Czech Language Certificate Exam (CCE) - General Information
- ENROLMENT AND ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION
- ABOUT THE EXAM: Exam characteristics
- BEFORE THE EXAM: How to prepare for CCE exam?
- ON THE EXAM DATE: How is the exam conducted?
- AFTER THE EXAM: When will I get the results?
- Recognition
- Exam authors and research
ENROLMENT AND ADMISSION TO THE EXAMINATION
1. CHOOSE AND EXAM LOCATION
Apart from the Czech Republic, you can take the exam in more than 15 other countries.
2. COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Applicants for the CCE exam in the Czech Republic must enrol at least 3 weeks before the examination date. Applicants for the CCE exam abroad must enrol by the date set by the foreign examination centre.
After sending the online form, you will receive an e-mail with confirmation and useful information, including instructions for payment of the exam fee.
3. PAY THE FEE FOR THE EXAM
The fee for the exam in the Czech Republic must be paid no later than 3 days after submitting the application form. Proof of payment for the CCE examination must be presented at registration on the day of the examination.
| Level A1: 3 000 CZK Level A2: 3 200 CZK Level B1: 3 700 CZK Level B2: 4 000 CZK Level C1: 4 200 CZK The full amount due (excluding bank or transfer fees) is to be credited to the recipient's bank account - UJOP UK (ILPS CU), i.e. the payer is responsible for all the fees connected with the bank transfer. The amount may be paid in euro according to the applicable currency exchange rates at KB (Komerční Banka). |
Payment Instructions Account No.: 107-8145640267/0100 Variable symbol: 42205 Bank: Komercni banka, Na Prikope 33, 114 07 Praha 1 |
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Cancellation or Transfer of the Application to Another Term Until the online applications for the given term are closed:
After the online applications for the given term are closed, it is not possible to cancel or transfer the application. After the online applications are closed and in case the absence is documented by a medical confirmation:
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ABOUT THE EXAM: Exam characteristics
Exam characteristics
The Czech Language Certificate Exam for foreigners verifies all five levels of achieved communication competency in accordance with the criteria specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The quality of the CCE exam is verified by the Q mark, awarded by the international organisation ALTE to examinations which have successfully passed the audit and meet the 17 minimum quality standards.
Parts of the exam
The exam consists of several parts. The length and content of the individual exam subjects depends on the level you choose.
| Level | Reading Comprehension | Listening Comprehension | Grammar/lexical test | Writing | Speaking* |
| A1 | + Writing 60 minutes | 20–25 minutes | none | in the Reading Comprehension part | 5–8 minutes (per person) |
| A2 | 40 minutes | 25–30 minutes | none | 40 minutes | 10–13 minutes (per pair) |
| B1 | 50 minutes | 35–40 minutes | none | 60 minutes | 15–18 minutes (per pair) |
| B2 | 60 minutes | 40–45 minutes | 30 minutes | 80 minutes | 18–21 minutes (per pair) |
| C1 | 60 minutes | 50–55 minutes | 50 minutes | 90 minutes | 23–27 minutes (per pair) |
* The order of candidates for the oral part of the exam is determined by a draw. The exam ends at latest by 7 p.m.
There are breaks between the individual subtests of the written part of the exam.
Which level should I enrol for?
You may find a list of the universities which recognise the CCE exam here.
The CCE–B2 a CCE–C1 exam is recognised for demonstrating Czech language skills among civil servants who are applying for employment. More information is available in Act No. 234/2014 Coll., on civil service, and MŠMT Decree No. 175/2015 Coll.
The CCE exam is also recognized for proving the Czech language knowledge of pedagogical staff (foreigners). The exact level of knowledge of Czech is not determined (Act No. 563/2004 Coll., On pedagogical staff), it is usually decided by the employer (i.e. the school principal). However, if you want to apply for the recognition of professional qualifications pursuant to Act No. 18/2004 Coll., On the recognition of professional qualifications and other qualifications of nationals of European Union member states and some nationals of other states, the assumed knowledge of Czech is at least at level B2. More information can be found here.
When deciding on the level to apply for, use the self assessment grid based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You may find the translation of the grid in many other languages here.
The European Language Portfolio will also help you with self-evaluation.
© European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe
upBEFORE THE EXAM: How to prepare for CCE exam?
1. READ THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Examination Regulations 1.1.2020 (PDF)
Guidelines for Candidates (PDF)
2. TRY THE SAMPLE EXAMS
From 1st January 2021, there are changes in the written CCE–B1 exam in the Writing subtest.
From 1st January 2021, there will be changes in the CCE–B2 written exam in the Writing subtest.
More information can be found here!
3. GO THROUGH THE POSTERS WITH TIPS AND ADVICE FOR CANDIDATES
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TIPS FOR EXAM PREPARATION: Writing - B2 level (PDF)
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TIPS FOR EXAM PREPARATION: Writing and Speaking - B2 level (PDF)
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4. BUY ADDITIONAL SAMPLE TESTS
Herciková, Barbora - Klimešová Málková, Pavla - Pokorná, Kateřina: Připravujeme se k certifikované zkoušce z češtiny, úroveň A2. Praha: Karolinum, 2018. ISBN 978-80-246-2481-5.
Pečený, P. a kol.: Připravujeme se k Certifikované zkoušce z češtiny - úroveň B1 (CCE-B1). Praha: Karolinum, 2013. ISBN 978-80-246-2066-4.
Kotková, R. - Nováková, J. - Vodičková, K.: Připravujeme se k Certifikované zkoušce z češtiny - úroveň B2 (CCE-B2). Praha: Karolinum, 2016. 978-80-246-2480-8.
ATTENTION! With effect from 1 January 2018, the Reading Comprehension, the Listening Comprehension and the Grammar-Lexical tests will change. It will be possible to use the publications only for the preparation for the Writing test and for the oral part of the exam.
5. PRACTICE CCE EXAMINATIONDuring the CCE mock test you will try the Writing test which has not been publicly released. You will receive the tasks by e-mail and you will send us your text in the form of a scan. Subsequently, you will receive a scan of the corrected text with commentary. |
6. APPLY FOR OUR PREPARATORY COURSEThe course is suitable for all applicants who have attained level B1, B2 or C1 in Czech and want to apply for the CCE exam. Taking the course is not a condition for enrolling for the exam, but it considerably increases your chances of successfully passing it.. |
7. VIEW THE RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC
The overview of textbooks and other recommended materials is merely an overview of the publications often used by students and teachers.
upON THE EXAM DATE: How is the exam conducted?
1. REGISTRATION
On the day of the test you must arrive for registration at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam.
Don't forget to bring:
- a valid international identification document (passport)
- evidence of payment for the exam
2. WRITTEN AND ORAL PART OF THE EXAM
The written and oral parts of the exam are generally conducted on one day. The length of the written and oral parts depends on the level.
* The precise times of the subtests are available here. There are breaks between the individual subtests of the written part of the exam.
**If the number of enrolled candidates does not allow the oral part of the exam to end at latest by 7 p.m. for all candidates, the oral part of the exam will be conducted for all candidates of the given level on the following day. Candidates will be informed of this fact via e-mail after registration for the given date is closed.
The order of candidates for the oral part of the examination is set by a random draw and cannot be altered. The exam ends at latest by 7 p.m. for the last candidate.
upAFTER THE EXAM: When will I get the results?
For a 'pass' mark, it is necessary to achieve an overall score of at least 60%, as well as in each individual subtest.
The results will be posted within 30 days after the exam date here.
Successful candidates will be mailed certificates within 7 weeks after the exam date. If a candidate does not receive his/her certificate within 7 weeks of sitting the exam, he/she is advised to contact the secretariat RTC ILSP CU.
Sample certificate
Certificate Sample A2, B1, B2 and C1 (valid for examinations held from 1st March 2021)
Certificate Sample A1 (valid for examinations held from 2nd December 2019)
Certificate Sample A2, B1, B2 a C1 (valid for examinations held from 2nd December 2019)
Certificate Sample A1 (valid for examinations held until 1st December 2019)
Certificate Sample A2, B1, B2 a C1 (valid for examinations held until 1st December 2019)
Recognition
The examination is recognized by most Czech and foreign employers and by some universities and colleges. It can help you for entrance examinations, improve your career and measure your progress in Czech.
You may find a list of the universities which recognise the CCE exam here.
The CCE–B2 a CCE–C1 exam is recognised for demonstrating Czech language skills among civil servants who are applying for employment. More information is available in Act No. 234/2014 Coll., on civil service and MŠMT Decree No. 175/2015 Coll.
For pedagogical staff (teachers-foreigners), the level of Czech language skills is not stipulated by law. It is generally decided by the principal of the specific school where the applicant wishes to work.
upExam authors and research
Membership
The Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies represents Charles University as a full and exclusive Czech member of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe).
Our institution is a member of the international testing associations EALTA a ILTA.
Many of our employees are members of other accredited organizations such as the Association of Teachers of Czech as a Foreign Language, the Linguistic Association of the Czech Republic, the Linguistic Association, the Czech and Slovak Association of Teachers of Foreign Languages in Higher Education, AATSEEL a International Association of Teachers of Czech.
Creating exam variants
We prepare a unique exam variant for each exam date. The exam variants are composed of tasks that have been pretested and have met the previously defined quality parameters in terms of content and psychometric features. Each task undergoes an expert assessment and estimation of the cut off score.
We compose the exam variants of these tasks, so that the cut off score is as close as possible to the stipulated cut off score of each subtest, meaning 60%. If the subtest thus composed, respectively its marginal cut off score, differs from the stipulated 60% by one or more points, the resulting score of all the tested candidates will be subject to linear transformation, meaning conversion to the model (reference) scale.
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