the official exams
Everything you need to know about the real Slovenian A1 and A2 exams — who runs them, what's in them, how they're marked — and exactly how this course prepares you. Then take the mock papers.
who runs it & why it matters
· kdo in zakajThe certificate
The official Slovenian language exams — Izpiti iz znanja slovenščine — are written and marked by the Center za slovenščino kot drugi in tuji jezik (Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language) at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. You sit them at the Centre itself or at an authorised ljudska univerza (adult-education centre) around the country.
The certificate is the one that counts for permanent residence, Slovenian citizenship, employment and study. For citizenship you generally need the Basic level (osnovna raven) certificate. It never expires.
Official information, dates and downloadable sample papers: centerslo.si/izpiti.
A1 · entry level
· vstopna ravenIzpit na vstopni ravni (A1)
The gentlest exam — proof you can handle the basics of everyday Slovene. The whole paper is in Slovene only (no English), and the written and oral parts are usually sat on the same day. These are the exact parts from the Centre's own sample paper:
| part | tasks · time · points | what it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Branje Reading | 4 tasks · 25 min · 17 pts | ① JA/NE true-false on real signs (shop directory, opening hours) ② match situations to small ads (one ad is extra) ③ multiple-choice a/b/c on a personal email ④ multiple-choice on a short article |
| Poslušanje Listening | audio · ~20 min | short announcements and conversations → true-false / multiple choice |
| Branje in pisanje Reading & Writing | 2 tasks · 20 min · 13 pts | ① fill in a form (name, age, contact…) + write 2 questions ② reply to a friend's letter — answer their questions, greet at the start and end |
| Govorjenje Speaking | oral | introduce yourself, answer everyday questions, a short role-play |
To pass: at least 60% on each part. The result is simply opravil / ni opravil (passed / did not pass).
A2–B1 · basic level
· osnovna ravenIzpit na osnovni ravni (A2–B1)
The big one — the citizenship and residence exam, again entirely in Slovene. Same four parts, more demanding texts. It is graded A2 or B1 depending on your score. From the Centre's sample paper:
| part | tasks · time · points | what it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Branje Reading | several tasks · ~45 min | ads, schedules, notices and short articles → true-false, matching, multiple choice (like A1 but longer, harder texts) |
| Poslušanje Listening | audio | announcements, voicemails, dialogues |
| Pisanje Writing | 2 tasks · 40 min · 20 pts | two short letters of 40–50 words, each with set bullet points — e.g. reply to a job ad asking for details, or write an apology to a teacher. Greet appropriately at the start and end. |
| Govorjenje Speaking | oral · 20 pts | introduce yourself, a question-and-answer, and a role-play |
To pass: at least 60% per part for an A2 grade, or 85% per part for a B1 grade.
Writing (max 20, need 12) is marked on: task completion 6 · vocabulary 6 · grammar 6 · structure & style 2.
Speaking (max 20, need 12) is marked on: task 5 · vocabulary 5 · grammar 4 · interaction 3 · pronunciation 3.
your 50 lessons → the exam
· kako ti pomaga ta tečajWhat you've already trained
This course was built to feed straight into the exam. Here's the map:
| exam skill | lessons that build it |
|---|---|
| Reading everyday texts | all vocabulary units + the situations (restaurant, shopping, directions, doctor) |
| Grammar accuracy (the cases, agreement) | 1–6 (cases + dual), 28–32 (plural, adjectives, comparison) |
| Verbs & tenses (present, past, future) | 7, 8, 15, 33–37 (aspect, imperative, conditional, reflexives) |
| Writing a message | greetings (10), the situations, the mock writing tasks below |
| Speaking — introduce yourself, ask, answer | questions (9), family/jobs/free time (17, 44, 45), the mock speaking tasks |
| Survival vocabulary | numbers, days, colours, time, weather, family, food, body, animals, house, clothes |
Run the mixed review (lesson 22) and the A2 review (lesson 50) until they feel easy, then sit the mocks.
how to use the mock papers
· kako vaditiThe four mock papers
Two A1 papers and two A2 papers, modelled on the Centre's own sample tests: Reading (with the real task types — JA/NE, matching, multiple choice), Listening, Writing (form + reply-to-a-letter), Speaking, plus a bonus grammar drill.
- Reading is auto-marked — a running score sits at the bottom and tells you the moment you clear 60%.
- Listening on the real exam is audio. Here you get the transcript plus a 🔊 listen button (uses your device's Slovene voice if installed). Answer after one read/listen, like the real test.
- Writing & Speaking can't be auto-marked, so each gives the task, a box to draft in, and a model answer + the official rubric.
- The “Raba jezika / grammar” section is a bonus — the real exam has no separate grammar test; it checks your grammar inside the reading, writing and speaking. It's there as extra targeted practice.
Two honest differences from the real paper: the real exam is entirely in Slovene (these mocks add English glosses to help you learn), and the official papers are a little longer and have more points per part. Use these to get the format and feel right; for the exact real papers, download the Centre's free samples from centerslo.si. Time yourself loosely and never leave blanks — a guess can still score.
on the day
· na izpituPractical notes
Register in advance through centerslo.si or your local ljudska univerza; there's a fee and set exam dates. Bring photo ID.
In the room: read every instruction (navodilo) before you start a task; watch the clock and don't get stuck on one question; in writing, cover all the bullet points the task asks for — that's where the easy marks are; in speaking, keep talking in full sentences rather than single words.
This is a study aid, not the official paper — but if you can clear 60% on these mocks comfortably, you're ready to book the real thing. Srečno! (Good luck!)