Hello everyone! I recently took the CIPLE exam, and I wanted to share my journey and some tips for anyone preparing for it. I hope this helps!
Why I Took the CIPLE Exam
I prepared for CIPLE because I have a Portugal Golden Visa, and I’ll eventually need to pass this exam for citizenship. Although I still have time before I can apply, I decided to take the test early so I’d have time to retake it if needed.
Where I’m From
I live in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, but I’ve been to Portugal several times to meet the residency requirements (14 days per 2 years) and handle visa-related tasks.
My Study Structure
- Starting A1: I began with an e-learning course from the Camoes Institute in November 2023. Although I initially completed only 6 out of 12 lessons due to work priorities, I returned to finish the course in May 2024.
- A2 Level Course: Right after, I completed the A2 course from the Camoes Institute in 45 days, studying more intensively this time.
- Exam Preparation: To get familiar with the exam structure, I searched for videos on YouTube and other resources like Practice Portuguese.
- Listening Practice: I used Practice Portuguese and some news websites to improve my listening comprehension.
- Writing Practice:ChatGPT helped me work on writing skills and expand my vocabulary for the exam.
- Speaking Practice: I took 3 intensive lessons with a tutor on Italki, which really boosted my speaking confidence.
- Mock Exams: About two weeks before the exam, I focused on mock exams to sharpen my test-taking skills.
- Summaries: I created summaries for each exam section with help from ChatGPT and my tutor, which helped me memorize key points.
Exam Experience
Location: I took the exam in Padua, Italy, since I couldn’t find an open slot in Ankara or Portugal. Luckily, I loved Padua, and the exam location and examiners were all fantastic!
Speaking Part: Scheduled for 10:30 am, I arrived 45 minutes early. A friendly Brazilian administrator welcomed me and checked my ID. I was paired with a Russian lady for the speaking part, who was living in Portugal and seemed at ease speaking Portuguese. I, on the other hand, was a bit nervous!
In the first part, the examiner asked us questions like our names, ages, and descriptions of our homes and hobbies. I was nervous but well-prepared, so I felt confident in my answers.
The second part involved describing a family photo (mother, two sons, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter) having lunch. They gave me one minute to jot down notes. I described everyone except the granddaughter (oops!). The examiner prompted me, but I couldn’t recall it under pressure.
In the final part, we were shown pictures of five professions (doctor, teacher, firefighter, driver, chef) and asked to describe them, then choose one and explain why. I felt familiar with these professions and was able to engage well in this part. Overall, the examiners were very kind and made an effort to keep us calm.
Reading/Writing/Listening: In the afternoon, we moved to a nearby location for the other parts. The exam started exactly at 3:00 pm. The format was similar to the mock exams I’d practiced, with the listening part being the hardest. I guessed most of the answers—fingers crossed!
The results will be published on January 9, 2025. Here’s hoping I passed!
If anyone has questions or needs advice, feel free to reach out. Good luck to everyone preparing!
“ Obrigado por todos os tipos e explicações. Vão tornar o aprendizado de Português muito mais fácil para mim!”