaching and learning of Catalan at university.

The Catalan universities hold sittings for the same Catalan language proficiency exams, which they coordinate through CIFALC. The CIFALC certificate system certifies six levels of Catalan language proficiency: beginner (A1), basic (A2), elementary (B1), intermediate (B2), proficiency (C1), proficiency for teaching and research (C1), and mastery (C2), following that established in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), adapted to the university setting. Certification is also offered in a language of specialisation: certificate in Catalan legal language.

The CEFR is an international standard for the development of language programs, curricula, examinations and language learning manuals. It defines the various levels of language competence and, for each level, the skills students must acquire for each area of linguistic competence (listening and reading comprehension, oral interaction, oral expression and written expression).

The official Catalan language certificates issued Catalan universities, within the framework of the CIFALC, are approved by the Language Policy Secretariat, as well as those of the Consortium for Language Standardisation and the Institut Ramon Llull, and correspond to the MECR levels.

For more information on Catalan language certificates, see the websites of the CIFALC and the LPS

To find out if your studies are equivalent to any of the Catalan official certificates, see the LPS list of equivalent qualifications to the official Catalan certificates.

CIFALC LPS
Where can I take Catalan exams if I don’t live in Catalonia?

The Institut Ramon Llull organises regular official examinations in cities around the world to assess candidates’ knowledge of Catalan and issue international certificates. The examinations cover all levels and can be sat by anyone of any nationality who is aged fourteen or over on the date of the test, and who wants official accreditation of their knowledge of the Catalan language without having studied an official course. The tests for obtaining the Institut Ramon Llull Catalan language certificates are open examinations designed to assess candidates’ language skills irrespective of where or how they learned.

The results can be obtained from the Institute’s website after the date published in the examination announcement. Candidates who pass the examination can download the corresponding certificate.

What do I have to do to get a Catalan qualification?

Catalan universities hold common examinations of knowledge of the Catalan language, and for this they are coordinated through the Interuniversity Commission for Linguistic Training and Accreditation of Catalonia (CIFALC). Official Catalan language certificates are awarded to language service apprentices through the calls that allow the accreditation of six levels of linguistic competence in Catalan: Initial A1, Basic A2, Elementary B1, Intermediate B2, Sufficiency C1, Superior C2.

The Language Policy Secretariat (LPS) holds official examinations each year. These are announced in the Official Journal of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC), usually before the end of January. The exams usually take place in May or June and the registration period is at the start of the year. The LPS website contains all the information on these exams.

For more information about language certificates, go to: this link.

If you have studied in Catalonia or have any Catalan qualification, diploma or certificate issued by an official body outside Catalonia, see the LPS’ list of equivalent qualifications to the official Catalan certificates.

The Consortium for Language Standardisation (CPNL) runs officially recognised courses that allow students to obtain a certificate equivalent to that of the Secretariat for Language Policy. The courses lead to the attainment of each level of proficiency in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): Basic A2, Elementary B1, Intermediate B2, Sufficiency C1 and Superior C2. In these courses, total assessment is the sum of the course assessment (and therefore completion of the tasks proposed by the teacher) plus the final mark for the proficiency test.

If you live outside Catalonia you can find where and when official examinations will be held on the website of the Institut Ramon Llull (IRL). The examinations can be sat by anyone of any nationality who is aged fourteen or over on the date of the test, and who wants an official accreditation of their knowledge of the Catalan language without having studied an official course.

Can I take a face-to-face Catalan course at a Catalan university, and obtain an official certificate, without being a student there?

Most Catalan universities offer face-to-face Catalan courses and issue certificates which are equivalent to the official qualifications, even if you are not a student there. Contact the language services of each university for details.

The certificates you will be awarded if you take these courses and pass the official examinations are issued by the Catalan universities and are organised by the Catalan Interuniversity Commission for Language Education and Certification (CIFALC). The university where you take the course and exams will issue the official certificate. These certificates are approved by the Language Policy Secretariat (LPS) of the Government of Catalonia.

Where can I get a qualification in Catalan?

If you have completed the courses and passed one of the examinations approved by CIFALC (the Catalan Interuniversity Commission for Language Education and Certification) held at a Catalan university, you can request a certificate from the university’s language service.

If you have studied in Catalonia or have any Catalan qualification, diploma or certificate issued by an official body outside Catalonia, see the LPS’s list of equivalent qualifications to the official Catalan certificates. This page also gives details of all the requirements (courses taken, teaching centre, period of study, etc.) and where to obtain the official certificate.

If you have taken and passed one of the official examinations held each year by the Language Policy Secretariat, you can collect the certificate from its offices in the city where you sat the test.

If you have completed a Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística (CPNL) course and passed the final examination (Basic 3, Elementary 3, Intermediate 3, Sufficiency 3 or Superior C2), an official certificate will be sent to the e-mail address you provided.

If you live outside Catalonia you can find where and when examinations will be held on the website of the Institut Ramon Llull (IRL). The examinations can be sat by anyone of any nationality who is aged fourteen or over on the date of the test, and who wants an official accreditation of their knowledge of the Catalan language without having studied an official course.

The results can be obtained from the Institute’s website after the date published in the examination announcement. Candidates who pass the examination can download the corresponding certificate.

Where can I find sample papers for the official Catalan examinations?

You can obtain sample papers for the official examinations and details on how to enrol for the exams held by the Language Policy Secretariat, from the Catalan language website.

You can also find sample papers in the certificates section of the website of the Catalan Interuniversity Commission for Language Education and Certification (CIFALC).


The Institut Ramon Llull also publishes sample papers on its website.

If I take an Intercat course, will I obtain an official certificate?

The Intercat courses are online tools to help you learn Catalan easily and at your own pace, but they do not lead automatically to an official qualification.

The Courses and certificates page gives details of all the ways to obtain official certificates of Catalan.  

 

Can I study Catalan on my own and then sit an exam to get an official certificate?

The Language Policy Secretariat (LPS) holds official examinations each year. These are announced in the Official Journal of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC), usually before the end of January. The exams usually take place in May or June and the registration period is at the start of the year. The LPS website contains all the information on these exams.

For more information about language certificates, go to: this link.

If you have studied in Catalonia or have any Catalan qualification, diploma or certificate issued by an official body outside Catalonia, see the LPS’ list of equivalent qualifications to the official Catalan certificates.

The Consortium for Language Standardisation (CPNL) runs officially recognised courses that allow students to obtain a certificate equivalent to that of the Secretariat for Language Policy. The courses lead to the attainment of each level of proficiency in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): Basic A2, Elementary B1, Intermediate B2, Sufficiency C1 and Superior C2. In these courses, total assessment is the sum of the course assessment (and therefore completion of the tasks proposed by the teacher) plus the final mark for the proficiency test.

If you live outside Catalonia you can find where and when official examinations will be held on the website of the Institut Ramon Llull (IRL). The examinations can be sat by anyone of any nationality who is aged fourteen or over on the date of the test, and who wants an official accreditation of their knowledge of the Catalan language without having studied an official course.

How can I find out if I am entitled to a Catalan qualification?

To find out if your studies are equivalent to any of the Catalan official certificates, see the Language Policy Secretariat’s list of equivalent qualifications to the official Catalan certificates