Greek language exam (A2)

What is the purpose of taking this exam?

The Greek language exam at the A2 level is an important step for anyone looking to confirm their basic knowledge of the language or submit documents for Cypriot citizenship (note that in Greece, there is a special citizenship exam that includes both language and questions about history, politics, and geography, which we will cover in a separate article). This exam is usually held every year in May and consists of four parts: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.


Each year, the tasks on the exam vary slightly, but the overall format remains the same. Even if you are confident in your language skills, it is essential to review the exam structure, familiarize yourself with the types of tasks, and practice completing them within a time limit.


To successfully pass the exam, you need to score more than 50% in each section. It’s not enough to excel in just one section; ignoring another entirely will result in failure. Therefore, you will need to work on all aspects of the language during your preparation.


Let’s break down how the Greek language exam (A2 level) is structured and what to expect in each section:

Reading

The first part of the exam is reading comprehension — κατανόηση γραπτού λόγου, which means understanding written language. You will have 30 minutes to complete this section, which consists of four tasks that test how well you understand the main idea of a text and how effectively you can extract relevant information.

The texts usually cover everyday topics such as family, professions, or hobbies, though they can sometimes be more challenging.


Reading Tasks:


1. True or False (Σωστό ή Λάθος).


Based on the text you read, you will need to determine whether a statement is true or false. You probably won’t have time to read the text carefully and translate every word, so to save time, skim through the text first, review the statements, and only then begin reading the full text.

   

 

2. Matching Parts of Sentences.


You will be given sentence fragments (beginnings and endings) and need to match them to form a complete sentence based on the text. Pay attention to grammar and agreement, as the beginning and end of the sentence must match in meaning. There will be two incorrect options designed to confuse you.








3. Multiple Choice.


Here is a new text task; let's analyze it using an example of online correspondence.





After reading the messages, you will need to select the correct answer from four options. This task tests not only your ability to understand the overall meaning but also your skill in identifying key information in the text.



 

4. Fill in the Blanks.


You will fill in missing words from a table provided. It’s important to consider the context and grammar rules when choosing the right word. Be careful, as some words will not fit in any of the blanks.

Listening

The second part of the exam is listening comprehension — Κατανόηση προφορικού λόγου. You will have 25 minutes to complete this section. It consists of four audio tracks, which may include dialogues, interviews, or advertisements. Each track is played twice. Before listening, review the task to familiarize yourself with the topic and vocabulary.


Listening Tasks:


1. Matching to a Picture.


You will listen to a description and choose the picture that corresponds to the audio. Some images may be similar, so pay attention to details. There will also be pictures that don't match.



The audio track for this and the following tasks can be listened to via the link.


2. Multiple Choice.


After listening to a dialogue, you will need to select the correct answer from several options. Dialogues often involve everyday topics, such as plans for the day, a meeting, or a trip.





3. True or False.


You will need to determine whether the statements are true or false based on the information provided in the audio. The dialogue or monologue could be about anything, from describing events to talking about professions or daily life.





4. Fill in Missing Information.


This is the most challenging task, where you will listen to the audio and fill in the missing information from memory, such as ages, times, names, or geographic locations. Make sure to read the task before the first listening to understand what’s missing, and then try to fill in the gaps as you listen.

 

Writing

The third part of the exam is written expression — Γραπτός λόγος (έκθεση), where you will need to write two texts: one will be a friendly letter, and the second will be a formal letter or announcement. You will have 45 minutes to complete this section, so it’s important to use your time wisely and write without mistakes on your final draft.


Writing Tasks:


1. Friendly Letter.


In this task, you will write a letter to a friend using an informal style. The task will specify what you should ask or tell your friend.





2. Formal Letter or Announcement.


For this task, you will need to write a letter requesting information, making a formal statement, or creating an announcement. Make sure to follow the structure of a formal letter and use a more formal style.

Both tasks should contain approximately 80–100 words. Pay attention to spelling and accuracy, as the examiner will assess not only your grammar but also how well you address the topic.

Speaking

The fourth part of exam is speaking part — Προφορικός λόγος — might be the most stressful, but with enough preparation, you can pass it with ease. The speaking part  of the exam sometimes takes place on a different day, separate from the written part, and consists of several stages and lasts about 12 minutes in total.


1. Introductory Questions.


The examiner will ask simple questions about your name, age, profession, hobbies, family, where you’re from, etc. Don’t worry; this is just a warm-up to ease the tension.




2. Answering More Complex Questions.


The examiner will then ask a more open-ended question, such as where you prefer to live (city or countryside), your opinion on sports, or how you spend your free time. Here, it’s important not to give short answers; explain "why" you feel the way you do, e.g., "I prefer living in the city because there are more opportunities for work, entertainment, and meeting people." Your opinion will not be questioned or debated—just give a detailed answer.




3. Describing a Picture.

The examiner will show you a picture and ask you to describe it. Discuss who or what is in the picture, what items and details are visible, and then analyze the situation and express your opinion about it. For example, if there’s a person in sportswear in a park, you could say they are exercising and explain why that is important for health.

For example:





The following video will help you prepare for this task:






4. Dialogue with a Partner.


The final stage is a role-playing dialogue between two candidates. You will be assigned a role and will engage in a conversation, such as discussing work, new positions, salary, or working conditions. The following two examples cover topics such as "pets" (which animal is suitable for a home) and "orientation / navigation" (how to get there / how to reach the place).

It’s essential to maintain balance: don’t turn the dialogue into a monologue, give your partner a chance to speak, and actively participate in the conversation by asking and answering questions.

Here, on the official website, you can watch a video example of how the oral part of the exam is conducted.

How to Prepare for the Exam?

To succeed in the exam, it’s best to start preparing well in advance. Here are a few helpful tips:


- Speak Greek as much as possible: Use Greek in daily life, listen to audio materials, read simple texts, and talk to native speakers.

- Practice role-playing dialogues: This will help you feel confident during the speaking part and improve your ability to respond quickly.

- Write regularly: Practice writing letters, statements, and announcements to improve your ability to express yourself clearly and remember useful phrases.

- Develop listening skills: Listen to songs, podcasts, and watch videos in Greek to improve your listening comprehension.

- Do practice exams: Work with a teacher or take practice tests to become familiar with the types of tasks and how to manage your time effectively.


The A2 exam is an important milestone on your path to deeper knowledge of Greek. Passing it successfully will open up new opportunities for you. If you need help, If you need assistance, choose the Preparation for international exam in Greek course and οur Greek tutors will be happy to assist you and prepare you for the exam.


Good luck! Καλή επιτυχία!


All examples and screenshots of the tasks were taken from the official website https://www.greek-language.gr and are freely available there.