Reading and writing share one 75-minute paper, and together they are worth 45% of the CIPLE, the biggest share of your score. They are also the two skills you can train most reliably on your own. I scored 90 in reading and 99 in writing when I passed, and almost all of that came from knowing the tasks before I sat down. Here is every task in the paper, based on CAPLE's official sample and exam rules.
The paper at a glance
| Part | Questions | Task |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1–5 | Match a sentence to one of three phone messages |
| Reading | 6–10 | Five short everyday texts, one multiple-choice question each |
| Reading | 11–15 | A letter; complete sentences with endings from a list |
| Reading | 16–20 | A longer text with multiple-choice questions |
| Writing | Text 1 | Reply to a message, 25–35 words |
| Writing | Text 2 | An email or short account, about 60–80 words |
You mark the reading answers on an answer sheet in pencil. The two texts go on the answer sheet in blue or black pen.
Reading, task by task
Questions 1–5: phone messages
For each sentence (for example, "Isabel wants to talk to Joana") you get three short text messages and pick the one that matches. The catch: all three are about the same topic. One person can't talk now, one has already sorted everything and wants to phone, one asks not to be called before 11. You need who wants what, and when.
Questions 6–10: short everyday texts
Five small real-life texts, each with one A/B/C question. In the official sample: a flat-for-rent ad, the opening hours of a public office in Lisbon and Porto, a museum's opening days and prices, a "looking for work" ad and a school enrolment notice. Questions are often "which statement is true?", so check every option against the text.
Questions 11–15: a letter and sentence endings
You read a longer text, in the sample a job application letter, and complete five sentence beginnings with endings from a list. There are more endings than you need, and each can be used only once. Read the beginning, find the place in the letter it refers to, then pick the ending that is true there, not just the one that sounds right.
Questions 16–20: a longer text
A story about real people (in the sample, a couple who decide to emigrate because of work) with five A/B/C questions. The options paraphrase the text, so the right answer rarely uses the same words, and the wrong ones often do.
Writing: the two texts
Text 1: a reply to a message, 25–35 words. In the sample, your friends text you that they are already at the café and ask if you are still coming, and you reply. Answer what they asked, give a reason, say what happens next, and close.
Text 2: an email of about 60–80 words. In the sample you couldn't visit Portuguese friends last weekend and write to tell them what happened. The opening line is given. That means past tenses: the pretérito perfeito for what happened and the imperfeito for background ("estava doente", "chovia").
What examiners look for, in plain language: did you do the task, is it the right length, is it understandable, and does it sound like a message to that person. Use tu with friends and o senhor or a senhora in formal writing, a greeting and a sign-off, and European Portuguese forms rather than Brazilian ones. More on getting feedback when you practise alone: training writing at home.
How to split the 75 minutes
A split that works for most people:
- about 40 minutes for the 20 reading questions;
- about 10 minutes for Text 1;
- about 20 minutes for Text 2;
- 5 minutes to check word counts, agreement and that the answers are on the sheet.
Some people write first, while they are fresh, and read second. Either works, as long as you have tried it with a timer before the day.
Traps that cost easy points
- Matching words instead of meaning. The wrong option often repeats a word from the text.
- Leaving a blank. An empty answer is a guaranteed zero. If you are unsure, rule out what you can and choose.
- Your own name in the text. CAPLE's rules forbid any identifying detail in the paper; writing it cancels the exam. Sign with an invented name.
- Pencil or scrap paper for the texts. Only pen on the answer sheet is marked. Correction fluid and tape are not allowed, so cross out neatly.
- Missing part of the task. If the prompt asks what happened and what you will do next, a beautiful text about only the first half loses marks.
Where CIPLE Ready helps
CIPLE Ready has 32 reading texts with 141 questions: 26 in everyday formats and 6 advanced tasks built like the real paper, including SMS matching, public notices and longer narratives. Texts 1–3 are free. The 18 writing tasks use the exam's two text types, with a live word counter and an AI check that gives a score out of 10 and corrects and explains every error; task 1 is free. The mock exams put reading and writing on one 75-minute clock, as on the day. Grammar gaps behind your mistakes? The A2 grammar checklist lists what the exam expects.
CIPLE Ready is not affiliated with CAPLE or the University of Lisbon.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the CIPLE reading and writing paper?
75 minutes for both together, in two parts: 20 reading questions, then two short texts. It is worth 45% of the total score.
How many words do the CIPLE writing tasks need?
In CAPLE's official sample, the first text is a reply to a message of 25–35 words and the second is an email of about 60–80 words.
Can I write in pencil?
Only the reading answers. CAPLE's rules say the texts must be written in blue or black pen on the answer sheets provided; anything in pencil or on scrap paper is not marked. Correction fluid and tape are not allowed.
Can I sign my text with my own name?
No. Writing your name or any identifying detail anywhere in the paper cancels the exam. If a task asks you to sign, use an invented name.
How should I split the 75 minutes?
A workable split is about 40 minutes for the 20 reading questions, 10 for the short message, 20 for the email and 5 to check. Practise it with a timer so you know your own pace.
