Basque Language Certificates: HABE Exams from B1 to C2

HABE is the Basque Government's body for adults learning Basque. Its certificates are the official record of your Basque level. A1 and A2 are certified through assessment during a course at a Basque school for adults, called a euskaltegi. B1, B2, C1 and C2 each have their own exam.

1. B1

   Independent user

   • CEFR B1
2. B2

   Advanced user

   • CEFR B2
3. C1

   Competent user

   • CEFR C1
4. C2

   Expert user

   • CEFR C2
5. A2B1, B1B2, B2C1, C2C1

   Asymmetric levels

   Reading and writing are certified at one level, and listening and speaking at the level next to it. For A2B1, a euskaltegi certifies your reading and writing at A2, and the exam checks listening and speaking at B1.

There are three ways to sign up, and each runs once in spring and once in fall. In each period, you can sign up for one level in one call.

Every level has four parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Reading and listening are worth 20 points each, and you need 10. Writing and speaking are worth 30 points each, and you need 15. In the open call, reading and writing happen on one day, and listening and speaking on another.

• B1, open call
  • Readingabout 35 min
  • Writing60 min
  • Listeningabout 25 min
  • Speakingabout 25 min
• B2, open call
  • Reading45 min
  • Writing75 min
  • Listeningabout 25 min
  • Speakingabout 25 min
• C1, open call
  • Readingabout 60 min
  • Writingabout 90 min
  • Listeningabout 30 min
  • Speakingabout 40 min

Your writing is only marked if you pass reading. From B1 to C1, you need at least 14 points in writing to go on to listening and speaking. With exactly 14, you then need 17 in speaking to get the certificate. At C2, you must pass writing to go on. The B2 writing task asks for one text of 200 words or two of about 150, and the B2 speaking part has 10 minutes to prepare and about 15 in front of the examiners.

Each level has its own days, and in Barcelona the reading and writing days come about a week later. HABE posts your day and time on its website before the exam.

You sign up on HABE's website and pay within the same window, online or at a bank. If either step is late, you're left out of that period. Results of the fall period come out on December 18, 2026. If you pass reading and writing but not the other parts, HABE keeps those results, and in a later period you only take listening and speaking. You still sign up and pay again.

From B1 to C1, the reading and listening parts ask multiple-choice questions about Basque texts and recordings. At C2, you write a short summary of each instead. Both feel much easier after lots of Basque you mostly understand, known as comprehensible input.

• 📻Stories With SoundA few times a week, read a short Basque story or news piece while its audio plays. Pick pieces with only one or two unknown words in each paragraph.
• 📝Try the Model ExamsModel exams for every level are on the Ikasbil website. Time yourself on reading and writing so the real day holds no surprises.

Running Into a Friend in Donostia

🌱

Mikel eta Ane elkartu dira

Lv 3

Mikel eta Ane Donostiako kale batean elkartu dira goizean.

Mikel and Ane met on a street in Donostia in the morning.

Mikel

Aupa, Ane! Zer moduz zabiltza azkenaldian?

Hey, Ane! How have you been lately?

Ane

Oso ondo, Mikel! Pozten naiz zu hemen ikusteaz.

Very well, Mikel! It's good to see you here.

Mikel

Mirenek esan dit gaur Bilbon zaudela, baina ikusten dut Donostian zaudela oraindik.

Miren told me you were in Bilbao today, but I see you're still in Donostia.

Ane

Bai, baina arratsaldean banoa. Gainera, Mirenek berari deitzeko eskatu dit.

Yes, but I'm leaving in the afternoon. Besides, Miren asked me to call her.

Mikel

Beno, orduan ez zaitut gehiago entretenituko; laster arte!

Well, then I won't keep you any longer; see you soon!