Standardized tests exist for all five CEFR / ALTE levels: A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.
Each test is intended for candidates seeking certification of Bulgarian language proficiency at a specific level. Tests are electronic and conducted online via the DLTCE platform.
A DLTCE certificate at B2 level or higher is included in the admission score calculation when applying to Bulgarian universities.
Fees
- Exam at DLTCE premises: €265 per level
- Online exam: €265 per level
- Pre-exam preparation (4 hours): €122.20
COURSE AND EXAM FOR BULGARIAN CITIZENSHIP (A2 or B1 – ALTE)
In accordance with the Bulgarian Citizenship Act and Ordinance No. 5 of the Ministry of Education (1999):
- Exam fee: €348.70
- Additional preparation hours (if needed): €27.61 per hour
REMOTE EXAMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES ABROAD
Exams are conducted in the presence of an invigilator in the candidate’s country.
Candidates may take the exam at the nearest Bulgarian Sunday School, which provides invigilation.
For more information:
desk@deo.uni-sofia.bg
pepileila@abv.bg
EXAM STRUCTURE
The exam consists of two parts – an oral and a written exam (including listening and reading comprehension, as well as the creation of written texts on a given topic), for which two separate grades are given, which form the final exam grade.
The oral exam is conducted by a certified examiner located in Bulgaria, in an online conversation with the candidate via Teams. The conversation is recorded, assessed, and stored as an exam document. The duration of the oral exam is approximately 20 minutes maximum per candidate.
Part 1 – Interview
The candidate answers the examining teacher and provides brief information about themselves.
Part 2 – Dialogue
The candidate participates in a dialogue with the teacher, assuming an assigned role in a specific situation.
Part 3 – Monologue
The candidate speaks independently on a given topic.
Part 4 – Commentary
The candidate comments on a picture or a text. The teacher may ask guiding questions.
Written Exam (online via Moodle)
Includes listening, reading, and writing tasks. The test tasks are automatically assessed, while the written production is assessed by a certified examiner.
Duration by level:
- A2 – 145 minutes
- B1 – 175 minutes
- B2 – 180 minutes
- C1 – 240 minutes
- C2 – 260 minutes
The exam assesses and certifies candidates’ communicative skills in speaking (oral exam) and in listening, reading, and writing (written exam). The written exam consists of 3 subtests, including various task types: multiple choice, drag & drop, dropdown selection, listening tasks, and essay writing. The written exam requires concentration and motivation from the test takers. Any underestimation of the exam can lead to negative test results.
The content of the test is not related to any given coursebook, teaching method or study hours.
ASSESSMENT
The oral exam lasts approximately 20 minutes. The marks given are from 2 to 6.
Oral assessment criteria:
- Fluency and flexibility
- Interaction skills
- Vocabulary range
- Grammatical accuracy
- Pronunciation and intonation
- Sociolinguistic appropriateness
- Coherence and cohesion
- Accuracy of reasoning
Written assessment criteria:
- Language richness
- Vocabulary control
- Grammatical accuracy
- Spelling
- Sociolinguistic appropriateness
- Coherence and structure
- Relevance and accuracy
- Adherence to required length
FINAL GRADE
The exam consists of two independent parts:
- Oral exam
- Written exam
Both are graded on a 2–6 scale.
Final grade formula:
Final grade = 0.25 × oral grade + 0.75 × written grade
All three grades are recorded on the certificate, along with a CEFR-based description of language competence.