Language Proficiency Tests

The tests are open to the entire USC university community and to external individuals over 18 years old.

• Access to higher-level language studies at the CLM, based on the level you take the test for.
• Admission to and/or graduation from master’s and doctoral programs at USC and other universities, which may require proficiency in a foreign language at the B1 or B2 level, depending on the program (e.g., Master's in Education).
• Earning ECTS credits for language-related transversal skills in your undergraduate studies: from 3 ECTS for B1 to 6 ECTS for C2.
• Participation in the outgoing mobility program, which requires students to certify their proficiency in the language of the destination country or university at the B1 or B2 level.
• Admission to USC if coming from a country where Spanish or Portuguese is not spoken: USC requires a B1 level in Spanish or Galician to access undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies (incoming mobility).
• Access to permanent teaching staff positions at USC, which requires a B2 level in Galician (Celga 3), as well as a B2 or higher diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language (for individuals from countries where Spanish is not an official language).
• Access to administrative and teaching staff (PAS and PAI) positions that require proficiency in a foreign language.

Students who pass the complete B1, B2, or C1 level exams according to the CEFR can request the corresponding ECTS credits (3, 4, 5) at USC for the accreditation of their foreign language proficiency

They consist of two parts. The first part (A) is a written test that examines listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and written expression. The second part (exam B) is an oral test on speaking skills, which may be recorded.

Both tests are taken on different days. The oral test lasts a maximum of 20 minutes, and the written test lasts 3 hours.

Passing exam A allows you to participate in mobility stays in USC exchange programs without the need to take the second part of the test (exam B). However, it does not certify the CEFR level.

Passing the second exam, B, which requires passing exam A, does certify the corresponding CEFR level at USC and other institutions that recognize it.

You can register for exam A only (for mobility purposes only) or for both exams A and B at the same level to certify it. You must pass exam A to take exam B.

You can also register for PCL exams at different levels of the same language or for PCL exams in multiple languages. However, you must ensure that the exams do not overlap.

B1: It consists of two parts. The first part (exam A) is a written test that examines linguistic and communicative competencies in comprehension (listening and reading comprehension). The second part (exam B) is a test, which may be recorded, that assesses communicative skills in expression (written and oral expression). 

B2: It consists of two parts. The first part (exam A) is a written test that examines communicative skills in comprehension (listening and reading comprehension) and written expression. The second part (exam B), which may be recorded, is a test that assesses speaking skills (comprehension, expression, and oral interaction). 

Both tests are taken on different days. The oral test lasts a maximum of 20 minutes, and the written test lasts 3 hours.

Passing exam A allows you to participate in mobility stays in USC exchange programs without the need to take the second part of the test (exam B). However, it does not certify the CEFR level.

Passing the second exam, B, which requires passing exam A, does certify the corresponding CEFR level at USC and other institutions that recognize it.

You can register for exam A only (for mobility purposes only) or for both exams A and B at the same level to certify it. You must pass exam A to take exam B.

You can also register for PCL exams at different levels of the same language or for PCL exams in multiple languages. However, you must ensure that the exams do not overlap.

The language proficiency tests for Galician and Spanish are designed to assess all four skills. They consist of:a reading comprehension test, a listening comprehension test, a writing test (altogether lasting approximately 3 to 3.5 hours), and a speaking test (15 minutes of preparation + 10 to 15 minutes of oral examination).

B1 Tests for Spanish and Galician:

• Reading Comprehension Exam:
  3 tasks of reading comprehension:

  1 task with a text and multiple-choice comprehension questions.

  1 task with several texts to relate.

  1 task with a cloze text and multiple-choice grammar and vocabulary questions.

• Listening Comprehension Exam:
  3 tasks of listening comprehension:

  1 task with short listening clips (messages, announcements, or news) and multiple-choice questions.

  1 task with a longer expository text and multiple-choice questions.

  1 task with a conversation to match who said what.

• Written Expression Exam:
  2 tasks:

  1 task in which you respond to an email.

  1 task (with two options) to write a blog or forum post.

  Approximate duration for the three written exams: 3 hours.

  Oral Expression Exam:
  2 tasks:

  1 task (with two options) where you present a prepared topic.

  1 task where you engage in a conversation with the examiner about that topic.

  Duration of the oral exam: 15 minutes preparation + 10-15 minutes of oral exam.

B2 Tests for Spanish and Galician:

• Reading Comprehension Exam:
  3 tasks of reading comprehension:

  1 task with a text and multiple-choice comprehension questions.

  1 task with several texts to relate.

  1 task with a cloze text and multiple-choice grammar and vocabulary questions.

• Listening Comprehension Exam:
  3 tasks of listening comprehension:

  1 task with short conversations and multiple-choice questions.

  1 task with a longer expository text and multiple-choice questions.

  1 task with a conversation to match who said what.

• Written Expression Exam:
  2 tasks:

  • 1 task where you write a letter related to a previous listening activity.
  • 1 task (with two options) to write a blog, forum, newspaper, or magazine article.

  Approximate duration for the three written exams: 3.5 hours.

• Oral Expression and Interaction Exam:
  2 tasks:

  1 task (with two options) where you make an evaluation of proposed topics and have a conversation with the examiner about the topic.

  1 task where you describe an imagined situation based on a photograph and discuss it.

  Duration of the oral exam: 15 minutes preparation + 15-20 minutes of oral exam.