ABLE B2

All ABLE B2 candidates, whether registered individually or through language schools, can take the exam for a fee of €175. If candidates do not pass, they are entitled to one free retake within one year, at no additional charge. 

Any Language Schools who wish, may register their students for the ABLE B2 exam at no cost. However, students registered this way are not eligible for a free retake if they do not pass. Successful candidates can obtain their certificates for a fee of €175 within 30 calendar days of the results announcement. After this period, certificates will be available for a fee of €265.
 

Register online for your exams through ORFEAS, our online registration system. Find an examination center close to home from a choice of 100 locations throughout Greece and abroad, and complete your application online with your debit, pre-paid or credit card.

You will receive all the details for your upcoming exam via email in a single document that you can save, print and take with you on the day of your test. You will also be sent updates on the status of your application and useful support materials. Expect invitations to webinars for tips and strategies that will help you prepare effectively for the exam.

The ORFEAS registration system does away with print application forms and visits to the bank. Start and complete your registration online in a few simple steps. Use your home computer, tablet or smartphone to apply for your exam.

The Listening and Reading & Use of Language sections are scored by computer and the application of specialized software, using the principles of Item Response Theory.

Using scales and procedures established by Hellenic American University, the Writing section is scored by two independent raters. In the case of significant difference between the scores of the two raters, a third rater is called to determine the final score. The raters have been trained and certified according to Hellenic American University standards.

The Speaking section is scored using scales and procedures established by Hellenic American University. The oral examiners have been trained and certified according to Hellenic American University standards. All tests are recorded.

For each section, raw scores are converted into scaled scores ranging from 0 to 100.

Scaled scores allow each administration of the examination to be equated, ensuring that the ability required to pass or to achieve a high score remains the same from one administration to the next.

Listening and Reading & Use of Language sections

For the Listening and Reading & Use of Language sections, scaled scores are a product of the ability of each candidate and the difficulty of each item in these sections.

To pass either of these sections, candidates must have a scaled score of at least 55 out of 100 for that section.

Writing section

The Writing section is scored out of a total of 15 marks. There are three criteria: Task Completion, Organization, and Linguistic Resources. Each criterion provides between one and five marks. Candidates who receive a total of eight or more marks are awarded a Pass for this section of the test.

To pass this section, candidates must have a scaled score of at least 55 out of 100 for that section.

Speaking section

The Speaking section is scored out of a total of 15 marks. There are three criteria: Task Completion, Fluency and Interaction, and Linguistic Resources. Each criterion provides between one and five marks. Candidates who receive a total of eight or more marks are awarded a Pass for this section of the test.

To pass this section, candidates must have a scaled score of at least 55 out of 100 for that section.

Cut scores

The cut scores for each section of the ABLE B2 examination have been determined through standard setting procedures, as laid out in the Council of Europe manual: ‘Relating Language Examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR): A Manual’ (2009).

Candidates who achieve an averaged total scaled score of at least 55 out of a possible 100 are awarded an ABLE B2 certificate.

The ABLE B2 Certificate is valid for the holder’s lifetime.

Exam results are made available through Orfeas approximately six weeks after the completion of the exam period.

Language schools and individual candidates can access their results by logging into their accounts on Orfeas.

Candidates who wish to access their results but did not register as individuals through Orfeas should "Register" as new users after 2:00 PM on the day following the announcement of the results. From the menu, they should select the "Exam Results" field and fill in the required information to gain access to their score reports.