5 Greek exams compared
Modern Greek has one state exam system, Ellinomatheia, and two further certificates for specific purposes. For Ancient Greek, Germany has the Graecum.
| Exam | Issued by | Level | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellinomatheia | Centre for the Greek Language | A1 to C2, A1 also for children aged 8 to 12 | study, work, authorities |
| Ellinomatheia A2 for professional purposes | Centre for the Greek Language | A2 without a writing paper | foreign nationals working in Greece |
| PEGP | Greek Ministry of the Interior | Greek at about B1, plus civic knowledge | citizenship of Greece |
| telc Remote Test Greek | telc gGmbH | B2 | CV and employers, not for visas or residence |
| Graecum | German states | Ancient Greek at the level of Plato | theology and classics in Germany |
The Centre for the Greek Language is a body of the Greek Ministry of Education. For Ellinomatheia you register for one specific level. The levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which describes language ability in six levels from A1 to C2.
The PEGP is the certificate of sufficient knowledge for naturalisation. It tests Greek at about B1 together with history, geography, culture and institutions.
You can prepare for all five exams online. Ellinomatheia, the PEGP and the Graecum, however, are taken in person, and only the telc Remote Test runs from home.
Which Greek certificate fits which goal
Several Greek rules name a specific Ellinomatheia level. The Centre for the Greek Language lists them in its information on recognition.
- Degree in Greece: International applicants enrol with Ellinomatheia B2.
- Civil service: EU citizens prove C1, based on the Civil Servants Code, Law 3528/2007.
- Long-term residence: Ellinomatheia B1 counts as proof of sufficient Greek.
- Citizenship: The PEGP of the Ministry of the Interior is required.
- Work as a foreign national: The A2 exam for professional purposes is designed for this case.
- Regulated profession: The chamber or authority that grants the licence sets the level.
- CV: Ellinomatheia at any level or the telc Remote Test at B2.
Ask the body that requires the proof in writing for the exact exam and level. Visa and residence procedures currently do not accept remote certificates taken at home.
Planning Ellinomatheia dates in May and October
The main Ellinomatheia exam takes place once a year in May, in Greece and at exam centres abroad. In October 2026 there was an extra session, but only for A2 for professional purposes and B1, and only at centres in Greece. If you need A1, A2, B2, C1 or C2, plan with the May session.
That leaves about ten weeks between exam and result. Plan applications so that the certificate arrives before the deadline. A second attempt at B2 or higher meant a year's wait in 2026, because these levels were only tested in May. The Centre publishes its exam centres abroad in a separate list, and you ask the centre of your choice for its registration deadline.
The format of Ellinomatheia A2 for professional purposes
The A2 exam for professional purposes differs in structure from the other levels. It tests only three skills, and each one must be passed on its own.
| Part | Time | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 25 minutes | 2 parts, about 500 words in total |
| Reading | 30 minutes | 2 parts, about 500 words in total |
| Speaking | 12 minutes | in pairs, no preparation time, with a role-play |
| Writing | none | not tested |
Candidates who pass receive one of three grades: Καλώς, good, Λίαν καλώς, very good, or Άριστα, excellent. If you fail one part, you fail the whole exam. A preparation course therefore trains listening and reading on work topics as thoroughly as the paired conversation.
The telc Remote Test in Greek at B2 from home
The telc Remote Test is a B2 exam that you take without an exam centre, at home or at work. Remote supervision means that technology and an invigilator watch you through camera and microphone during the exam. Greek is one of the languages in which telc offers these tests for adults.
You need a PC or laptop with camera and microphone and the Safe Exam Browser, a program that blocks all other applications during the exam. Dictionaries are not allowed. To pass you need 108 of 180 points, which is 60 percent. The result arrives by email as a digitally signed PDF.
telc remote certificates are currently not accepted for visa or residence procedures. If you need proof for an authority, choose Ellinomatheia or the PEGP.
Preparing for Greek exams with sample papers
Each Greek exam has its own focus, and an online preparation course should train exactly that.
- Sample papers: The Centre for the Greek Language publishes sample papers for every level. A trustworthy course works with them rather than with invented tasks.
- Paired speaking: In A2 for professional purposes, two candidates talk together for 12 minutes without preparation time and do a role-play. Practise with a partner.
- Spelling and accents: If your exam has a writing paper, practise the six spellings of the i sound and place every tonos, the stress mark.
- Civic knowledge for the PEGP: Besides the language, you learn the history, geography, culture and institutions of Greece.
- Graecum: For Ancient Greek, you practise translating about 200 words in 180 minutes with a dictionary, as Bavaria sets it. A Modern Greek course does not prepare you for it.
Online you find teachers in Greece who know the exam formats first-hand. They mark your texts by the criteria of the exam.
Frequently asked questions about online Greek test preparation courses
Which Greek exam do I need for a job in the Greek civil service?
For a job in the Greek civil service, EU citizens need the Ellinomatheia certificate at level C1. The legal basis is Article 4 of the Civil Servants Code, Law 3528/2007. The certificate is awarded by the Centre for the Greek Language.
When do the Ellinomatheia exams take place?
The Ellinomatheia exams take place as a main session once a year in May, in Greece and abroad. In October 2026 there was an extra session only for A2 for professional purposes and B1, held only in Greece. Results of the May 2026 exam were published on 31 July 2026.
How many points do you need in the telc Remote Test in Greek?
In the telc Remote Test in Greek at B2 you need 108 of 180 points, which is 60 percent. The exam takes place at home under remote supervision, and dictionaries are not allowed. The result arrives as a digitally signed PDF.
Is there a Greek exam without a writing paper?
A Greek exam without a writing paper is Ellinomatheia A2 for professional purposes. It tests listening in 25 minutes, reading in 30 minutes and speaking in 12 minutes in pairs. It is aimed at foreign nationals who want to work in Greece.
Is the telc Remote Test in Greek accepted for a residence permit?
The telc Remote Test in Greek is currently not accepted for visa or residence procedures. For long-term residence in Greece, Ellinomatheia B1 counts as proof, and citizenship requires the PEGP.
Which exam proves Ancient Greek for a theology degree in Germany?
Ancient Greek for a theology degree in Germany is proven with the Graecum, the state certificate at the level of the more demanding passages of Plato. In Bavaria, candidates translate about 200 words in 180 minutes with a dictionary and take an oral exam.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.
- Centre for the Greek Language: Certification of attainment in Greek (Ellinomatheia)
- Centre for the Greek Language: Recognition and usefulness of the Ellinomatheia certificate
- Centre for the Greek Language: A2 for professional purposes
- telc gGmbH: telc Remote Tests
- Bavarian State Ministry of Education: Acquiring Latin and Greek proficiency, BayMBl. 2022 No. 474