· 7 min read
Thai Language Test: CU-TFL Dates and Fees
By Language Lab editorial team
The Thai language test explained: CU-TFL and TH-TFL from Chulalongkorn University, the four skills, fees in baht, test dates to 2027 and centres abroad.
The main Thai language test for foreigners is the CU-TFL, the Chulalongkorn University Thai Proficiency Test of Thai as a Foreign Language, run since 2010 by the university's Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute. In Thailand it comes in two parts. Listening, reading and writing are tested together under the name TH-TFL, at 800 baht a skill; speaking is tested separately as CU-TFL, at 2,100 baht. The next listening, reading and writing test is on 20 November 2026, with registration from 5 to 16 October, and the next speaking test is on 19 November 2026, with registration from 12 to 30 October. Results are reported on five levels, from Novice to Distinguished, and the test report is valid for two years. The test is also held at partner institutions abroad.
The test at a glance
| Listening, reading, writing | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|
| Name in Thailand | TH-TFL | CU-TFL |
| Run by | Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, with partner Thai universities | Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University |
| Length | One hour per skill, with 15-minute breaks | About 40 minutes, depending on the number of candidates |
| Fee | 800 baht per skill | 2,100 baht |
| Rounds listed for 2027 | 5 | 12 |
| Report validity | 2 years from the date of issue | 2 years from the date of issue |
The Institute explains the two names. It has administered the CU-TFL since 2010 and now works with universities in Thailand, among them Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University and Srinakharinwirot University, to run the listening, reading and writing tests jointly as the TH-TFL. The Institute prepares the test sets and trains the partner universities' staff each year.
Listening, reading and writing: TH-TFL
| Paper | Time on test day |
|---|---|
| Listening | 9.00 to 10.00 |
| Reading | 10.15 to 11.15 |
| Writing | 11.30 to 12.30 |
| Round | Registration and payment | Test date | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026, round 6 | 5 to 16 October 2026 | 20 November 2026 | 18 December 2026 |
| 2027, round 1 | 16 November to 15 December 2026 | 23 January 2027 | 16 February 2027 |
| 2027, round 2 | 18 January to 19 February 2027 | 19 March 2027 | 20 April 2027 |
| 2027, round 3 | 1 April to 14 May 2027 | 19 June 2027 | 13 July 2027 |
| 2027, round 4 | 14 June to 16 July 2027 | 20 August 2027 | 14 September 2027 |
| 2027, round 5 | 20 September to 15 October 2027 | 19 November 2027 | 13 December 2027 |
These rounds are held at Chulalongkorn University; the Institute sends the venue details at least one week before the test. If you arrive after the listening test has started you will not be admitted. For reading and writing you may be admitted up to 20 minutes late.
Speaking: CU-TFL
| Round | Registration and payment | Test date | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026, round 9 | 12 to 30 October 2026 | 19 November 2026 | 18 December 2026 |
| 2026, round 10 | 9 to 27 November 2026 | 17 December 2026 | 5 January 2027 |
| 2027, round 1 | 7 to 27 December 2026 | 21 January 2027 | 16 February 2027 |
| 2027, round 2 | 11 to 29 January 2027 | 25 February 2027 | 15 March 2027 |
| 2027, round 3 | 8 to 26 February 2027 | 18 March 2027 | 20 April 2027 |
The Institute lists twelve speaking rounds for 2027, about one a month. Each round takes no more than 15 candidates, and priority goes to those who confirm by email and pay first. Once you have chosen a round you cannot move to another.
How to register
- Email the Institute to agree a test date.
- Fill in the online application form on the Institute's site. Applications are accepted only through the online system; registering on site costs an extra 100 baht.
- Pay the fee shown on the payment slip, plus a 10 baht bank charge, at a branch of Krung Thai Bank, within the registration period.
- Email the proof of payment to the Institute.
- On the day, bring the payment slip and your passport. The Institute asks for decent clothes: slippers and shorts are not allowed.
Levels and recognition
The University of Hong Kong, one of the official venues abroad, describes the result scale: test results are reported across five proficiency levels, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior and Distinguished. It adds that a national-level cooperation agreement among the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Chulalongkorn University sets a national standard for Thai proficiency testing, and that results can be used as a reference for further study or for job applications.
Taking the test outside Thailand
| Status | Institution |
|---|---|
| Official Test Center | Thai Studies Center, Yunnan University, China |
| Official Test Center | National University of Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
| Official Test Center | Kanda University of International Studies, Japan |
| Official Test Venue | Siam Partners Learning House, Malaysia |
| Official Test Venue | School of Foreign Languages, Chengdu University, China |
| Official Test Venue | School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Hong Kong |
| Official Test Venue | National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan |
Each institution announces its own dates. When checked on 13 October 2026, the Institute's page showed one upcoming session abroad, in Chengdu on 17 and 18 October 2026. At the University of Hong Kong's 2026 session, each skill section took about 60 minutes and candidates could leave out any section they did not need.
How to prepare
- Use the Institute's online reading practice test, written for non-native speakers preparing for the TH-TFL and the CU-TFL.
- Download the examinee manual from the test page before you apply.
- Train your ear for tones. The BBC's guide notes that Thai has five tones, and that hearing and producing them takes some learners more time and practice.
- Practise writing in Thai script by hand, since writing is a separate one-hour paper.
- 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
The US State Department places Thai in Category III, hard languages, at about 44 weeks or 1,012 class hours for English speakers. Because the test reports whatever level you have reached, you can sit it as a milestone on the way. Language Lab's Thai course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, useful practice for the speaking test.
Frequently asked
What is the official Thai language test for foreigners?
The CU-TFL, the Chulalongkorn University Thai Proficiency Test of Thai as a Foreign Language, run by the Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute since 2010. In Thailand its listening, reading and writing tests are held under the name TH-TFL.
How much does the Thai language test cost?
In Thailand, 800 baht each for listening, reading and writing, and 2,100 baht for speaking.
When is the next Thai proficiency test?
Listening, reading and writing: 20 November 2026, with registration from 5 to 16 October. Speaking: 19 November 2026, with registration from 12 to 30 October.
What levels does the CU-TFL report?
Five: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior and Distinguished.
How long is the CU-TFL result valid?
The test report is valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
Can I take the CU-TFL outside Thailand?
Yes. The Institute recognises three Official Test Centers, in China, Taiwan and Japan, and four Official Test Venues, in Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Sources: Sirindhorn Thai Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University: CU-TFL test in Thailand, TH-TFL test in Thailand and CU-TFL test in Global (read on 13 October 2026); School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Hong Kong, Thai Language Proficiency Test for Non-Native Speakers of Thai 2026; BBC Languages, A Guide to Thai: 10 facts (archived page); 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: Guardian figures on a golden chedi at Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok, Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
