Portuguese language tests

Connecting with over 260 million Portuguese speakers offers significant global business opportunities. But when hiring Portuguese-speaking talent, verifying your new hires’ Portuguese is crucial.

TestGorilla's targeted Portuguese language proficiency tests – available at the B1 (Intermediate) and C1 (Advanced) levels – provide clear insights into candidates’ abilities. This way, you can hire people with the language skills your role demands.

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Why test Portuguese proficiency?

Good Portuguese communication unlocks incredible business advantages:

Accurate skill verification: Move beyond vague resume claims of "conversational Portuguese" by accurately and objectively testing language proficiency. (Our 2024 State of Skills-Based Hiring Report found that 98% of employers believe skills-based hiring is more effective for identifying skilled candidates than resumes.)
Targeted hiring: Match candidates to specific roles based on their Portuguese proficiency level.
Sharper market positioning: Have a team of Portuguese-proficient staff who can decode cultural nuances and market trends that automated translation tools miss completely.
Stronger client relationships: Skip expensive translation services and build authentic connections with Portuguese-speaking partners.
Quality assurance: Prevent embarrassing language errors that damage brand credibility in marketing materials, contracts, and customer communications.

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When to use Portuguese proficiency tests

Portuguese language proficiency assessments are essential when:

Selecting managers who can effectively lead teams across Portuguese-speaking regions
Hiring content creators, translators, or marketers who must create authentic messaging for Lusophone audiences
Launching operations or partnerships in locations like Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, or Macau
Building a customer support team to serve Portuguese-speaking markets
Recruiting for multinational organizations where Portuguese serves as a bridge language between teams

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Measuring Portuguese proficiency across levels

Language proficiency is often measured using the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference), which offers a consistent scale with six levels applicable to Portuguese.

TestGorilla offers targeted assessments for European Portuguese (Portugal) at the B1 and C1 levels and for Brazilian Portuguese at the B1 level.

Here’s what Portuguese-speaking employees can typically do at each level:

A1 (Beginner)

Recognize and use familiar everyday Portuguese expressions. Introduce themselves and answer basic personal questions when spoken to slowly.

A2 (Elementary)

Communicate in simple, routine tasks requiring direct information exchange. Describe background, immediate environment, and basic needs.

Learn more about A2 language proficiency

B1 (Intermediate)

Handle situations likely to arise while traveling in Portuguese-speaking areas. Produce connected text on familiar topics and describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions.

Learn more about B1 language proficiency

B2 (Upper intermediate)

Interact with native speakers without strain. Understand complex text and technical discussions in their field. Present clear, detailed viewpoints with advantages and disadvantages.

Learn more about B2 language proficiency

C1 (Advanced)

Express ideas fluently without obviously searching for words. Understand demanding, lengthy Portuguese texts and implicit meaning. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects.

Learn more about C1 language proficiency

C2 (Proficient)

Understand virtually everything heard or read with ease. Summarize information from diverse Portuguese sources, reconstructing arguments coherently. Express themselves precisely in complex situations.

Learn more about C2 language proficiency

Key skills assessed in Portuguese proficiency tests

Our Portuguese language tests assess candidates' capabilities in four ways:

Mastery of vocabulary: Measures command of Portuguese terminology appropriate to professional contexts, including business expressions and regional variations
Grammatical accuracy: Tests understanding of Portuguese-specific structures like verb conjugation patterns, gender agreement, and contractions
Textual interpretation: Gauges ability to extract meaning from various formats of written Portuguese – from emails to formal documents
Aural comprehension: Assesses how well candidates process spoken Portuguese with natural cadence and accent variations

Want to check speaking skills too? Just add custom video questions to your assessment.

What roles require Portuguese proficiency?

Different positions demand varying levels of Portuguese language mastery:

E-commerce manager

B1 Portuguese is sufficient for handling basic vendor communications and market research. C1 proficiency is needed for sophisticated negotiation tactics and a deep understanding of consumer behavior in Lusophone markets.

Medical interpreter

B1 skills suffice for routine appointments and standard procedures. C1 proficiency is necessary for conveying complex diagnoses and treatment options and ensuring informed consent in Portuguese.

Legal associate

B1 Portuguese is good for managing routine document review and client intake. C1 proficiency might be needed for drafting contracts, participating in depositions, and navigating specialized terminology across different Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions.

Social media coordinator

B1 proficiency is necessary for creating basic engagement posts and monitoring comments. C1 skills are useful for crafting culturally nuanced content that resonates with Portuguese-speaking audiences.

Portuguese language tests for every skill level

Portuguese – Portugal B1 (Intermediate)

The Portuguese – Portugal B1 (Intermediate) test evaluates a candidate’s Portuguese proficiency at the B1 level of the CEFR framework. This test will help you hire employees who can communicate in Portuguese on subjects commonly encountered at work.

10 min

Details

Portuguese – Portugal C1 (Advanced)

The Portuguese C1 (Advanced) test evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of the Portuguese language at the C1 level of the CEFR framework. This test will help you hire employees who can participate in demanding professional conversations in Portuguese.

10 min

Details

Portuguese – Brazil B1 (Intermediate)

The Portuguese – Brazil B1 (Intermediate) test evaluates a candidate’s Portuguese proficiency at the B1 level of the CEFR framework. This test will help you hire employees who can communicate in Portuguese on subjects commonly encountered at work.

10 min

Details

Designed and reviewed by Portuguese experts

Our Portuguese assessments are developed by professionals with deep linguistic and practical experience:

image of the subject-matter expert for this test

Carolina brings translation skills and teaching experience from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to our test development. She holds a Bachelor's in English language and literature and works with students of all ages.

From her base in Lisbon, Margarida creates e-learning content and translations between Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish. She makes European Portuguese tests that capture authentic workplace language challenges, focusing on practical communication rather than textbook Portuguese.

Portuguese language test FAQs

Unlike static certificates that may become outdated, our language assessments evaluate current, practical language skills relevant to business tasks. Our tests are aligned with the CEFR framework and assess language skills from A2 to C2 levels. We focus on how candidates apply Portuguese in realistic workplace situations, offering a clear picture of on-the-job performance.

See how our language tests helped companies like Revolut and Click&Boat.

Test early! Send assessments right after reviewing applications but before scheduling interviews. You'll quickly see who actually knows Portuguese versus who just claims to. This saves you from wasting interview time and helps create a bias-free hiring process. We recommend combining these tests with role-relevant tests, situational judgement tests, and cognitive ability tests to gain a holistic view of your candidate.

Unlike static certificates that may become outdated, our language assessments evaluate current, practical language skills relevant to business tasks. Our tests are aligned with the CEFR framework and assess language skills from A2 to C2 levels. We focus on how candidates apply Portuguese in realistic workplace situations, offering a clear picture of on-the-job performance.

See how our language tests helped companies like Revolut and Click&Boat.

Test early! Send assessments right after reviewing applications but before scheduling interviews. You'll quickly see who actually knows Portuguese versus who just claims to. This saves you from wasting interview time and helps create a bias-free hiring process. We recommend combining these tests with role-relevant tests, situational judgement tests, and cognitive ability tests to gain a holistic view of your candidate.

Get started with Portuguese testing

Ready to discover which candidates have the level of Portuguese proficiency your business requires? Start by selecting the appropriate Portuguese language assessment.

Pair your selection with other tests from our library – from situational judgement to software tests – for a comprehensive candidate evaluation.

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