Citizenship Romanian Language Exam exam-day guide
Citizenship Romanian Language Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid passport or national ID card (original)
Bring the original document you used when registering, not a photocopy. Check that it is not expired and that the name matches your registration exactly. If you registered with a residence permit, bring that permit as well; confirm with the provider which document they will accept if your ID has changed since registration.
Printed registration confirmation / appointment slip
Print any confirmation email or appointment notice you received. Some centres check it at the entrance before admitting candidates. If you never received one, confirm with the provider how entry will be verified.
Exact test time, address and room number
Write these down the day before. Arrive with enough margin to find the building and the correct entrance; large institutions often have several gates. Confirm with the provider whether late arrivals are admitted at all.
Arrival time earlier than the stated start
Aim to be at the building well before the reporting time so that ID checks and seating do not eat into your test. The exact reporting time and any late-entry cut-off must be confirmed with the provider.
Black or blue pens (two or three)
Bring spare pens in case one fails. Do not rely on a pencil unless the provider has told you that answers are marked on a separate answer sheet that requires one; confirm the required writing instrument with the provider.
Water in a transparent bottle and a light snack
Some centres allow a clear bottle at the desk and a snack for a break; others do not. Confirm with the provider what is permitted in the room, and eat a normal meal beforehand so hunger does not distract you.
No phone, smartwatch or notes at the desk
Leave devices switched off and stored as instructed, or leave them at home. Even a silent phone visible at the desk can be treated as a conduct issue. Confirm with the provider where bags and devices must be left.
Review of the test format and timing
Re-read the official description of the sections, the number of tasks and the time limit for each. Knowing whether you will read, write, listen and speak, and in what order, prevents surprises on the day.
Short warm-up in Romanian the evening before
Read one short article aloud and say a few sentences about your day. This activates vocabulary without tiring you. Do not start new grammar topics at this stage.
Plan for getting to the centre
Check the route and transport times, and identify a backup option. If you are travelling from another city, confirm your accommodation and set two alarms.
Health and access arrangements confirmed in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room or another adjustment, this normally has to be requested and approved before the test day, not on the day. Confirm with the provider what has been approved and what evidence you must bring.
Contact details of the test centre
Save the centre's phone number and email in your phone and on paper. If something goes wrong on the morning (transport strike, illness), you can inform them immediately; confirm with the provider what their policy is on absence and rebooking.
Plan the day
Confirm the logistics: exact address, room, reporting time and the ID document you will present. Print the confirmation and put it with the ID in one envelope so nothing is forgotten. Check the provider's website once for any last-minute change of venue or schedule.
Do one full timed practice run of the written parts under exam conditions: no phone, no dictionary, strict clock. Mark it honestly. Use the result to decide what to revise, not to panic about.
Focus revision on your weakest area only, in short blocks of 30 to 45 minutes with breaks. For writing, rehearse a fixed structure for a short formal message and a short informal message: greeting, purpose, two or three details, closing. For speaking, practise a one-minute self-introduction and describing a picture or a familiar topic.
Stop intensive study in the evening. Review your own error list and a small set of high-frequency phrases and connectors (for example pentru că, deci, însă, în primul rând). Pack the bag: ID, confirmation, pens, water, snack, directions. Charge nothing you will not be allowed to use; leave devices at home if possible.
Check transport times for the morning and set two alarms. Go to bed at a normal hour. Avoid learning new vocabulary lists late at night, as this increases anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the building ahead of the reporting time. Go to the toilet before entering the room. Speak Romanian with staff where natural, as a gentle warm-up, but do not exhaust yourself.
Follow the ID check and seating instructions exactly. Listen to the invigilator's explanation of the rules and timing. Fill in your personal details carefully and check the spelling of your name. If you do not understand an instruction, ask politely for clarification before the test begins.
Read the task instructions twice and note how many words or points are required. Do the easier tasks first if the order is not fixed, and keep an eye on the clock, leaving a few minutes to check. Write legibly; unclear handwriting can cost marks. If you make a mistake, cross it out neatly rather than scribbling over it.
Use the pause before each recording to read the questions. Write short notes as you listen and answer immediately; do not wait until the end. If you miss an item, let it go and focus on the next one.
Greet the examiner in Romanian, listen to the whole question before answering, and use full sentences. If you do not know a word, describe the idea instead of switching to another language. Speak at a steady pace; clarity matters more than speed. It is acceptable to ask the examiner to repeat a question if you did not hear it.
Note what felt difficult while it is fresh, in case you need to retake. Ask the staff, or check the provider's website, how and when results are published and how to request a review of your score if that option exists; confirm the procedure with the provider.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document used at registration and present it when asked. A photocopy, an expired document or a document in a different name may lead to refusal of entry; confirm with the provider in advance if your document situation is unusual.
Arrive by the reporting time. Whether late candidates are admitted, and until when, is set by the test centre, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming you will be let in.
Keep phones, smartwatches, headphones and notes out of reach during the test. Follow the centre's instructions on where to leave bags and devices; using or even holding an unauthorised device during the test can lead to invalidation of your result.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the test has begun, and do not look at another candidate's paper. If you need something, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator.
Breaks are usually limited and supervised, and may not be allowed during some sections. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the room mid-test and what happens to your time if you do.
Write your answers yourself in Romanian, without dictionaries, translation apps or help from anyone else. Impersonating another candidate or having someone else sit the test is a serious offence with consequences beyond this exam.
Follow the word limits and task instructions. Answers far outside the required length, or off-topic answers, can lose marks even if the Romanian is accurate.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the examining body. Ask the provider, or check the official information, for the pass mark, how sections are weighted, how long results take and how an appeal or re-mark is requested; do not rely on what other candidates tell you.