Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Examination · Eligibility · Registration Process · Examination Results

Questions

A. Examination Questions

  1. How is the exam structured?
  2. How long does the exam last?
  3. What is the passing score?
  4. I have successfully passed an official examination organized by a renowned institution in a given UN language. Could I be awarded a language allowance on this basis?
  5. Where can I find materials to practice for the exam?
  6. I have an appointment that I cannot miss on the day of the exam. Can I take the exam earlier/later on that day or any time before/after the announced exam date?
  7. Can I arrive late to the exam?

B. Eligibility Questions

  1. I am a CIVPOL officer. Can I take the LPE?
  2. I am a military staff member. Can I take the LPE?
  3. I have studied one of the UN official languages outside the United Nations (i.e., high school, college, language courses, immersion, study/work abroad). Am I eligible to take the Language Proficiency exam?
  4. I have studied one of the UN official languages in a United Nations language course. Am I eligible to take the Language Proficiency exam?
  5. My contract expires one week before the LPE exam date I would like to take part in. Can I still take the LPE?

C. Registration Process Questions

  1. Is the local registration deadline for candidates located in the offices away from HQ announced on the LPE website?
  2. I applied to a test site but my application was not accepted. Can I apply directly to the UNHQ?
  3. I will be on a professional assignment away from my registered test center. Can I take the LPE at another test site?

D. Examination Results Questions

  1. I passed the written test but failed the oral section. Do I need to repeat both parts of the exam at a subsequent session?
  2. I passed the oral test but failed the written section. Do I need to repeat both parts of the exam at the subsequent session?
  3. I did not pass the LPE. Can I receive information regarding my scores for each part of the exam to identify the areas I need to work on?
  4. How will I be informed about my result?
  5. I have passed the Language Proficiency Examination. When will the language allowance take effect?

Answers

A. Examination Answers

  1. How is the exam structured?
    The LPE is comprised of a written and an oral test. The written section consists of a composition, a series of multiple-choice questions covering listening comprehension, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar. The oral section of the examination is an interview conducted by one interviewer which lasts up to 15 minutes.

  2. How long does the exam last?
    The written section of the exam, which is administered in a single session, lasts 3 hours and 10 minutes, while the oral section lasts up to 15 minutes.Once the examination begins, all candidates must remain in the examination room for the entire duration of the examination, even if he/she has finished.

  3. What is the passing score?
    Both the written and oral exams are marked on a 100-point scale and the passing score is 65 for each part of the examination. In order to be successful in the LPE, the candidate has to pass both sections.

  4. I have successfully passed an official examination organized by a renowned institution in a given UN language. Could I be awarded a language allowance on this basis?
    No. The language allowance is awarded only on the basis of a passing score on the LPE.

  5. Where can I find materials to practice for the exam?
    Sample exams in all UN official languages can be found on the LPE website. Please check the appropriate UNHQ language program websites where you will find further resources for the language you are interested in.

  6. I have an appointment that I cannot miss on the day of the exam. Can I take the exam earlier/later on that day or any time before/after the announced exam date?
    No. All candidates must start the exam at the specific time scheduled by the exam centre and remain in the examination room for the entire duration of the examination. There are no makeup exams and there are no exceptions, not even for medical reasons.

  7. Can I arrive late to the exam?
    Arriving late is strongly discouraged, as it will disturb others and you will miss the instructions read at the start of the exam. In the event that you are delayed, you will be admitted up to thirty minutes after the starting time. You will not receive extra time if you arrive late.

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B. Eligibility Answers

  1. I am a CIVPOL officer. Can I take the LPE?
    No. Unfortunately, CIVPOL officers are not eligible to take the LPE.

  2. I am a military staff member. Can I take the LPE?
    No. Unfortunately, military staff members are not eligible to take the LPE.

  3. I have studied one of the UN official languages outside the United Nations (i.e., high school, college, language courses, immersion, study/work abroad). Am I eligible to take the Language Proficiency exam?
    Staff members must have studied the language (in which they want to be tested) outside of the UN for at least 2 years. The decision on eligibility is made on a case to case basis. For that purpose, you must provide full details of your language training (i.e. name of institution, courses, dates, length of study) on the LPE Registration form. The LPE Registration form will then be submitted to the Board of Examiners for their review and decision on eligibility.

    Non staff members who have studied outside of the UN are not eligible to take the LPE in any case. No exceptions will be made.

  4. I have studied one of the UN official languages in a United Nations language course. Am I eligible to take the Language Proficiency exam?
    Staff members who have participated in a United Nations language course and who have completed the highest level of that course are required to:
    • Pass the final exam at the highest level of the United Nations Language and Communications Program.
    • Should there be no final exam, a 75% class attendance at the highest level class is mandatory to be eligible to take the LPE.

      Non staff members who have not completed the highest level language course offered at the UN are not allowed to take the LPE.

  5. My contract expires one week before the LPE exam date I would like to take part in. Can I still take the LPE?
    If your contract expires prior to the date of the LPE, you may take the exam only with authorization from your Executive Officer or the Head of Administration at offices away from Headquarters and field offices, on the ground that your contract is expected to be extended.

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C. Registration Process Answers

  1. Is the local registration deadline for candidates located in the offices away from HQ announced on the LPE website?
    No. The deadline announced on the website is the deadline established by UN Headquarters for receipt of the list of registered candidates. Each local test center sets its own deadline, prior to the one announced on the LPE website. Please contact your local LPE administrator regarding the local registration deadline.

  2. I applied to a test site but my application was not accepted. Can I apply directly to the UNHQ?
    No. UNHQ only acknowledges inquiries and registration requests through the designated LPE Administrators named on the List of LPE Test Sites at Offices Away from Headquarters.

  3. I will be on a professional assignment away from my registered test center. Can I take the LPE at another test site?
    We highly encourage candidates to plan their LPE application well in advance to foresee any prospective and/or future circumstances, either personal or professional, that may affect their availability to attend the LPE exam. Only under exceptional circumstances based on professional commitments will candidates be allowed to switch their LPE site. These claims must be supported in writing by their supervisor.

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D. Examination Results Answers

  1. I passed the written test but failed the oral section. Do I need to repeat both parts of the exam at a subsequent session?
    Yes. If you fail the oral test, you need to retake both parts at a subsequent session unless your score for the written section is at least 80 percent, in which case the Board of Examiners adjudicating the examination shall review the case and may allow candidates to retain their written score for the following examination session. In this event, the candidate shall receive written notification of the Board's decision and will only be allowed to apply to retake the oral examination at the following session.

  2. I passed the oral test but failed the written section. Do I need to repeat both parts of the exam at the subsequent session?
    Yes. If you fail the written test, you need to retake both parts of the exam at a subsequent session.

  3. I did not pass the LPE. Can I receive information regarding my scores for each part of the exam to identify the areas I need to work on?
    Yes. You will receive your score for each part of the exam. However, should your total score for the multiple choice section be too low, the composition and oral interview will not be evaluated. Consequently, you will not be informed of your score for these two parts.

  4. How will I be informed about my result?
    If you sat for the exam at UNHQ in New York, the result letter will be sent to your office address provided by you during registration. If you took the exam in a test site away from headquarters, you will be informed about your result through your LPE Administrator.

  5. I have passed the Language Proficiency Examination. When will the language allowance take effect?
    Once proficiency in one of the UN official languages has been established, the Administrative Instructions states that the language allowance shall be paid to a staff member as of the first month following the month in which the staff member successfully passed the LPE (ST/AI/1999/2). Staff members from other agencies, funds, programmes and participating entities should contact their respective executive office for specific information concerning the need for certification and language allowances.

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