Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language (STBFL)

The test in question is intended for foreigners who need a Certificate of Bulgarian as a Foreign Language.

Levels

The Standard Test of Bulgarian as a Foreign language comprises three levels.

Basic

Intermediate

Advanced

Basic level

The candidate's linguistic competence at this level broadly corresponds to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, level A2.

Listening

The candidate should be able to identify and understand separate words and larger lexical units, to interpret sentence intonation in a proper way, while listening to short texts or dialogues, to match information with its graphic representation, to extract specific information from larger texts.

Reading

The candidate should be able to understand general notes, personal correspondence, descriptions and instructions, to extract the necessary information from texts.

Writing

The candidate should be able to write short, simple messages and notices, to describe people, places, events and objects and write standard personal letters.

Speaking

The candidate should be able to take part in conversations in everyday situations, though effective communication is ensured through elaborate instructions in the task. They should be able to understand and ask questions in a dialogue.

Part of exam	Text/Task type	Time for Execution	Assessment (Points)	Minimum (Points)
Listening	5 tasks to listen to : sentences and a short dialogue and to choose and mark the correct answers; to take notes. Text types sentences with cardinal numbers; sentences which require spontaneous response on the part of the candidate; sentences which have to be paraphrased; short story containing facts about several people; situational dialogue.	40 min	55	28
Reading	2 tasks to read : texts and to choose and mark the correct answers Text types short informal texts (adapted); short story; advertisements; notices.	15 min	35	18
Writing	6 tasks gap-filling tasks; dialogues, requests, offers, comparison, orders; story-writing; descriptive text; dialogue; essay.	105 min	135	68
Speaking	tasks general interview : 5-10 personal identification questions; 1 or 2 situational dialogues on everyday topics; a monologue in which they express personal opinion and provide a description.	20 min	60	30
TOTAL		180 min	285	144

Intermediate level

The candidate's linguistic competence at this level broadly corresponds to the Common European Framework of Reference level B2.

Listening

The candidate should be able to identify and understand words or collocations, which have different phonological and intonation characteristics, to spontaneously respond to utterances in situational dialogues, to grasp the gist of longer dialogues and take notes.

Reading

The candidate should be able to grasp the essential information in texts dealing with everyday topics and to cope with detailed texts on familiar topics.

Writing

The candidate should be able to describe objects, write dialogues and essays on everyday and professional topics.

Speaking

The candidate should be able to keep up a conversation on familiar topics, to discuss and support their arguments. However, elaborating on unfamiliar topics is considered inappropriate for this level.

Part of exam	Text/Task type	Time for Execution	Assessment (Points)	Minimum (Points)
Listening	5 tasks to listen to : phonetically similar utterances and mark the correct answers; the words for the punctuation marks and put down the respective sign; a text and take notes; a dialogue and choose the correct answers. Text types short dialogues ; declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences.	40 min	95	48
Reading	3 tasks to read : short dialogues and paraphrase them; a longer dialogue and answer 5 questions; a narrative type of text and answer 3 questions. Text types dialogues and articles (authentic texts).	30 min	55	28
Writing	6 tasks gap-filling tasks; story-writing; a dialogue; 2 essays (descriptive and analytical).	100 min	155	78
Speaking	tasks general interview : 5-10 personal identification questions; 1 or 2 situational dialogues on everyday and professional topics; expressing personal opinion, describing, analysing topical events.	10 min	60	30
TOTAL		180 min	365	184

Advanced level

The candidate's linguistic competence at this level broadly corresponds to the Common European framework of Reference, level C1.

Listening

The candidate should be able to understand various spoken pieces of discourse, to paraphrase them and to take notes.

Reading

The candidate should be able to understand texts, which belong to different registers and discuss a wide variety of topics, to grasp the gist of written pieces of discourse, including professional discourse and extract the relevant information.

Writing

The candidate should be able to produce well-structured texts incorporating a variety of means of expression. There are minor mistakes, which do not impede the process of communication.

Speaking

The candidate should be able to discuss various topics freely and fluently, to express their ideas correctly and adequately.

Part of exam	Text/Task type	Time for Execution	Assessment (Points)	Minimum (Points)
Listening	3 tasks to listen to:phonetically similar utterances and mark the correct answers; utterances and choose the correct response; a text and take notes. Text types dialogues and texts ; declarative, interrogative and imperative sentences; conditional sentences and idiomatic expressions.	40 min	55	28
Reading	3 tasks to read:factual texts and choose the correct answers; short texts and identify idioms. Text types factual texts (authentic); fiction.	40 min	60	30
Writing	6 tasks to write: 5 short texts (speech, plan, description); story completion; essay.	85 min	125	63
Speaking	tasks general interview:personal identification questions; situational dialogues on everyday and professional topics; commenting on topical events.	15 min	60	35
TOTAL		180 min	300	156