Portuguese exam preparation
Portuguese exam preparation — European and Brazilian.
The first question in Portuguese is not the level. It is which Portuguese: the European system and the Brazilian system are separate examinations with separate criteria, and the choice is usually decided for you by the purpose.
Which route are you on?
European or Brazilian Portuguese?
This genuinely changes the examination, not just the accent. Preparing for the wrong system wastes a term, so we settle it before the first lesson.
- CAPLE
- The certification system of the Universidade de Lisboa's CAPLE, covering European Portuguese from CIPLE at A2 upwards. The route usually relevant to Portuguese nationality and residence purposes.
- Celpe-Bras
- The Brazilian government's certificate of proficiency in Brazilian Portuguese — an integrated-skills examination with a distinctive task-based format, used for study and professional purposes in Brazil.
- School examinations
- Where a UK board or the IB offers Portuguese, it is graded against that specification. Availability differs by board and by year, so we confirm the entry route before planning.
The examinations
Portuguese examinations we prepare candidates for.
European Portuguese — CAPLE
Fixed-level certification in European Portuguese, prepared for against CAPLE's own format.
Which certificate satisfies a nationality or residence requirement is decided by the Portuguese authorities and changes. Confirm the current requirement before you register for a sitting.
- CIPLE
- The level most often named in Portuguese nationality and residence contexts. Short, highly formatted, and failed more often on technique than on Portuguese.
- DEPLE and DIPLE
- Longer production tasks and a considerably heavier reading load.
- DAPLE and DUPLE
- Academic and professional register, extended writing and structured oral defence.
Brazilian Portuguese — Celpe-Bras
The Brazilian proficiency certificate, whose format is unlike any other examination on this page.
Sittings are held periodically at accredited centres. Registration windows are narrow, so plan preparation around the session you can actually enter.
- Celpe-Bras
- Integrated task-based papers rather than discrete skill sections: written tasks responding to authentic source material, and an interview. The level awarded depends on performance rather than being chosen in advance — so preparation is entirely about task technique.
School and academic Portuguese
Where a board offers Portuguese, preparation is built against that specification.
We do not promise a board offers Portuguese in a given series. Bring us the entry the school or centre has confirmed and we prepare against it.
- GCSE and A-Level Portuguese
- Often taken by heritage speakers as an additional language, frequently as a private candidate. Availability differs by board and by year, so we confirm the entry route first.
- IB Portuguese
- Language B and ab initio where the school offers it, including the individual oral.
Preparation
What Portuguese exam preparation actually involves.
Most of our Portuguese candidates are heritage speakers or adults with a specific document to obtain. Both need the same thing: production that is accurate under time, in the variety the examination is set in.
The specialist is matched from our network for that examination and that candidate, with a chemistry call before you commit, a review at week six, and oversight through to the exam date.
- European or Brazilian norms held consistently across the paper
- Task-based practice for Celpe-Bras, with authentic source material
- CAPLE papers practised in full, to the centre's timing
- Written accuracy and register for heritage speakers
- Oral interview rehearsal with structured feedback
- Listening to authentic-speed Portuguese with note-taking technique
Two ways to prepare
Private Portuguese preparation, or a small exam cohort.
One candidate, one paper, one date.
A Portuguese specialist matched from our network for your examination, a programme written around your actual gaps, and scheduling that fits around school or work.
From £89/hr
See the investmentNo Portuguese exam cohort is open yet
Group exam terms run only where enough candidates share the same examination and level — we do not advertise cohorts that are not scheduled. Register your interest and you will hear first when a Portuguese exam term is timetabled.
Who we prepare
Trusted by families, schools and organisations.
Portuguese candidates reach us from two directions: pupils in schools that expect a grade, and professionals whose next step depends on a certificate. Both are prepared by a specialist matched from our network.
Corporate clients
Professionals sitting Portuguese and English tests
Employees at these organisations have prepared with us for language tests, official diplomas and the requirements attached to a move abroad.
Partner schools
Pupils preparing for school examinations
Pupils at these schools have prepared with us for Portuguese language papers, against the board and specification their school actually follows.
Investment
What Portuguese exam preparation costs.
Private preparation is bought as hours, used at the pace the exam date demands. The more hours you commit to, the lower the effective hourly rate — and every plan carries the identical service.
Hours of private exam preparation, delivered online and typically used at one hour a week. All prices include VAT. Face-to-face lessons in London, intensive revision courses and additional hours are quoted individually.
Flexi
4 hours
Month to month
£105/hr£420 in total
Discovery
12 hours
Up to 3 months
£100/hr£1,197 in total
Momentum
24 hours
Up to 6 months
£95/hr£2,268 in total
Mastery
48 hours
Up to 12 months
£89/hr£4,284 in total
Every private plan, whichever you choose, includes
Bespoke programmes — not lesson bundles.
- Exam and board diagnostic
- Specialist matched for that qualification
- Chemistry call before you commit
- Programme dated to the exam
- Marked past-paper practice
- Monthly progress reports
- Week-six review
- Timed mocks in the run-in
£950 for a ten-week term
Per learner, 10 × 90-minute sessions — 15 teaching hours. Including VAT. Maximum six candidates, one exam objective, one level.
Before you book
Portuguese exam preparation — your questions, answered.
- European or Brazilian Portuguese — which should I prepare in?
- Whichever the purpose requires. Nationality and residence matters in Portugal point to the European system; study or work in Brazil points to Celpe-Bras. If both are open to you, tell us the deadline and we will recommend the practical route.
- Is CIPLE the certificate for Portuguese nationality?
- CIPLE is the A2-level CAPLE certificate and is commonly used in that context, but requirements and exemptions are set by the Portuguese authorities and change. Confirm your route's current requirement, then we will prepare you for the paper it names.
- My child speaks Portuguese at home. Can they sit a school examination in it?
- Where a board offers it, yes, and heritage speakers often do very well — after preparation on written accuracy, register and the specific shape the marks reward. Availability differs by board and year, so the entry route is confirmed first.
- Why is Celpe-Bras prepared for differently?
- Because it does not test skills separately. Tasks integrate reading, listening and writing around authentic material, and the level awarded follows from performance. Preparation is therefore almost entirely task technique.
- Is there a group Portuguese exam course?
- Not currently. A structured Portuguese term runs online, and an exam cohort will be scheduled when enough candidates share a level and objective. Register interest and you will hear first.
Ready to work backwards from the exam date?
Schedule a chat with Maria.
Tell us which Portuguese examination, which board or level, and when it is sat. You will get an honest view of the gap and which specialist we would match you with.
Maria Toubbe
- 20 minutes
- A conversation, not a sales call.
- With Maria
- Our founder, every time — not a call centre.
- No obligation
- Advice you can use even if you never book.
20 min · video call · free
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