· 7 min read
Arabic Language Test: The CIMA Certificate
By Language Lab editorial team
The Arabic language test explained: CIMA from the Institut du monde arabe, its four papers, A1 to C2 results, autumn 2026 session dates and how to prepare.
An internationally recognised Arabic test is CIMA, the Certificat international de maîtrise en langue arabe, developed by the Institut du monde arabe in Paris with the expertise of France Éducation international. It tests Modern Standard Arabic in four papers, listening, reading, writing and speaking, lasting about three hours in total. There is one test for everyone: if you reach at least A1, you receive a certificate stating your level on the European scale from A1 to C2. CIMA is open to anyone aged 15 or over, runs twice a year, in spring and autumn, and is sat at close to 100 accredited centres around the world. Registration for the autumn 2026 session closes on 20 October 2026; the session runs from 15 November to 15 December.
CIMA at a glance
| CIMA | |
|---|---|
| Run by | Institut du monde arabe, with the expertise of France Éducation international |
| Language tested | Modern Standard Arabic |
| Who can sit it | Anyone from the age of 15 |
| Levels | One test; the certificate states a level from A1 to C2 |
| Sessions | Two a year: spring and autumn |
| Where | At the Institute in Paris and at accredited centres; close to 100 worldwide |
| Price | Varies with the policy of each accredited centre |
| Recognition | Recognised by ALTE; listed since 2021 in France Compétences' specific register |
The four papers
| Paper | Format | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Listening comprehension | Multiple choice | 60 minutes |
| Reading comprehension | Multiple choice | 50 minutes |
| Written production | 3 tasks | 60 minutes |
| Oral production | 3 tasks | 11 minutes |
The Institute gives the total as about three hours. Because one test covers every level, you do not choose a level in advance. If your performance validates at least A1, the certificate records where you stand: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2.
Autumn 2026 session
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opened | 20 July 2026 |
| Registration closes | 20 October 2026 |
| Autumn session begins | 15 November 2026 |
| CIMA at the Institut du monde arabe, Paris | 21 November 2026 |
| Autumn session ends | 15 December 2026 |
Accredited centres hold the test within the session window, so ask your centre for its exact day. If you miss the autumn deadline, the next session is in spring.
Why it tests Modern Standard Arabic
Arabic is spoken in many dialects. The BBC's guide to Arabic explains that Modern Standard Arabic is the form understood across the Arab world, used by television presenters and politicians, in newspapers and in teaching Arabic as a foreign language, while spoken dialects can differ so much that speakers from distant countries struggle to understand each other. The Institut du monde arabe describes Modern Standard Arabic as the variety of Arabic most useful internationally, and says CIMA assesses all the skills needed to communicate in it.
Who takes it and how they do
The Institute presents CIMA as a way to give value to your Arabic with a recruiter and in professional life. It reports that 91% of the candidates who took the test in 2025 obtained their certificate. Remember what the certificate records: the level you reached, from A1 to C2.
How to prepare
- Download the official mock exam and the candidate guide from the Institute's CIMA page. The mock has fewer exercises than the real test, and its listening audio is published too.
- Consider the Institute's preparation course: 12 hours online with a specialised trainer, including a mock exam.
- Practise all four skills. Writing and speaking are assessed through tasks, not multiple choice.
- Read and listen to standard Arabic regularly. Al Jazeera's Learning Arabic site is a free resource with lessons from beginner to proficiency level, a placement test and news-based material.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and distributed practice as high utility.
How long to get there
Arabic is a long course for English speakers. The US State Department places it in Category IV, its hardest group, at 88 weeks or 2,200 class hours to a speaking and listening score of 3 on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. The advantage of CIMA is that you can sit it at any stage and have your current level certified.
Language Lab's Arabic course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, useful practice for the oral paper.
Frequently asked
What is the official Arabic language test?
CIMA, the Certificat international de maîtrise en langue arabe, developed by the Institut du monde arabe with France Éducation international. The Institute describes it as the first worldwide-recognised certification of level in Modern Standard Arabic.
How long is the CIMA test?
About three hours in total: listening 60 minutes, reading 50 minutes, writing 60 minutes and speaking 11 minutes.
What levels does CIMA certify?
All six European levels, A1 to C2, with one test. You receive a certificate if you validate at least A1.
When is the next CIMA session?
The autumn 2026 session runs from 15 November to 15 December 2026, with registration closing on 20 October 2026. There are two sessions a year, in spring and autumn.
How much does CIMA cost?
The price varies according to the policy of each accredited centre, so ask the centre where you plan to sit it.
Does CIMA test a dialect or standard Arabic?
Modern Standard Arabic.
Is there a minimum age for CIMA?
Yes: it is open to everyone from the age of 15.
Sources: Institut du monde arabe, Certificat international de maîtrise en langue arabe (CIMA); BBC Languages, A Guide to Arabic: 10 facts about the Arabic language (archived page); Al Jazeera Media Network, Learning Arabic, About us; US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Al-Khazneh (The Treasury), Petra, Jordan, Vyacheslav Argenberg / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
