Overview
CAPLE (Centro de Avaliação de Português Língua Estrangeira) is the assessment centre for Portuguese as a foreign language at the University of Lisbon. It offers certificate exams for each CEFR level from A1 to C2. The exams are for people who do not have Portuguese as their first language and want to prove their Portuguese for educational, professional or other purposes. They are taken at local exam centres (LAPEs), which are chosen when you register.
Levels or stages
| Exam | Full name | CEFR level |
|---|---|---|
| ACESSO | Certificado de Acesso ao Português | A1 |
| CIPLE | Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira | A2 |
| DEPLE | Diploma Elementar de Português Língua Estrangeira | B1 |
| DIPLE | Diploma Intermédio de Português Língua Estrangeira | B2 |
| DAPLE | Diploma Avançado de Português Língua Estrangeira | C1 |
| DUPLE | Diploma Universitário de Português Língua Estrangeira | C2 |
School versions exist for ACESSO, CIPLE, DEPLE and DIPLE, for young people aged 12 to 15. TEJO is a separate progressive test from A1 to B1 for children aged 9 to 11. It is given only at the Lycée Français de Lisbonne under a protocol and costs 50 euros.
Who can apply
Regular exams are open to anyone aged 16 or over who has Portuguese as a foreign language. A candidate can take only one CAPLE exam per exam season.
Exam pattern
Each exam has four components: reading comprehension, written production and interaction, listening comprehension, and spoken production and interaction. The CIPLE page lists three papers: reading and writing together, listening, and speaking. Durations and weightings per exam are below. Speaking is done in pairs of candidates and is video-recorded.
| Exam | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking (per pair) | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACESSO (A1) | 20 min (20%) | 20 min (15%) | 25 min (35%) | 8 to 10 min (30%) | about 1 h 35 min |
| CIPLE (A2) | Reading and writing together: 1 h 15 min (45%) | 30 min (30%) | 15 min (25%) | about 2 h | |
| DEPLE (B1) | 30 min (25%) | 1 h (25%) | 40 min (25%) | 20 min (25%) | about 2 h 30 min |
| DIPLE (B2) | 75 min (25%) | 75 min (25%) | 40 min (25%) | 20 min (25%) | about 3 h 30 min |
| DAPLE (C1) | 90 min (25%) | 90 min (25%) | 40 min (25%) | 25 min (25%) | about 4 h |
| DUPLE (C2) | 120 min (25%) | 105 min (25%) | 40 min (25%) | 25% | about 4 h 50 min |
Total times exclude the breaks between papers, which are 15 minutes each.
Marking and results
On the ACESSO page, CAPLE states that it builds the test and assesses the reading, listening and writing components, while the speaking component is assessed by the exam centres and by CAPLE. Each exam page shows a classification scale of 55% to 100%. The final grade is Muito Bom for 85% to 100%, Bom for 70% to 84% and Suficiente for 55% to 69%. Final results are published on the CAPLE website. You can ask CAPLE, through your LAPE, to re-check the published result within five working days of publication; CAPLE answers within 25 working days and there is no appeal.
Important dates
Exams are held in exam seasons, and each LAPE decides which seasons it runs and how many places it offers per level. The CIPLE page states that international seasons are in May, July and November, and that national seasons are also offered in Portugal. The registration page lists the seasons and exam dates for each centre.
Fees
As listed on the official site in 2026, the fee (propina) on each exam page is:
| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| ACESSO | 60 euros |
| CIPLE | 95 euros |
| DEPLE | 115 euros |
| DIPLE | 135 euros |
| DAPLE | 155 euros |
| DUPLE | 170 euros |
How to apply
Registration and payment are done online only, on the CAPLE website.
Choose the exam and country.
Choose the exam centre (LAPE) and the season.
Fill in your personal and statistical data.
Pay. A credit card with 3D Secure is needed. In Portugal you can also pay by Multibanco reference or MB WAY. If payment is not completed in 24 hours, you must wait 48 hours before trying again.
On exam day, bring the original ID document used to register, and arrive 20 minutes before the start. If you are more than 15 minutes late for the reading and writing papers you cannot take them. Mobile phones, dictionaries and other devices are not allowed. The speaking component is video-recorded.
After the exam
Certificates and diplomas are sent to the LAPE about 21 working days after the final results are published, and you arrange collection with the LAPE. A second copy of a lost certificate costs 25 euros.
If you miss all papers for a reason beyond your control, you can ask within five working days to move your registration to the next season at the same centre, once only.
Preparation tips
Choose the level by your CEFR level, not by the exam you have heard of most.
Note that written answers must be on the CAPLE sheets in blue or black pen, not pencil or draft paper.
Practise speaking in pairs, since the oral component is taken with another candidate.
Can I take two CAPLE exams in one season?
No. A candidate may take only one exam per exam season.
Is there a version for teenagers?
Yes. School versions of ACESSO, CIPLE, DEPLE and DIPLE exist for ages 12 to 15.