Testing your Arabic (CEFR)
Finding the right course takes three steps; Test your language level, then find courses for your level and then choose your pathway.
Step 1: Test your language level
Important, please read
These are indicative self-checks to help you choose a course, not formal qualifications or a substitute for a recognised proficiency exam. We do not run them and are not responsible for their content. Availability, cost and accuracy change over time. Our research is a starting point, and you will likely need to do some of your own. If in doubt, get in touch.
Which form the tests assess
Almost all Arabic tests assess Modern Standard Arabic, not dialect. That suits Translation, which is written. For Interpreting, where much work is in dialect, a Modern Standard Arabic result may not reflect your spoken strength. Bear that in mind when reading your level, and note that the CEFR maps less neatly onto Arabic than onto European languages, so treat any result as a guide.
The test/s we have found:
The AL-ARABIYYA-TEST is the most credible free option. It was developed at the University of Leipzig and is aligned to the CEFR from A1 to C2.
Free sample tests are grouped as A1 to A2, B1 to B2, and C1 to C2.
Pick the band you think you are in, take that sample, and use the result as your level.
The full certified test is paid, but you do not need it to choose a course.
Link: toafl.com/sample-tests
If you just want a fast indicative level, 17 Minute Languages has a free Arabic test that takes about three minutes and reports a CEFR level. Treat it as a rough guide only. Link: 17-minute-languages.com.
Please let us know if these links don’t work or you find a better test - this can help other students!
If you need formal proof
Should an employer or university ever ask for certified proof of your Arabic, the recognised exam is the ALPT (Arabic Language Proficiency Test), which maps to the CEFR. It is a paid formal exam and is separate from choosing a course with us.
Reading / ‘mapping’ your result
All of these report in CEFR levels, so your result reads straight across to our course levels (B1 upwards). If you land on a boundary, take the lower level as your working level and contact us if you are unsure.
Step 2: Find courses for your level
Now that you have your CEFR level, go back and find the courses available to you: find courses for your level at linguisttraining.com/whichcourse#findcourses.
Step 3: Choose your pathway
From there, choose whether you want to qualify as a Translator, an Interpreter, or both, and follow the pathway that leads to your recognised professional qualification.
Last reviewed: June 2026
You can also enrol on one of our Translation Practices to truly test your written language level. We provide an appropriate Source Text (often an exam past paper) that you translate, then one of our LanguagePartners will proofread it and provide guidance / scoring - it’s an excellent way of ascertaining your written translation level. Find these at linguisttraining.thinkific.com/collections/translationpracticegeneral.
