Overview
Cymraeg i Oedolion (Welsh for Adults) is the national programme for adults learning Welsh. The National Centre for Learning Welsh is responsible for it, from curriculum and course development to resources for tutors. Courses are delivered by regional providers, in the daytime and evenings, with tutor-led classes (virtual or face to face), online self-study courses, and blended options. The Centre also runs schemes such as Work Welsh, which offers fully funded courses in workplaces.
The Learn Welsh courses are aligned with the CEFR. WJEC also offers examinations, described below.
Levels or stages
Courses are available at five levels: Entry, Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced and Proficiency. WJEC examinations cover the first four.
| Level | WJEC exam | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| Mynediad (Entry) | Yes | A1 |
| Sylfaen (Foundation) | Yes | A2 |
| Canolradd (Intermediate) | Yes | B1 |
| Uwch (Advanced) | Yes | B2 |
| Proficiency | Courses only | Not stated in the pages reviewed |
Exam pattern
The WJEC suite lets candidates show their ability in speaking, listening, reading and writing Welsh at the levels above. Booklets for candidates are published for each level. The pages reviewed do not give the paper timings or marks, so use the booklets for those details.
Who can apply
The exams are open to adults who have learnt Welsh as a second language or are currently learning it, whether in evening or daytime classes, intensive courses or workplace courses. You do not have to be enrolled in a class to sit an exam, and you do not have to have passed the lower-level exams first.
Important dates
For summer 2027, the Learn Welsh site lists these exam dates and registration closing dates.
| Level | Exam date | Registration closes |
|---|---|---|
| A1 Mynediad (January sitting) | 29 January 2027 | 9 December 2026 |
| A1 Mynediad (daytime) | 15 June 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
| A1 Mynediad (evening) | 16 June 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
| B1 Canolradd | 18 June 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
| B2 Uwch | 23 to 24 June 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
| A2 Sylfaen | 25 June 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
Fees
If you study with one of the Learn Welsh course providers, the exams are free. Otherwise you register as a private candidate and pay a fee; the pages reviewed do not state the amount.
How to apply
Register for the 2027 exams through your course provider. Private candidates should contact a provider or the National Centre for details.
Preparation tips
Choose the level that matches your current Welsh; course providers can advise.
Use the candidate booklet for your level to see what each skill involves.
Do I need to take a course before the exam?
No. You do not have to be enrolled in a class, but course learners sit the exams for free.