Strengthening UK and Brazil economic and migration connections – MTS becomes the only official exam provider in the UK of the CELPE-Bras Portuguese language exam
Matthew Steele
MTS has been officially approved by Brazil’s Ministry of Education to become the UK’s only official provider of the CELPE-Bras exam at its London exam venue.
We are delighted to announce that MTS has been officially approved by the Ministry of Education in Brazil to deliver bi-annual exam sessions of the CELPE-Bras Portuguese proficiency exam.
What is the CELPE-Bras exam?
The CELPE-Bras (Certificado de Proficiência em Língua Portuguesa para Estrangeiros) is Brazil's official certificate of proficiency in Portuguese for non-native speakers.
It is therefore a formal qualification that demonstrates how well you can understand and communicate in Brazilian Portuguese in real-life situations. It is administered by Brazil's National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (Inep), under the Brazilian Ministry of Education.
Unlike a traditional language exam that focuses heavily on grammar exercises and multiple-choice questions, CELPE-Bras assesses how effectively you use Portuguese to communicate.
How does the exam work?
1. Written exam: 3 hours
You complete four tasks based on video, audio and written material. You might need to write an email, summarise information, or produce a text for a particular audience and purpose.
2. Oral exam: 20 minutes
You speak face-to-face with a trained examiner. The first five minutes focus on your background and interests; the remaining 15 minutes cover three topics using prompts such as photographs, adverts or short texts.
What level can you achieve?
CELPE-Bras awards four proficiency levels. You receive the level corresponding to your weaker result across the written and oral components.
Certificate level | Score |
Intermediate | 2.00 - 2.75 |
Higher Intermediate | 2.76 - 3.50 |
Advanced | 3.51 - 4.25 |
Higher Advanced | 4.26 - 5.00 |
You must achieve at least Intermediate in both components to receive a certificate. For more information, you can find official guidance, candidate manuals and previous exam materials through the Brazilian Ministry of Education's CELPE-Bras page.
Why would a person in the UK sit the CELPE-Bras exam?
Someone in the UK might sit the CELPE-Bras exam to prove their Portuguese proficiency for work, study, immigration-related purposes, or personal achievement. It is Brazil's official Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese as a Foreign Language, and it is particularly relevant to Brazilian Portuguese. The main reasons for taking CELPE-Bras are:
1. University admission in Brazil
Brazilian universities may require proof of Portuguese proficiency for international students, particularly for degree programmes taught in Portuguese. CELPE-Bras is accepted by many Brazilian institutions, although requirements vary.
2. Career opportunities
It can demonstrate Portuguese proficiency to employers working with Brazil, including international businesses, translation services, diplomacy, academia and organisations with Brazilian clients. Whether an employer requires the certificate depends on the role.
3. Brazilian citizenship or other official requirements
CELPE-Bras can be relevant to applications for Brazilian naturalisation, subject to the applicable legal requirements and accepted forms of evidence. This is one of the more important practical reasons for taking the exam.
4. Formal recognition of language ability
Someone who has learned Brazilian Portuguese through a partner, family, work or years of study may want an internationally recognised credential to document their level.
Is it the CELPE-Bras exam useful if you live permanently in the UK?
That depends on your objective:
Your objective | Is CELPE-Bras useful? |
Working for a UK employer | Potentially, especially if using Brazilian Portuguese is essential, relevant or useful to the job |
Applying to a Brazilian university | Sometimes required; check the institution's requirements |
Applying for Brazilian naturalisation | Potentially important, check with the relevant authorities |
Applying for UK citizenship or settlement | Not relevant – you will need to sit a Secure English Language Test (e.g. IELTS for UKVI) to demonstrate proficiency in English, not Portuguese |
Proving Portuguese for personal reasons | Yes, if you want a formal proficiency certificate |
MTS: Strengthening ties between the UK and Brazil
This news marks an important milestone in the global growth of MTS. Our expansion into Brazil is going from strength to strength. MTS Brazil’s São Paulo head office now offers a wide range of exams, including IELTS via IDP (with learners gaining preparation support via the IELTS Practice Hub), TOEFL, TOEIC, Oxford Test of English, CELPE-Bras and (coming soon) LanguageCert and Envoy.