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Greek Language Test: Levels, Dates, Fees
By Language Lab editorial team
The Greek language test explained: the Certificate of Attainment in Greek, its six levels A1 to C2, paper lengths, May 2027 exam dates, fees and how to prepare.
The state Greek language test is the Certificate of Attainment in Greek, run by the Centre for the Greek Language in Thessaloniki, which has held the examinations since 1999. You choose one of six levels, A1 to C2, and sit papers in listening, reading, writing and speaking; levels B2, C1 and C2 add a fifth paper, use of Greek. You must pass every skill to receive the certificate. The next full session is on 11, 12 and 13 May 2027, in Greece and abroad, with registration from 1 February to 14 March 2027. The fee is 90 euros for A1, A2 and B1 and 100 euros for B2, C1 and C2. Level B2 allows foreign students to register at a Greek higher education institution.
The certificate at a glance
| Certificate of Attainment in Greek | |
|---|---|
| Run by | Centre for the Greek Language, Thessaloniki, supervised by the Greek Ministry of Education |
| Established | November 1998, by Presidential Decree 363/98; examinations held since 1999 |
| Levels | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, matched to the European framework |
| Special versions | A1 for children aged 8 to 12; A2 for special professional purposes |
| Skills tested | Listening, reading, writing, speaking; plus use of Greek at B2, C1 and C2 |
| To pass | Every skill must be passed; failing one fails the whole examination |
| Result on the certificate | Good, Very Good or Excellent |
| Where | Examination centres approved by the Centre, in Greece and abroad |
Exam dates and fees for May 2027
| Level | Written papers | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| A1 for children aged 8 to 12 | Tuesday 11 May 2027, morning | 90 euros |
| A1 for adolescents and adults | Tuesday 11 May 2027, morning | 90 euros |
| A2 and A2 for professional purposes | Tuesday 11 May 2027, midday | 90 euros |
| B1 | Thursday 13 May 2027, morning | 90 euros |
| B2 | Wednesday 12 May 2027, morning | 100 euros |
| C1 | Wednesday 12 May 2027, afternoon | 100 euros |
| C2 | Thursday 13 May 2027, afternoon | 100 euros |
Registration runs from 1 February to 14 March 2027, and applications are submitted online through the Centre's certification site. The speaking examination is held immediately after the written papers. Dates for Cyprus are announced separately. An extra sitting on Friday 23 October 2026 covers only B1 and A2 for special professional purposes, and only at examination centres in Greece; registration for it ran from 1 to 15 September 2026.
How long each paper lasts
| Level | Reading | Listening | Use of Greek | Writing | Speaking | Written total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 30 minutes | 25 minutes | None | 40 minutes | 10–12 minutes | 1 hour 35 minutes |
| A2 | 30 minutes | 25 minutes | None | 45 minutes | 12 minutes | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| B1 | 40 minutes | 25 minutes | None | 55 minutes | 12 minutes | 2 hours |
| B2 | 45 minutes | 30 minutes | 30 minutes | 85 minutes | 15 minutes | 3 hours 10 minutes |
| C1 | 55 minutes | 40 minutes | 30 minutes | 100 minutes | 20 minutes | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| C2 | 55 minutes | 40 minutes | 30 minutes | 115 minutes | 20 minutes | 4 hours |
Candidates take the speaking examination in pairs, in front of two examiners. At the lower levels it includes role-play; at the higher levels, conversation and argument. Each skill carries 25 points at A1, A2 and B1 and 20 points at B2, C1 and C2.
What the certificate is used for
- Study. A B2 certificate allows foreign nationals without a Greek secondary school certificate to register at a Greek higher education institution. Ask the institution which level your course needs.
- Work. The Centre says the certificate proves the holder's level of Greek in the job market and is a requirement for practising various professions in Greece.
- Public sector. It allows citizens of European Union member states to take part in examinations for civil service positions; each announcement sets the level required.
- A limit to note. The Centre's guide states that even a C2 certificate does not certify the ability to teach Greek as a second or foreign language.
Who can sit it
The Centre's guide, dated January 2013, sets one age rule: candidates must have reached the age of 8 by 31 May of the examination year. Children aged 8 to 12 can take the A1 paper written for their age group. The guide also advises that candidates under 16 should be dissuaded from B2, C1 and C2, because the material assumes knowledge and experience younger candidates do not have. You may enter for more than one level in the same session if you register for each.
How to choose your level and prepare
- Take the Centre's online diagnostic test. It follows the same six levels and checks reading, listening and use of language, with immediate feedback. The Centre stresses that the result is indicative and does not guarantee success in the examination.
- Read the level descriptions and work through the sample examination papers published on the certification site.
- Practise every skill. Because one failed skill fails the whole examination, a strong reading mark cannot rescue a weak speaking performance.
- Rehearse speaking with a partner, since you will be examined in a pair.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and distributed practice as high utility.
How long to reach each level
As a guide to scale, the US State Department places Greek in Category III, hard languages, at about 44 weeks or 1,012 class hours for English speakers to reach a speaking and listening score of 3 on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. Because the certificate starts at A1, you can use the lower levels as milestones long before that.
Language Lab's Greek course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, useful practice for the role-plays of the speaking examination.
Frequently asked
What is the official Greek language test?
The Certificate of Attainment in Greek, awarded by the Centre for the Greek Language in Thessaloniki. It was established by the Greek Ministry of Education in November 1998 and has six levels, A1 to C2.
When is the next Greek language exam?
The next full session is on 11, 12 and 13 May 2027, with registration from 1 February to 14 March 2027. A sitting on 23 October 2026 covers only B1 and A2 for professional purposes, in Greece.
How much does the Greek language test cost?
For the May 2027 session, 90 euros for A1, A2 and B1 and 100 euros for B2, C1 and C2.
What level of Greek do I need to study in Greece?
A B2 certificate allows foreign nationals without a Greek secondary school certificate to register at a Greek higher education institution. Check the level your institution asks for.
How long is the Greek B2 exam?
The written papers take 3 hours 10 minutes: reading 45 minutes, listening 30, use of Greek 30 and writing 85. The speaking examination takes 15 minutes.
Do I have to pass every part?
Yes. The Centre's guide states that a candidate who fails even one skill fails the whole examination.
Is there a free practice test?
The Centre for the Greek Language offers an online diagnostic test for each level from A1 to C2 and publishes sample examination papers.
Sources: Centre for the Greek Language, Certification of Attainment in Greek: Examination dates, General information, Institution and usefulness, Structure of the examination papers (A1 to C2), Diagnostic tests, and Guide to the examination for the certificate of attainment in Greek; 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: The White Tower on the waterfront, Thessaloniki, Annatsach / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
