CIPLE Exam, Anyone?

The Café Learning Strategies & Motivation
123

@mcguirejajm There is a sample test in that book and audio files. The book covers 3 different tests, so your test is just a part of the book.

However, if you go to the publishers website, Lidel.pt, there is a sample you can download and those free pages cover most of the material for the CIPLE. Also the audios are downloadable as well on the publishers site. This gives you a good idea if the book is right for you. I did not buy it myself because I thought it was too expensive and I thought it only included a sample test. My decision was made based on looking at the downloadable sample from the website.

126

Ola ~ I took the CIPLE Exam on November 10, 2022, in Toronto, at the Consulate of Portugal. I thought I would share my experience.

Let me begin by saying I had zero expectations of passing the exam as I have only been studying for 4 months. I decided to take it for practice and to see for myself what is expected. There are only 4 places in the US where the exam can be taken. One place is Washington, DC and I live just 11 miles from DC, but could not get a seat for the exam, so I drove to Toronto. I was surprised to see only 4 people taking the exam in Toronto and 3 of us were from the US. There may have been a couple of no-shows as the room was set for 6 people, but I still found that to be a surprisingly low number. Once seated the examiner checked all of our I.D.'s We were given pencils and several sheets of blank paper for note taking.

We were escorted in at 3:00 in the afternoon. The examiner was friendly, organized and gave initial instructions in English. The first section was the reading and writing. If you’ve completed a sample test (found on the CAPLE website) the format is the same. However, the amount of content was way more than I expected. If I remember correctly there were 5 (maybe 6) full pages of content with multiple choice answers and match column A to B, etc. The last page was to write a 25 word text, and an 80-word email. I think anyone would find it difficult to complete all of it in 75 minutes. There was so much content to read, translate, process multiple choice answers, etc., so time management is a real consideration.

By the way, there was no clock in the exam room so I was glad to have my watch.

We took a quick restroom break and then went forward with the audio portion. The audio was played to the room as a whole, on speakers. There was a total of 15 multiple choice answers for the first set of recordings. It’s really hard to focus on the recording, and to translate the multiple choice answers at the same time. Next there were 10 recorded phrases. For the phrases there were 10 sentences marked A, B, C. etc., After hearing each phrase you had to read each of the sentences and match it to the phrase that you heard. Again, challenging at best. This section was 30 minutes and I cannot emphasize how fast it goes.

After another quick break, two of us were excused from the room while a different examiner spoke with the other two exam-takers. Then it was our turn. She asked us simple questions such as what is your name, how old are you, where do you live, where do you work. Then, she gave my partner a picture (two men and a boy sitting at a desk) and gave him 2 minutes to study it and then he was supposed to spend 2 minutes telling me about the picture. Next, she did the same for me, but of course a different picture (man and woman shopping for groceries). Then she gave us a picture and we each had to assume the role of one of the people in the picture and have a conversation. Our picture was a couple buying train tickets from a ticket clerk. In total this took exactly 15 minutes.

I was at the consulate from 2:40 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. I knew I wasn’t prepared enough to take the exam, but as I mentioned I wanted a practice round. It proved to be very helpful because I now know what to expect when I take the exam in May. Hopefully, in Washington, DC.

While my conversation partner and I were waiting for our turn, we agreed the amount of content was so much more than expected. And, we agreed it was more on a level of A2 - B1. This was not beginning Portuguese proficiency.

I have been on Practice Portuguese for 4 months and I work with a fluent Portuguese tutor. My biggest take away from the practice exam is how fast the time goes, so I know I need to step up my ability to read/translate. I have ordered 3 books of short stories written in European Portuguese with practice exercises, translations, etc., I need something more challenging to read. I plan to work with my tutor primarily on speaking sentences, not just words. And, listen, listen, listen!

I hope this helps. Boa Sorte!
Patti

7 Likes
127

The book has two CIPLE tests, with transcripts for the listening comprehension sections. I found them to be pretty useful. I did most of the Practice Portuguese shorties at the A1 and A2 level, those were very useful as well, well worth the membership. In addition to the official sample test (https://caple.letras.ulisboa.pt/exame/2/ciple) there is also this older one with no oral section or the answer key (https://www.ualg.pt/sites/ualg.pt/files/seccoes/climt/modelo_exame_ciple.pdf).
Bear in mind that your experience taking the listening section in the actual exam will be a little harder because you will likely be sitting in a big room and not in front of your computer speakers. Don’t give up if the first part feels difficult, the second part is much easier, they read all ten samples in a row once, with some time in between them, and then they read them all again so you get a chance to correct and switch your answers. Finally, you may read online that it will take them two weeks to grade the exam. I think this is probably how it used to be years ago, it’s closer to two months now (fall of 2022), with official certificates available two weeks after the results are published.

3 Likes
128

Obrigada, this was very helpful. My guess is you are getting your results about now. How did it go?

I’ll be failing it for the first time in May in DC. :slight_smile: Toronto is a good tip. Perhaps I can try my second attempt there.

129

Ola ~ It went as expected, I failed, but not as badly as I thought I would. More importantly, I learned so much about the exam itself. I am taking the exam again in May, in DC so it seems we’ll both be there. Boa Sorte!

1 Like
130

Patti, I am scheduled to take the exam in Toronto in May of 23. You mention it is given at the consulate. Dumb Question, is this the consulate on University Street. I believe the consulate is on the 14th floor. I will be flying in to take the exam and want to book a hotel within easy walking distance of the exam site (do you have any recommendations?).

131

Ola Castro ~ Sorry for the delay in responding, there was a glitch with my account. Yes, the consulate is on University Street, 14th floor. When you enter the lobby, there is a guard who will give you access to the elevator, to the 14th floor. It’s easy. It’s a very nice office and staff.

We stayed at the Hilton Toronto at 145 Richmond Street W. It was a very easy walk, maybe 10 minutes. The hotel has a large lobby with sofas, bar, etc., After we checked out my husband was able to wait in the lobby while I took the exam, we left Toronto that evening.

Boa Sorte ~

Patti

132

Ah, I look forward to failing it for the first time. You are out ahead of me. :slight_smile:

Perhaps we could have an in-person meeting in DC on the 14th for those taking the exam on the 15th? This might not be many people. (N.B. I’ll be masked.)

Congratulations on having the first attempt behind you, and all the very best of luck on your next time!

133

Hello Portugal ~ According to the CAPLE website, the exam is on Thursday, May 18, not the 15th as you mentioned.

I won’t be in DC before the exam, but I’ll look forward to saying hello at the consulate. I’ll be the woman with the gray hair. Ha! Ha!

Thank you for the well-wishes. Who knows, you just may pass it on the first attempt.

Boa Sorte ~
Patti

134

Uau!!! Sim, é verdade:

Data do exame : 2023-05-18

I was this close >.< to booking a place to stay for the wrong date. I have it up in a window to hit “confirm” and checked in here first for some reason. Muito obrigada, Patti!

The Practice Portuguese “Café” is a true one stop shop :rofl:

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

1 Like
135

You’re very welcome. See you on the 18th.

136

To those who are studying for the CIPLE exam. I took the exam in May 2023, in Washington, DC. I scored a 52.5%, heartbreakingly close to passing. So close that I decided to pay the 25 euros to have it reassessed for verification of the result. My exam was assessed by a different team of evaluators and my score was adjusted to 55%, sufficient for passing. It took 7 weeks to get the result, but well-worth the wait for the outcome. As the saying goes, never give up! Boa Sorte!

3 Likes