Exam Guide
CELPE-BRAS Exam Format: How the Exam Is Structured
The CELPE-BRAS exam has a unique format that sets it apart from other language proficiency tests. Instead of multiple-choice questions, it uses integrated, task-based assessments that evaluate your real-world ability to communicate in Brazilian Portuguese. This guide breaks down every part of the exam so you know exactly what to expect.
Exam Overview
The CELPE-BRAS exam consists of two parts administered on separate days. Both parts must reach at least the Intermediário level for you to receive certification. Your final level is determined by the lower score of the two parts.
Written Part
Parte Escrita
3h
3 hours
4
4 integrated tasks
Oral Part
Parte Oral
20m
20 minutes
1:1
Face-to-face interview
Both parts must reach Intermediário level for certification. Final level = lower of the two scores.
Written Part (Parte Escrita) — 3 Hours
The written part is the core of the CELPE-BRAS exam. You complete four tasks in three hours, each based on a different source material. There are no grammar drills, vocabulary lists, or multiple-choice questions — every task requires you to produce an original text in a specific genre.
How Each Task Works
You receive source material — an audio recording, video clip, newspaper article, or infographic
You read the task instructions specifying what to write and for whom
You produce an original text in the required genre within approximately 45 minutes
Audio and video sources are played twice — you take notes while listening/watching
The 4 Written Tasks
Listen to a radio segment or podcast excerpt twice. Write a text responding to the content — typically a formal letter to an authority, a newspaper article, or an editorial expressing a position.
Watch a TV news segment, documentary excerpt, or interview twice. Write a professional email, institutional report, or informational text based on the content.
Read a newspaper article, chart, or infographic. Write a text that requires you to interpret data, compare viewpoints, or construct an argument based on the source.
Read one or more source texts. Write a summary, recommendation, or proposal that demonstrates your ability to synthesize information and communicate it for a specific audience.
Important Details
- You may write in pen only — no pencil, no eraser, no correction fluid
- Dictionaries are not allowed
- Electronic devices must be turned off and stored
- You receive a separate answer sheet for each task
- Minimum 150 words per task is generally expected, though not officially required
Oral Part (Parte Oral) — 20 Minutes
The oral exam is a face-to-face conversation with a trained CELPE-BRAS examiner. It is recorded for later evaluation by a second examiner. The interview follows a structured format but feels like a natural conversation.
Introduction (5 minutes)
The examiner asks about your personal background, motivations for learning Portuguese, your life in Brazil or connection to Brazilian culture. This is a warm-up to establish rapport and assess your baseline conversational ability.
Topic Discussions (15 minutes)
The examiner presents 2-3 provocative materials — photographs, headlines, short texts, cartoons, or advertisements related to Brazilian current events and social topics. You discuss each one, express opinions, develop arguments, and respond to follow-up questions.
Common Interview Topics
The examiner is not testing your knowledge of these topics — they are evaluating how well you communicate about them in Portuguese. It is perfectly fine to say you are not familiar with a topic and redirect the conversation.
Evaluation Criteria
Both the written and oral parts are evaluated on the same core criteria. Understanding what examiners look for is essential for effective preparation.
Communicative Adequacy
Highest weightDid you actually accomplish what the task asked? A beautifully written text that does not address the task instruction will score poorly. This is the most important criterion — always read the instructions twice.
Genre Appropriateness
High weightDoes your text follow the conventions of the requested genre? A formal letter needs proper greetings, closings, and register. An email has different conventions than a newspaper editorial. Each genre has specific structural expectations.
Textual Cohesion
High weightAre your ideas logically connected? Do you use transitional words, paragraph breaks, and clear argumentation? The evaluator checks whether your text flows naturally from one idea to the next.
Linguistic Resources
Moderate weightGrammar accuracy, vocabulary range, and spelling. While isolated errors will not ruin your score, a pattern of basic mistakes combined with limited vocabulary signals a lower proficiency level.
Pronunciation & Fluency
Oral part onlyFor the oral exam: clarity of pronunciation, natural rhythm, and ability to sustain conversation without excessive pausing or hesitation. A slight accent is expected and not penalized.
Certification Levels
Based on your scores in both parts, you receive one of four certification levels — or no certification if you do not reach the minimum threshold. Your final level equals the lower of your written and oral scores.
Intermediário
Communicates in limited everyday situations. Produces simple texts. Sufficient for basic university admission.
Intermediário Superior
Communicates in most everyday and some professional contexts. Required for many graduate programs.
Avançado
Communicates fluently in complex academic and professional contexts. Required for medical and legal licensing.
Avançado Superior
Near-native communicative competence. The highest and rarest CELPE-BRAS certification level.
No Certification
If either part scores below Intermediário, no certificate is issued. You may retake the exam at the next available date.
Preparation Tips by Section
For the Written Part
- Practice writing in all genres: formal letters, emails, editorials, summaries, blog posts, reports
- Always read the task instruction first, before the source material — know what you need to produce
- Practice note-taking during audio and video — you only get to hear/watch twice
- Time yourself: 45 minutes per task, no more
- Focus on communicative adequacy — answer exactly what was asked
For the Oral Part
- Read Brazilian news daily — you need opinions on current events
- Practice speaking about topics for 3-5 minutes without stopping
- Learn to redirect: if you do not know a topic, say so and offer a related perspective
- Do not memorize speeches — examiners detect rehearsed responses immediately
- Speak naturally, even with mistakes — fluency matters more than perfection
Related Guides
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