Greek in the ΠΕΓΠ
Greek for citizenship: how the language part is tested
The Greek language is worth 60 of the 100 points in the naturalisation exam, and you need at least 40 of them. Here is what each part asks of you, how long you have and how it is marked.
Three parts, 60 points
| Part | What you do | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and writing | 18 questions on texts, and a text of your own of 80 to 100 words | 30 |
| Listening | You hear two recorded texts and answer 10 questions | 15 |
| Speaking | You talk to the examiners about a topic with photos | 15 |
The Greek pass mark is 40/60, and the thematic sections cannot make up for it. Even if you get all 20 Geography, History, Culture and Institutions questions right, 38/60 in Greek is a fail. So give the language at least as much time as the question bank.
Reading and writing: 30 points
This is sat together with the thematic sections, in the first part of the exam, which lasts 150 minutes in total. You split the time yourself, so do not leave the writing until the end.
- Reading comprehension, 9 points: questions on a text, one point each.
- Language exercises, 9 points: again one point per correct answer.
- Your own text, 12 points: a short text of 80 to 100 words. Do not sign it with your name, because papers must stay anonymous.
The question bank has 100 reading and writing topics, published with their answers.
Listening: 15 points
After a 15-minute break you hear two recorded texts. Each one is played twice, with three minutes in between to work on the exercises. At the end you get three more minutes to copy your answers onto the answer sheet. The whole part takes up to 15 minutes.
- 10 questions, 1.5 points each.
- You answer by filling in the circle next to the right letter. If you fill in two circles for the same question, it does not count.
- Only the answer sheet is marked. The blank pages and the photocopies are for rough work.
The bank has 50 listening topics with the official audio files.
Speaking: 15 points
This is the last part of the day and takes up to 15 minutes. The invigilators take candidates to the room in pairs, but each person is examined separately, on one of the four topics drawn that day.
- You start with a few warm-up questions.
- Then come communication and problem-solving tasks based on photos.
- Do not introduce yourself or give your details to the examiners. It is not allowed.
The bank has 25 practice topics with pictures. If you describe each one out loud before the exam, none of them will catch you off guard.
What level of Greek you need
The official guide does not name a CEFR level (A2, B1 and so on). The safest measure is the bank itself: if you understand its texts and recordings, you are at the right level. The language exercises in Greek Citizen are written at B1, which matches the difficulty of the topics.
There are also special versions of the papers, for candidates over 62 who are examined orally and for candidates with learning difficulties or a disability. Check the official website (in Greek) to see if they apply to you.
In the app you will find reading, listening, writing with feedback and speaking. See also the format of the whole exam, the question bank and the past papers.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is the Greek language worth in the citizenship exam?
60 of 100: 30 for reading and writing, 15 for listening and 15 for speaking. You need at least 40/60.
How many words should the written text be?
Between 80 and 100 words. Do not sign it with your name.
How many times is the recording played?
Each text is played twice, with three minutes in between for the exercises.
Can I pass with full marks in the thematic part but under 40 in Greek?
No. You need at least 40/60 in Greek, at least 20/40 in the thematic sections and at least 70/100 overall.