Free guides, written by people who teach this
Grammar that explains the rule rather than listing it, phrase guides without the phrases nobody says, and honest notes on which parts of a language you genuinely cannot learn alone.
SpanishEspañol
All Spanish guides →- GrammarA1–B1Ser vs estar: how to know which “to be” you needSpanish has two verbs for “to be”, and the permanent-versus-temporary rule breaks constantly. The distinction that holds, with examples and mistakes.
- PhrasesA140 Spanish phrases that actually get used in a first conversationThe phrases that carry a real first conversation in Spanish: greetings, asking for help, and the four sentences that keep it alive when you are lost.
- CostAny levelHow much do Spanish lessons cost?What two platforms publish for Spanish tutors, including their own country-by-country rates, and why Spain costs more than Colombia for one lesson.
- ExamA1–C2DELE explained: the levels, what it costs, and which one you actually needThe official Spanish diplomas: six levels, no expiry, the A2 that Spanish nationality actually requires, and why the price varies threefold.
- ExamA1–C2DELE results: two months, or three if you sat in May or NovemberHow long DELE results take, why the FAQ appears to give two answers, and what a review costs: 60% of the fee, and the grade can come back lower.
- ExamA1–C1SIELE: the Spanish exam you cannot fail, and what that costs youSIELE scores 0–1000 and states you cannot fail. The six modalities, what the certificate is worth against the DELE, and the catch. Read 31 Aug 2026.
- ExamA2+The CCSE: 300 published questions, 25 on the day, and you need 15The CCSE draws 25 of 300 questions Instituto Cervantes publishes in advance; 15 pass. Fee, 2026–27 dates, retake and validity, read 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamA2+Spanish for citizenship in Latin America: three countries test it, two ask for noneCosta Rica, Colombia and Ecuador test Spanish for naturalisation; Panama asks for it; Argentina and Uruguay ask none. The laws, read Oct 2026.
- ExamBásico–AvanzadoCELU explained: Argentina's Spanish certificate, its three levels, an exam that does not count grammar mistakes, and the feesCELU is Argentina's Spanish certificate: Básico (new in 2026), Intermedio, Avanzado. No grammar section, no dictionary, no expiry. Fees from USD 100.
EnglishEnglish
All English guides →- GrammarA2–B2Present perfect vs past simple: the difference is the time frame“I have seen it” or “I saw it”? It depends on whether the time period is finished. The rules, examples, and why some backgrounds find it harder.
- PhrasesB1–C1Business English email phrases that sound natural, not translatedOpenings, requests, chasing, bad news and closings in professional English — with the register each one carries and the phrases to retire.
- CostAny levelHow much do English lessons cost?What platforms publish for English tutors, why “native speaker” is the least useful filter in the biggest language market, and what decides your bill.
- ExamB1The Life in the UK test: 24 questions, 18 to pass, and £50 every timeLife in the UK test: 24 questions in 45 minutes, 75% to pass, £50 per attempt with no free retake. Booking, ID and refunds, read on GOV.UK 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamB1The Canadian citizenship test: 20 questions, 15 to pass, three chances in 30 daysCanada's citizenship test: 20 questions, 15 to pass, online at home, three tries in 30 days, ages 18–54. What failing leads to. Read on IRCC 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamA2+The Australian citizenship test: 15 of 20, but 5 of 5 on valuesAustralia's citizenship test: 20 questions, 15 to pass, and every one of the 5 values questions must be right. It also tests your English. Read 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamA2+The US citizenship civics test: 128 published questions, 20 asked aloud, 12 to passThe 2025 US civics test: 20 of 128 published questions, asked aloud, 12 to pass, stopped at 12 right or 9 wrong. The 2008 test, English test, retest rules.
- ExamBands 0–9IELTS never expires. It recommends when to stop trusting itIELTS has no pass mark and no expiry date — only a two-year recommendation. The band scale, the rounding rule that favours you, and re-marks. 1 Sep 2026.
- ExamCLB 4Language proof for Canadian citizenship: CLB 4, speaking and listening, and old results still countCanada asks applicants aged 18 to 54 for CLB 4 in speaking and listening. Every proof IRCC accepts, the scores, and why expired results count. Oct 2026.
- ExamCLB 3–10PTE Core scores explained: the 10–90 scale, CLB, and what IRCC asks forPTE Core scores run 10–90 and map to CLB per skill, but Pearson's table stops at CLB 10. Results, validity, cancel fees, and what IRCC asks. Oct 2026.
- ExamCLB 4–10CELPIP, IELTS or PTE Core for Canada: same CLB, three different testsIRCC converts all three to the same CLB, but the score you need differs by skill and test. IRCC's chart side by side, results, validity, price. Oct 2026.
- ExamCLB 4–12CELPIP scores explained: levels 1 to 12, CLB, and the validity its own site gives twiceCELPIP levels map one-to-one to CLB. The raw scores behind them, results in 2–4 business days, $199 LS vs $299 General, and what IRCC needs. Oct 2026.
- ExamCAEL 10–90CAEL scores explained: the 10–90 bands, how 62.5 becomes 60 but 65 becomes 70, and the IELTS equivalents Paragon publishesCAEL runs 10–90. The overall averages four skills, rounded to the nearest 10: 65 becomes 70 and 62.5 becomes 60. Paragon maps CAEL 60 to IELTS 6.5.
- ExamA2–C2The Cambridge exam you book decides the highest score you can be givenB2 First can award a C1 certificate and C1 Advanced can award a B2 one. The scale, the grade boundaries, the score ceiling, re-marks. 5 Sep 2026.
- ExamBands 1–6 (A1–C2)TOEFL still prints a score out of 120. It is no longer your scoreSince 21 January 2026 TOEFL reports a 1–6 band; the 0–120 figure is a range midpoint, not your result. Bands, CEFR, validity, fees in 212 countries.
- ExamScores 10–160 (A1–C2)Duolingo English Test scores: what 10–160 means, and why 105 to 115 is one IELTS bandDET scores run 10–160. Duolingo's own chart puts 105, 110 and 115 all at IELTS 6, and B1 spans 60–95. The full table, read 16 Oct 2026.
- ExamScores 10–90PTE Academic scores: Pearson's 2025 IELTS table, and why IELTS 7 in speaking takes 76 on PTEPTE Academic overall 63–70 matches IELTS 7.0, but IELTS 7 in speaking needs PTE 76–82. Pearson's July 2025 tables, read 16 Oct 2026.
- ExamScores 10–990 (A1–C1)TOEIC scores explained: 10–990, ETS's CEFR cut scores, and why a 40-point gain is realTOEIC Listening and Reading runs 10–990. ETS's own CEFR cut scores, 2025 averages by country, and how big a gain must be to count. Read 16 Oct 2026.
- ExamAll levelsIELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo or TOEIC: five scales, three ways to make an overall scoreFive English tests, five scales: which average their sections, which add them, which do neither, how long each result lasts, and IELTS 7 on each.
- ExamB2–C2OET scores: 350 is a B, and a B is what most nurses and doctors are asked forOET reports each sub-test from 0 to 500 with a grade from A to E. What 350 means, the CEFR and IELTS tables OET publishes, re-marks and results times.
- ExamB1–C2Linguaskill scores: the test now reports B1 to C2, and anything below B1 is "Not reported"Linguaskill reports 140–159 as B1, 160–179 B2, 180–199 C1, 200–210 C2. Below B1 a module shows Not reported. The average, retakes, results and expiry.
- ExamA1–C2LanguageCert SELT scores for UK visas: the Home Office's minimum for each test and levelLanguageCert's UK visa tests: 60/100 for the speaking and listening SELTs, 40, 60 and 75 per skill for B1, B2 and C1 on Academic and General. Read 29 Oct.
- ExamA1–C2Trinity GESE and ISE explained: the grades, the CEFR levels, how a pass is worked out, and the UK SELT versionsGESE has 12 grades, and 7, 8 and 9 are all B2. ISE Paper needs a pass in all four skills; ISE Digital averages them on 0–150. Plus the UK SELT versions.
- ExamA2–C1Michigan English Test (MET) scores: the 0–80 scale, the CEFR bands, the one-section retake, and the Australian visa scoresMET scores run 0–80: 53–63 is B2, 64–80 C1. The overall is an average. You can retake one section, but not speaking, and must order it within 3 days.
- ExamA1–C1EIKEN grades and CSE scores explained: the fixed pass marks, why writing weighs as much as reading, and the CEFR you get even if you failEIKEN Grade 2 passes at CSE 1520 in the first stage and 460 in the interview. Every skill carries equal points, so writing counts as much as reading.
- ExamA1–C2Skills for English SELT explained: taken outside the UK, pass or fail with no certificate, and an appeal that can cut both waysSkills for English: SELT is sat outside the UK only. You get pass or fail, no certificate, a reference valid 2 years, and an appeal that can go down.
- ExamB2Michigan ECCE results explained: the 650 average, the five score bands, why Honors is so rare, and the 2025 pass rateECCE passes on an average of 650 out of 1000. In 2025, 88.74% passed but only 0.18% got Honors, which needs 840 in all four sections. The writing is why.
- ExamC2Michigan ECPE results explained: the C2 certificate on an average of 650, the Honors almost nobody gets, and the 2025 figuresThe ECPE certificate needs an average of 650 out of 1000; Honors needs 840 in all four sections. In 2025, 77.63% passed and 0.03% got Honors.
- ExamA2–C1Oxford Test of English scores: the 1–200 scale, what each test can certify, and the retake limitsOxford Test of English: 111–140 is B2, 141–170 C1. The standard test certifies A2–B2, Advanced B2–C1. The overall is an average; retakes keep your best.
- ExamA1–C2Aptis scores: 0 to 50 per skill, and why the same total of 169 can be B2 or C1Aptis scores each skill 0–50, but the CEFR level is set separately: the British Council's own example gives two 169s, one B2 and one C1. Versions, results.
- ExamB1–B2English for UK settlement and citizenship: B1 today, B2 for settlement from 26 March 2027Settlement and British citizenship ask for B1 English in speaking and listening. HC 1691 raises settlement to B2 from 26 March 2027. Tests and exemptions.
- ExamA1–B1PTE Home A1, A2 and B1 explained: the UK family-visa English test, its tasks, pass or fail, and why it stops at B1 when settlement moves to B2PTE Home is Pearson's speaking-and-listening SELT for UK family visas: A1, A2 and B1, pass or fail, results in about 2 days. It has no B2 level.
- ExamA2–C1CertAcles explained: Spain's university language certificate, the 50% in every skill, and what a B2 costsCertAcles is the language certificate of Spain's university language centres. You need 50% overall and 50% in each of four skills. UPV B2: €88 or €113.
- ExamLevels A–EYDS and e-YDS explained: Turkey's 80-question language exam, no penalty for wrong answers, 55 for a doctorate, and the 2026 dates and feesYDS is ÖSYM's 80-question, 180-minute exam: no speaking, no writing, no penalty for wrong answers. 55 for a doctorate. YDS 1,200 TL, e-YDS 2,150 TL.
- ExamA2–C1ECL exam explained: the August 2026 switch to 60% in every module, why Hungary still uses 40% and a 60% average, and what older certificates showOutside Hungary the ECL now needs 60% in each module, combinable within a year. In Hungary it is still 40% per skill and a 60% average.
- ExamA2–C1GEPT (全民英檢) explained: the 160 and 72 rule, the levels, the 2027 fees and the two-year window for the second stageGEPT listening and reading need 160 of 240 with neither below 72. Writing and speaking come after, within two years. Levels and 2027 fees from LTTC.
- ExamA2–C1+MUET explained: the 360-point score, bands 1.0 to 5+, the CEFR table, five-year validity and the feeMUET scores four papers at 90 each, 360 in all, on bands 1.0 to 5+. Results last five years. Band, CEFR and fee tables from the Malaysian council.
- ExamB1–C1VSTEP.3-5 explained: one exam for B1, B2 and C1, the score-to-level table, the format and what it costs at ULISVSTEP.3-5 is one test for B1, B2 and C1: 4.0 is level 3, 6.0 level 4 and 8.5 level 5. Format, re-mark rules and ULIS's 1,800,000 VND fee.
- ExamPre A1–A2Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers explained: no pass or fail, five shields per skill, and a strict spelling rule in ListeningNo child fails Cambridge's young learner exams: each skill earns up to five shields. Lengths, results, and why spelling must be right in most of Listening.
- ExamNovice–SuperiorACTFL OPIc explained: how your self-assessment limits your rating, and what differs in South KoreaThe OPIc is a computer speaking test. On LTI's version your self-assessment picks one of five forms, and each form limits your rating. Korea differs.
FrenchFrançais
All French guides →- GrammarA1–A2French verb conjugation: the three groups, and why most verbs are easyFrench verbs divide into three groups. Learn the -er pattern first and you can conjugate roughly 80% of French verbs immediately.
- CostAny levelHow much do French lessons cost?What platforms publish for French tutors, how much the teacher's country moves the price, and why metropolitan-or-Canadian matters more than saving $3.
- ExamA1–C2DELF and DALF: six diplomas for life, and a C2 that stops testing four skillsFrance's DELF and DALF are six separate diplomas, each valid for life. Levels, pass marks and the C2 that drops the four-skill format, read 2026-08-30.
- ExamB2France's examen civique: 40 questions, 32 to pass, and the half you cannot seeFrance's civic exam since 1 Jan 2026: 40 questions, 32 to pass (80%), 45 minutes. Knowledge questions published, situational ones not. Read 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamNCLC 4–10TEF Canada or TCF Canada: scores to NCLC, results, and the re-mark you cannot get until 2027IRCC's own NCLC chart for TEF Canada and TCF Canada, results in 10 vs 15 business days, and TCF's re-marking pause from Sept 2026 to autumn 2027. Oct 2026.
- ExamA2 · B1 · B2France now asks for B2. Only one of the two ways to prove it lastsFrom 1 January 2026 France requires B2, spoken and written, for nationality. The law names two tests, and a test attestation lasts two years. 10 Sep 2026.
- ExamA2–C2TEFAQ and TCF-Québec for the PEQ and PSTQ: the level 7 scores, what each programme asks, and the two-year ruleQuébec's level 7 means 400 on TEFAQ or TCF listening, and 10 of 20 on TCF speaking. What the PEQ and PSTQ ask, and why TEFAQ will not do for Ottawa.
- ExamA1–C1DFP explained: CCI Paris's professional French diplomas, the 50% and 60% rule, and a certificate that does not expireThe DFP from CCI Paris covers business, health, tourism and diplomacy. You need 50% in each part and 60% on average. Valid for life. Levels and exam day.
GermanDeutsch
All German guides →- GrammarA1–B1German cases explained: what nominative, accusative, dative and genitive actually doGerman cases mark the job a noun does in the sentence. Here is what each case is for, the article tables, and how to work out which one you need.
- CostAny levelHow much do German lessons cost?What platforms publish for German tutors, why a tutor in Zurich costs 40% more than one in Berlin for the same language, and what decides the bill.
- ExamA1–C2Goethe-Zertifikat levels explained: six exams, and the four you can splitThe Goethe-Institut's own timings for A1 to C2, which levels split into modules, what each passes at, and the 2026 German price table: A1 €155 to C2 €359.
- ExamB1telc Deutsch B1 or Goethe-Zertifikat B1? The same level, two different examsBoth certify B1 German and are not the same exam: the subtest telc has and Goethe does not, how far apart the parts may be sat, and who answers first.
- ExamB1The Einbürgerungstest: 310 published questions, 33 on the day, and you need 17Germany's citizenship test draws 33 of 310 published questions; 17 pass. Why the state questions matter most, the €25 fee and the result wait. 5 Oct 2026.
- ExamB2–C1The TestDaF has no pass mark, because it refuses to decideThe TestDaF publishes no pass mark at all. What TDN 3, 4 and 5 mean, the 0–20 scale, and why your university is the one that decides. Read 31 Aug 2026.
- ExamB1German for citizenship: B1 in four countries, proved four different waysGermany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein all ask for B1 German to naturalise, but name different exams and exemptions. The laws, read 2026.
- ExamB1Austria's B1 Integrationsprüfung: one sitting, five subtests, and Sprechen you cannot missAustria's B1 integration exam: 140 min written, a 16-min paired oral, €176 at the ÖIF. You need Sprechen, one more module and the values part. Oct 2026.
- ExamB1The fide test: Switzerland's own language test, A1 to B1, and what each permit needsSwitzerland's fide test: 40-min oral, 60-min written, CHF 250, or one part alone. Which level each permit and naturalisation needs. Read Oct 2026.
- ExamA2–B1The DTZ: one test that awards A2 or B1, and B1 needs your speaking to get thereThe DTZ grades you A2 or B1 in one sitting. Points per part, the rule that speaking must reach B1, who can sit it, retakes, and why B1 matters.
- ExamA1–C2ÖSD exams explained: the pass marks for B1, B2 and C1, which modules can be taken alone, and where an ÖSD certificate countsÖSD B1 passes module by module at 60 of 100. B2 and C1 need 60% overall plus a minimum in every skill. What counts in Austria and Germany, and retakes.
- ExamB2–C1DSH explained: DSH-1, DSH-2 and DSH-3 at 57, 67 and 82%, the 2:2:1:2 weighting, and why a strong oral cannot rescue the written paperDSH-2, the level for unrestricted admission, needs 67% in the written exam AND 67% in the oral. Grammar is only 1 of 7 parts of the written weighting.
- ExamB1–B2telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege explained: the nursing German exam, the point bands, and why speaking decides whether you get B2telc Pflege gives B1 or B2 from one exam. B2 needs 75 of 100 in speaking plus B2 in either the written test or writing. Retakes are whole-exam only.
- ExamC1telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule explained: 60% in both parts, the 214-point scale, and the twelve-month window to retake one parttelc C1 Hochschule: 99 of 166 written and 29 of 48 oral, 128 of 214 overall. Fail one part and you can retake only that part within twelve months.
- ExamOrientated to C1Fachsprachprüfung for doctors in Germany: three 20-minute parts, a fee from €420 to €600, and a pass rule that depends on your chamberSix German states, read first-party: the same three 20-minute parts, fees from €420 to €600, and two different pass rules. What changes with your chamber.
- ExamA2–C1Deutsch-Test für den Beruf (DTB) explained: the 144 of 240 B2 pass rule, the one weak skill you can carry, and who runs the examDTB B2 needs 144 of 240, and three of the four skills above 60%. One skill between 40% and 60% can be carried. Format and points from telc's model test.
UkrainianУкраїнська
All Ukrainian guides →- Writing systemA1The Ukrainian alphabet: all 33 letters, and the ones that trip up English speakersUkrainian Cyrillic has 33 letters and most are learnable in an afternoon. The full alphabet, the false friends, and what sets it apart from Russian.
- CostAny levelHow much do Ukrainian lessons cost?What the big platforms publish for Ukrainian tutors, why non-native teachers often cost more than native ones, and what an hourly rate actually buys.
- ExamA1–C2Ukraine's state language exam: you do not pick the level, the percentage doesTwo exams share one name. Officials sit 60 minutes and the score picks the level, A1 at 30% up to C2 at 90%. Foreigners get B1 or nothing. 9 Sep 2026.
Japanese日本語
All Japanese guides →- Writing systemA1Hiragana, katakana and kanji: which to learn first and whyJapanese uses three writing systems at once. Here is what each is for, how they combine in a single sentence, and the order that gets you reading fastest.
- CostAny levelHow much do Japanese lessons cost?What platforms publish for Japanese tutors, and the parts of Japanese you should never pay a teacher to cover — which is most of the first three months.
- ExamN5–N1JLPT levels explained: which one to sit, and the rule that fails peopleWhat N5 to N1 mean, the official pass mark for each, the sectional minimum that fails a high scorer, and the two skills the JLPT never tests.
- ExamA1–A2JFT-Basic: 200 out of 250 is the A2 that Specified Skilled Worker visas ask forJFT-Basic is a 60-minute computer test scored 10 to 250. 200 is A2, the level for Specified Skilled Worker (i). Sections, new A1 bands, 45-day retakes.
- ExamAcademic JapaneseEJU explained: the scores, the Japanese section, two-year validity and the 2026 fees, from JASSOThe EJU has no pass mark. Japanese is scored 0–400 plus 0–50 for writing, scores last two years, universities pick subjects. From JASSO's 2026 rules.
- ExamJ5–J1+BJT explained: the 0 to 800 score, the J5 to J1+ levels, the 2026 fee, and why there is no pass or failThe BJT has no pass or fail: 80 questions, about two hours, a score from 0 to 800 and six levels. ¥8,000 in Japan, and a certificate that never expires.
- Exam5Q–1QNAT-TEST explained: the five levels, the pass marks, and April 2026's pass rates by levelNAT-TEST follows the JLPT, with 5 levels and a 19-of-60 floor per section. Pass marks by level, and April 2026's pass rates: 30.9% at 2Q, 50.6% at 5Q.
- ExamSpecial A–GJ.TEST explained: three tests, one 50/50 score split, and the zero-score rule that can cost you the certificateJ.TEST has three tests, half reading, half listening. A certificate needs 600, 350 or 180 points and no zero in any of eight sections. Levels and fees.
Chinese中文
All Chinese guides →- GrammarA1Mandarin tones: what they are, and why your ear needs a teacher for thisMandarin's four tones plus the neutral one change word meaning entirely. What each does, how they shift when combined, and why self-study struggles.
- CostAny levelHow much do Chinese lessons cost?What platforms publish for Mandarin tutors, and why Chinese contains the single strongest argument for paying a teacher of any language on this site.
- ExamHSK 1–9HSK levels explained: the new syllabus, countedThe HSK syllabus in force since July 2026, counted from its own lists: what each level adds, and how few characters you must write by hand.
- ExamA1–C2TOCFL explained: the bands and levels, the 0–80 cut scores, traditional or simplified characters, and why TOCFL says HSK 6 is only B2TOCFL has three bands and six levels, A1 to C2. Listening and reading are scored 0–80 with their own cut scores. Results are digital-only since 2026.
- ExamHSKK Elementary–AdvancedHSKK explained: the three HSK speaking levels, what each paper asks, the 60-point pass and the two-year validityThe HSKK has three levels, scored out of 100 with 60 to pass, and results count for two years. What each paper asks, timed, from the official site.
- ExamYCT 1–4YCT explained: the Youth Chinese Test's four levels, the pass marks, and what a pass on the total meansYCT is the Chinese test for school students: four written levels, 120 of 200 to pass at levels 1-3, 180 of 300 at level 4. Questions and timings by level.
ItalianItaliano
All Italian guides →- PhrasesA1Italian greetings: ciao, salve, buongiorno and when each one is wrongCiao is not always safe. A guide to Italian greetings by formality and time of day, including the ones for leaving and the regional variations.
- CostAny levelHow much do Italian lessons cost?What platforms publish for Italian tutors, why native and non-native cost almost the same, and why Italian is cheap to start and expensive to finish.
- ExamA1–C2The CELI: one Italian exam, split three ways by who is sitting itItaly's CELI splits into three lines by candidate: adults, adolescents, migrants. Levels, what the CELI 3 buys, and the A1 that fuses two skills.
- ExamA1–C2CILS results take about three months, and a partial pass lasts eighteenCILS results take about three months and nothing is marked early. What a capitalizzazione lets you re-sit, and the 30 days to see your own papers.
- ExamB1CILS or CELI for Italian citizenship: what actually differsBoth are B1 and both are CLIQ certificates. Where you can sit them, how often, how long results take and what a half-pass buys you are not the same.
- ExamA1–C2PLIDA explained: the B1 for Italian citizenship, 18 of 30 in every skill, the 2026 dates and what a partial pass keepsPLIDA B1 counts for Italian citizenship and is sat in Italy and abroad. Pass with 18/30 in all four skills; a passed skill is kept for 18 months.
- ExamA1–C2CERT.IT explained: Roma Tre's Italian certificate, the B1 for citizenship, a pass mark that adds three skills together, and the 2027 datesCERT.IT B1 passes at 60% of listening, reading and writing together plus 60% in speaking. Three B1 dates in 2027, €80 in Rome, centres in 12 countries.
PortuguesePortuguês
All Portuguese guides →- VocabularyA1-B2Brazilian vs European Portuguese: which one should you learn?The two varieties differ in pronunciation, pronoun use and everyday vocabulary. What actually separates them, and how to choose before you pick a teacher.
- CostAny levelHow much do Portuguese lessons cost?What platforms publish for Portuguese tutors, why Brazil-or-Portugal matters more than the price, and the one country figure we cannot explain.
- ExamA1–C2Portuguese exams explained: eight certificates, six levelsThe official CAPLE certificates, what each one maps to on the CEFR, the one skill they all test, and the fee none of them publishes.
- ExamB1–C2Celpe-Bras: the Portuguese exam with no beginner levelBrazil's official Portuguese exam awards four levels, none of them beginner, and your certificate is your weaker half. Verified on Inep's own pages.
RussianРусский
All Russian guides →- GrammarA1-B2The six Russian cases, and what each one is actually forRussian marks a noun's job with an ending rather than word order. What each of the six cases does, when you need it, and the order worth learning them in.
- CostAny levelHow much do Russian lessons cost?What platforms publish for Russian tutors, and the clearest evidence anywhere that you pay for where your teacher lives, not how well they teach.
- ExamA1–C2TORFL fails one subtest at a time, and lets you repair it for two yearsSix levels, five subtests, 66% in each — and one allowed at 60%. Fail one and you resit that part alone for two years, at half price. 5 Sep 2026.
PolishPolski
All Polish guides →- Writing systemA1Polish pronunciation: the consonant clusters are not as bad as they lookPolish spelling is almost perfectly regular once you know the digraphs. The sounds, the famous clusters, and the stress rule covering nearly every word.
- CostAny levelHow much do Polish lessons cost?What platforms publish for Polish tutors, and why the language with a fearsome reputation is one of the better arguments for paying a teacher early.
- ExamA1–C2Poland raises its own pass mark as the level risesThe Polish state certificate needs 50% up to B1 and 60% from B2 — a floor that moves. Levels, fee ceilings and the no-exam route. Read 1 Sep 2026.
Korean한국어
All Korean guides →- Writing systemA1Hangul: the alphabet you really can learn in an afternoonHangul was designed to be learnable, and the consonant shapes describe your mouth. How the blocks work, the letters, and why romanisation holds you back.
- CostAny levelHow much do Korean lessons cost?Preply lists native Korean tutors at $25/hr, non-native at $23 (9 Oct 2026); in August, $28 vs $20. And the part that truly needs a teacher.
- ExamTOPIK 1–6TOPIK levels explained: you do not choose your levelThe official 2026 cutoffs, why sitting TOPIK II can leave you with no grade at all, what it costs, and the two-year expiry most guides omit.
- ExamLevels 0–5KIIP explained: levels 0–5, the 60-point tests, and what the course now costsKorea's KIIP: levels 0–5, a 60/100 pass mark, 38,000 won per test, and course fees since 2025. What completion gives for F-5 and naturalisation.
- ExamBasic KoreanEPS-TOPIK explained: the 100-point Korean test for work in Korea, the minimum score by industry, and the 2025 pass figures by countryEPS-TOPIK is 40 questions for 100 points. Manufacturing needs 60, other industries 45, but places go in score order. In 2025, about 1 in 5 passed.
Arabicالعربية
All Arabic guides →- VocabularyA1Modern Standard Arabic or a dialect? The decision that shapes everythingNobody speaks Modern Standard Arabic at home and dialects are not written. What each is for, how far apart they are, and how to choose before you pay.
- CostAny levelHow much do Arabic lessons cost?What platforms publish for Arabic tutors, the lowest rates in the catalogue, and the decision that costs far more than the price if you get it wrong.
- ExamA1–C2CIMA explained: the Arabic certificate from A1 to C2, four papers, three-year validity and the 60-day retake ruleCIMA tests Modern Standard Arabic from A1 to C2 in four papers. Certificates last three years, and you wait 60 days between sittings. From the IMA's guide.
TurkishTürkçe
All Turkish guides →- GrammarA1-A2Turkish vowel harmony: the rule that makes the whole language clickTurkish suffixes change vowels to match the word they attach to. Understand harmony and Turkish stops looking irregular, because it essentially is not.
- CostAny levelHow much do Turkish lessons cost?What platforms publish for Turkish tutors, and why a language with almost no exceptions still needs a teacher, just not for the reasons you expect.
- ExamB2–C1The TYS sets its pass mark after you have sat itTurkey's Turkish exam certifies at B2 or C1 only, and the score ranges for both are fixed after each sitting rather than in advance. 9 Sep 2026.
DutchNederlands
All Dutch guides →- GrammarA1-B1Dutch word order: why the verb keeps moving to the endDutch looks like English until the verbs start migrating. The V2 rule, inversion, and why subordinate clauses send the verb to the back.
- CostAny levelHow much do Dutch lessons cost?What platforms publish for Dutch tutors, a rate that halves between two countries that both speak it natively, and the obstacle no lesson can fix.
- ExamA2–B1The Dutch integration exam (inburgeringsexamen): which law you fall under decides everythingThe 2013 and 2021 Dutch integration acts set different exams, fees and fines. €50 per exam, results now up to 16 weeks, A2 for naturalisation. Oct 2026.
- ExamB1–B2Staatsexamen NT2: two levels, four parts, and no deadline to finishThe Dutch state exam has only B1 and B2, costs €50 a part whichever you sit, and its certificates never expire. From DUO's own pages.
- ExamA2Belgian nationality: A2 in any of three languages, proved by one of eight documents, and a fee that went from 150 to 1,000 eurosBelgium asks for A2 in Dutch, French or German, proved by one of eight documents set by royal decree. The Flemish test costs 180 euros. Read 19 Oct 2026.
- ExamA2–C1CNaVT explained: the five Dutch exams from A2 to C1, a pass mark of 50 with no section minimum, fees by country, and one attempt per calendar yearCNaVT has five Dutch exams, A2 to C1. You pass on a total of 50, not per part. Fees run from €27.50 to €125 by country, and each exam is once a year.
NorwegianNorsk
All Norwegian guides →- ExamB1Norskprøven muntlig B1: what actually happens in the exam roomThe oral Norwegian test at B1, from the official rules: who needs it, how the 20–25 minutes work, and why you sit it with another candidate.
- CostAny levelHow much do Norwegian lessons cost?What platforms publish for Norwegian tutors, why native speakers cost more here and less elsewhere, and the municipal tuition you may be entitled to.
- ExamA1–B2On half of norskprøven the computer picks your level. On the other half you do — and it is bindingNorskprøven adapts your reading and listening papers automatically, but you choose the band for writing and speaking — and it caps you. Read 1 Sep 2026.
- ExamC1Norway's C1 Norwegian test has two possible results, and one of them is nothingNorway's C1 Norwegian test returns C1 or nothing — no lower level, two mixed-skill parts, twice a year. Marking, appeals, dates and price. 10 Sep 2026.
- ExamA2Statsborgerprøven: 36 questions, 4 of them do not count, and you need 24Norway's citizenship test: 36 questions, 32 scored, 24 to pass, and unlike Spain or Germany no published question bank. Price and results, 5 Oct 2026.
Finnishsuomi
All Finnish guides →- ExamA1–C2The YKI test: nine languages, three levels, and a price per skillFinland's YKI prices its four subtests unequally: speaking costs twice reading. Levels, fees, citizenship rules — from OPH's own pages, read 2026-08-29.
- CostAny levelHow much do Finnish lessons cost?Preply's own Finnish page: $10–$72 an hour, average $33, read 21 Sep 2026. Integration training in Finland is free if you have an integration plan.
- ExamB1Finland's citizenship test: required for applications from 1 March 2027From 1 March 2027 most Finnish citizenship applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass a test on Finnish society first. Format, places, alternatives and exemptions.
SwedishSvenska
All Swedish guides →- ExamA1–C1Swedish language tests: Swedex, Tisus, the SFI national test and the citizenship test that is not written yetSwedex keeps the lowest of four skill levels; Tisus is pass or fail for university entry; SFI ends in a national test. Own pages, read 21 Sep 2026.
- CostAny levelHow much do Swedish lessons cost?Preply's own Swedish page: $14–$100 an hour, average $38, read 21 Sep 2026. Before that, SFI is free of charge if you are registered in Sweden.
GreekΕλληνικά
All Greek guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Greek lessons cost?Preply's Greek page: $8–$75 an hour, average $27, non-native dearer than native ($30 vs $27). Its code tells search engines $38. Read 22 Oct 2026.
- ExamB1Greece's citizenship exam (ΠΕΓΠ): the 70-point rule, the public question bank, and how many passGreece's ΠΕΓΠ: 70/100 to pass, with 40/60 in Greek and 20/40 in civics, a €150 fee, a public bank of 300 questions, and the ministry's pass rates.
- ExamA1–C2The Greek language certificate (Ellinomatheia): six levels, 60% in every skill, and what it costsThe Ellinomatheia Greek certificate: A1 to C2, 60% needed in every skill, €90–€100 per exam, May sittings, and 8,769 candidates in 2024.
- ExamB1 (A2 on one route)Cyprus citizenship: Greek at B1, and a civics exam that is also in GreekCyprus asks for Greek B1 and 60% in a civics exam held only in Greek, for 20 euros. Seven years' residence, or three with B1 for skilled staff.
Czechčeština
All Czech guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Czech lessons cost?Preply's Czech page, read 22 Oct 2026: native and non-native both $27 an hour; Poland $30, Ireland $33. Integration centres run Czech courses up to B1.
- ExamA2–B1Czech exams for permanent residence (A2) and citizenship (B1): the pass marks, the fees, and the 300 published questionsPermanent residence: Czech A2, 60% in each part, 3,200 CZK. Citizenship: B1 plus a 30-question realities test, all 300 questions published. Oct 2026.
HungarianMagyar
All Hungarian guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Hungarian lessons cost?Preply's Hungarian page: $9–$98 an hour, average $28; native $25 vs non-native $20; Serbia-born tutors $19. Its code tells search engines $41.
- ExamNo level statedHungarian citizenship: an exam about the constitution in Hungarian, and a simplified route with no exam at allHungary's citizenship exam: written and oral on one day, in Hungarian, pass or fail, 145,400 HUF in 2025. The simplified route has no exam at all.
RomanianRomână
All Romanian guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Romanian lessons cost?Preply's Romanian page: from $9, average $26; its code tells search engines $39. Romania's free 216-hour course is for international-protection holders.
- ExamAny levelRomanian courses for foreign workers: what OUG 32/2026 makes employers provideOUG 32/2026 makes employers of non-EU workers in Romania provide Romanian courses: 6 hours a week for at least 6 months. Fines, costs and the gaps.
- ExamB1 for the descendants' routeRomanian citizenship: the recorded interview, and the B1 certificate descendants now needRomania's recorded citizenship interview, and the B1 certificate that descendants who were never citizens must hand in by 14 March 2027.
DanishDansk
All Danish guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Danish lessons cost?Preply's Danish page, read 23 Oct 2026: $15–$100 an hour, average $49, above Norwegian and Swedish. Denmark's own Danish course is free, after a deposit.
- ExamB2Danish for citizenship: Prøve i Dansk 3, the 45-question citizenship test, and a pause after the electionDenmark asks for Prøve i Dansk 3 (B2) and 36 of 45 on the citizenship test, 4 of 5 values questions right. Read from the rules on 16 Oct 2026.
CroatianHrvatski
All Croatian guides →- CostAny levelHow much do Croatian lessons cost?Preply's Croatian page, read 23 Oct 2026: $8–$100 an hour, average $31. Native speakers $33, non-native $14, more than double. What moves the price.
- ExamB1 for foreign course certificatesCroatian citizenship: proving Croatian on paper, and the 15-question culture test at the policeCroatian citizenship: Croatian is proved by certificate, culture by a 15-question police questionnaire. 10 right to pass, from 110 published questions.
EstonianEesti keel
All Estonian guides →LatvianLatviešu valoda
All Latvian guides →IcelandicÍslenska
All Icelandic guides →LithuanianLietuvių kalba
All Lithuanian guides →SlovenianSlovenščina
All Slovenian guides →LuxembourgishLëtzebuergesch
All Luxembourgish guides →SlovakSlovenčina
All Slovak guides →BulgarianБългарски
All Bulgarian guides →Every guide here has a limit.
Reading about tones, cases or the past tense will only take you so far. At some point someone has to hear you get it wrong and tell you.
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