CAPLE - Portuguese

The CAPLE, Centre for Evaluation of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (Centro de Avaliação de Português Língua Estrangeira) has developed the certification of Portuguese as a foreign language (PLE). The 5 different certificates are issued by the Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon, and more specifically, by the Department of Portuguese Language and Culture (DPCL).

For each CAPLE exam (CIPLE, DEPLE, DIPLE, DAPLE and DUPLE), the results are attested according to 3 different levels, as follows:

- Muito Bom (very well) for students who scored a result between 85% and 100%,
- Bom (well) for scores between 70% and 84%
- and the passing grade of Sufficiente (sufficient), which corresponds to a score between 55% and 69%.

CIPLE
It is the initial certificate of Portuguese as a foreign language. It assesses a basic knowledge of the language and attests the ability of the candidate to use it in simple situations of everyday life. It is equivalent to level A2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
» Written comprehension and production: 1 hour and 15 minutes
» Oral comprehension: 30 minutes
» Oral production: between 10 and 15 minutes (in groups of two)

DEPLE
This certificate attests an elementary knowledge of the Portuguese language and corresponds to level B1 of the European Framework (CEFR).
» Written comprehension: 30 minutes
» Written production: 1 hour
» Oral comprehension: 40 minutes
» Oral production: 20 minutes (in groups of two)

DIPLE
This certificate attests an intermediate knowledge of the Portuguese language. It is equivalent to level B2 of the European Framework (CEFR).
» Written comprehension: 45 minutes
» Written production: 1 hour and 15 minutes
» Structure: 45 minutes
» Oral comprehension: 40 minutes
» Written production: 20 minutes (in groups of two)

DAPLE
This certificate attests an advanced level of the Portuguese language, corresponding to level C1 of the European Framework (CEFR).
» Written comprehension: 1 hour
» Written production: 1 hour and 30 minutes
» Structure: 1 hour
» Oral comprehension: 40 minutes
» Oral production: 20 minutes

DUPLE
University certificate of Portuguese as a foreign language. It is equivalent to level C2, the highest in the scale of the European Framework (CEFR).
» Written comprehension: 1 hour and 15 minutes
» Written production: 1 hour and 45 minutes
» Structure: 1 hour and 15 minutes
» Oral comprehension: 40 minutes
» Oral production: 20 minutes (in groups of two)