Text Genres
CELPE-BRAS Generos Textuais: All 13 Text Genres Explained
The CELPE-BRAS exam requires you to write in specific text genres (generos textuais). Understanding each genre's structure, register, and communicative purpose is essential for scoring well. This guide covers all 13 genres that appear across CELPE-BRAS editions.
Why Genres Matter in CELPE-BRAS
In CELPE-BRAS, you are not simply asked to 'write about a topic.' Each task specifies a genre — a letter, an article, a proposal, a poster — and your response must follow the conventions of that genre. A well-written text that uses the wrong genre will score poorly, even if the content is excellent and the grammar is perfect.
Genre control is one of the four official evaluation criteria. Examiners assess whether your text looks, sounds, and functions like the genre requested. This means you need to know the typical structure, appropriate register (formal/informal), opening and closing conventions, and the communicative purpose of each genre before exam day.
Overview of All 13 Genres
Below is each genre with a description, when it typically appears in the exam, and the expected register. Study each one and practice writing in every genre at least once before the exam.
Carta (Letter)
A formal or semi-formal letter addressed to a specific recipient. Used for requests, complaints, recommendations, or formal communication. Must include proper greeting, body paragraphs, and a closing with the sender's name. The register depends on the recipient — a letter to a government official is more formal than one to a school director.
Artigo (Article)
An informational or analytical text published in a newspaper, magazine, or website. Presents facts, analysis, and may include the author's perspective. Requires a clear title, introduction with context, development with evidence, and a conclusion. Targets a general readership.
Electronic correspondence with a subject line, greeting, body, and signature. More concise than a letter but maintains appropriate formality based on the recipient. Common in workplace scenarios, requests for information, or responding to announcements. Must include a clear subject line and purpose.
Resumo (Summary)
A concise summary of information from one or more source texts. Must capture the main ideas without adding personal opinion. Requires paraphrasing skills rather than copying from the source. The challenge is selecting what is essential and presenting it in a coherent, condensed form.
Relato (Account/Report)
A personal or journalistic account of an experience, event, or situation. Can be written in first person (personal experience) or third person (journalistic report). Must include specific details, chronological or logical organization, and contextual information. Often triggered by personal or social situations.
Cronica (Chronicle)
A short literary text based on everyday observations or current events, written in a reflective, often humorous or critical tone. Common in Brazilian newspapers. Combines personal narrative with social commentary. More subjective and literary than a standard article. Requires a distinctive authorial voice.
Carta Aberta (Open Letter)
A public letter addressed to a person, institution, or community, intended for wide readership. Used to make demands, express collective positions, or raise public awareness about an issue. Combines the format of a letter with the persuasive purpose of an opinion text. Often written on behalf of a group.
Artigo de Opiniao (Opinion Article)
An argumentative text that presents and defends a clear position on a controversial or debatable topic. Must include a thesis, supporting arguments, consideration of counterarguments, and a conclusion. Distinguished from a regular article by its explicitly persuasive purpose and first-person positioning.
Proposta (Proposal)
A structured document proposing a solution, project, or action plan to address a specific problem. Must include problem identification, proposed solution, implementation steps, expected outcomes, and sometimes a budget or timeline. Written for a decision-maker who has the authority to approve the proposal.
Panfleto (Flyer/Pamphlet)
A short, visually oriented text designed to inform or persuade a specific audience about an event, service, or cause. Uses concise language, bullet points, and a clear call to action. Must consider layout and visual hierarchy even in a text-only format. The communicative purpose is immediate and practical.
Cartaz (Poster)
A promotional or informational poster with a clear visual message. Uses headlines, short text blocks, and a call to action. Similar to a panfleto but more focused on visual impact and a single key message. Must convey the essential information at a glance — event details, campaign message, or service announcement.
Propaganda (Advertisement)
A persuasive text promoting a product, service, event, or cause. Uses attention-grabbing language, slogans, and emotional appeals. Must target a specific audience and include a clear call to action. Can be commercial (selling a product) or institutional (promoting a cause or behavior change).
Relatorio (Report)
A formal document presenting data, findings, or analysis on a specific topic or project. Requires clear organization with sections, objective language, and evidence-based conclusions. Often includes an introduction stating the purpose, a methodology or data section, findings, and recommendations.
How to Master All 13 Genres
With 13 genres to learn, you need a strategic approach. Here are the most effective ways to build genre competence:
- Start with the 5 most common genres: carta, artigo de opiniao, email, relato, and proposta. These appear in the majority of CELPE-BRAS editions and cover the broadest range of tasks.
- Read authentic examples of each genre in Brazilian Portuguese. Look at real letters in newspapers, opinion articles in Folha de S.Paulo, and official proposals on government websites. Pay attention to structure, not just content.
- Practice writing each genre at least twice. Use the writing practice on celpebras.study to get AI feedback specifically on genre control and register appropriateness.
- Create a cheat sheet for each genre listing: opening phrase, typical structure, closing phrase, and register level. Review this sheet regularly until the conventions become automatic.
- Pay special attention to register shifts. The biggest genre-related mistake is using informal language in a formal genre or vice versa. If the task asks for a 'carta ao prefeito,' your register must be formal throughout.
Related Guides
Written by: CELPE-BRAS Practice Editorial Team — Portuguese language education specialists with experience in CELPE-BRAS exam preparation and curriculum development.
Based on analysis of official CELPE-BRAS exam tasks from multiple editions and INEP evaluation criteria documentation.
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