Conditions of Access to Examination and General Rules

A candidate of an examination in Portuguese as a Foreign Language should be acquainted with the Conditions of Access to Examinations and General Rules, which are as follows:

1. EXAMINATION TAKERS

Examinations in Portuguese as a Foreign Language can be taken by any person aged 14 or above who wants to prove his/her competence in the Portuguese language for educational, professional or other reasons in terms recognised by each certificate or diploma.

2. REGISTRATION

2.1 Registration takes place in an Examination Centre of Portuguese as a Foreign Language on filling in a Candidate Form and a Registration Form.

2.2 Registration for more than one examination held in the same administration period is not allowed.

2.3 Registration should be made during the month preceding the administration period.

2.4 Registration cannot be transferred from one administration period to another or from one level to another. However, it is possible to transfer a registration for an examination in one centre to another, providing both centres agree to do so.

2.5 The payment of the examination fee should be made on registration.

2.6 The registration fee is not refundable.

2.7 Examination centres are obliged to inform candidates of their code number before the beginning of the first component of an examination.

3. ADMINISTRATION OF EXAMINATIONS

3.1 Candidates should acquaint themselves with the instructions given in Information for Candidates, available in Examination Centres.

3.2 CAPLE will be advised of any kind of irregular behaviour of a candidate (aimed at or resulting in benefiting the candidate or anybody else) detected by supervisors. This may lead to the cancellation of the examination. The decision of CAPLE is final.

3.3 A supervisor, with the consent of the coordinator, is allowed to expel from the examination room any candidate persisting in irregular behaviour.

4. MARKING AND RESULTS

4.1 All components, except Speaking, are marked by CAPLE. The Speaking component is marked by a local examiner, and should be recorded. CAPLE will intervene in the evaluation process of this component if necessary.

4.2 All reports delivered by Examination Centres and advising of any kind of disturbances during the examinations that could affect the performance of candidates will be taken into account during the marking of examinations. If necessary CAPLE will re-mark the examinations of candidates affected by the disturbances so that they are not prejudiced.

4.3 Before issuing certificates, the Examination Centre informs candidates about their performance in the examination.

4.4 All successful candidates are awarded a respective certificate. There are three passing grades: Suficiente (Pass), Bom (Good), Muito Bom (Very Good).

4.5 A candidate may apply to CAPLE, through an Examination Centre, to have his/her examination re-marked. The request should be made within five working days after the candidate receives information about his/her results. The request should be accompanied by the payment of a fee, which is refunded if the claim is recognised as justifiable. 

5. CERTIFICATES

5.1 The certificate and the PLE Diplomas are sent to Examination Centres within three weeks after the issuing of information about the results of examinations. Candidates or their representatives are issued with a respective certificate on signing a document confirming its receipt.

5.2 If a candidate loses his/her certificate, a substitute results slip can be issued against payment of a fee.

5.3 No duplicate certificates are issued unless the original has been damaged. In that case, the original should be given back to CAPLE through an Examination Centre. CAPLE will issue a new certificate, identical with the original, against payment of a fee. This procedure is valid only within three years after the examination.

6. EXAMINATION PAPERS

CAPLE reserves itself all rights to examination papers. No part of the papers can therefore be reproduced without written permission from CAPLE.

7. CANDIDATES ANSWERS 

Candidates’ answer sheets are the property of CAPLE and are not to be sent to candidates or to Examination Centres. Access to candidates’ answer sheets may be granted for research purposes providing the research is done in CAPLE and the anonymity of candidates is guaranteed. Research works must make reference to the fact that they were produced in collaboration with CAPLE.