What is the Sproochentest? Format, marking, fees and results

The Sproochentest is the Luxembourgish language test that the National Language Institute Luxembourg (INLL) organises for people applying for Luxembourgish citizenship. It has two compulsory parts: an A2-level speaking test (10 minutes: an interview, then the description of a picture) and a B1-level listening comprehension test (35 minutes, three recordings, questionnaire on a tablet). You pass with at least half the points in the speaking test, or with an average of at least 50% across both parts. Registration costs €75 and is done online on MyINL.

What is the Sproochentest for?

To acquire Luxembourgish citizenship by naturalisation, you must prove your knowledge of Luxembourgish with a certificate showing that you have passed the Luxembourgish language assessment exam. This certificate is one of the documents you hand in to the civil registrar of your municipality, as explained on Guichet.lu.

According to the INLL’s Sproochentest page, the test is required only for people covered by Article 14 of the Law of 8 March 2017 on Luxembourgish nationality. It is organised under the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 22 July 2019.

Two useful points from the INLL FAQ: the Sproochentest is the only certification recognised for a citizenship application, and the Luxembourgish language exam taken to join the civil service does not exempt you from it. The test is only one of the conditions: you also need, for example, the “Vivre ensemble” course or exam. We cover them all in our article on the conditions for Luxembourgish citizenship.

The exam format

The speaking and listening tests take place on the same day, within half a day, at an INLL centre.

Speaking (A2 level): interview, then picture

The test lasts 10 minutes, in two parts of 5 minutes each:

1. An interview with an examiner on an everyday topic (work, family, leisure…). You are offered two topics and choose one. The examiner then asks you questions on that topic.
2. Describing a picture. You are offered three pictures, choose one and describe it. In the examples published by the INLL, the instructions ask you to describe the situation, the activity or activities and the people.

We have a guide for each part: the interview topics and the photo description.

Listening (B1 level): three recordings

You listen to three recordings in Luxembourgish:

• a message or a piece of news on the radio;
• an everyday conversation between two people;
• a discussion or a presentation on a set topic.

After each recording, you answer a multiple-choice questionnaire. The test lasts 35 minutes and is taken on a tablet. The INLL tablet instructions state that once the test has started it cannot be stopped, you cannot go back, a countdown shows the time remaining and your answers are saved automatically at the end.

How the speaking test is marked

Two examiners are present. According to the assessment grid that the INLL publishes with its sample tests (April 2026 version), the observing examiner marks four criteria from 0 to 5:

• vocabulary: the range and accuracy of your words;
• morphosyntax: grammar and sentence structure;
• phonetics: pronunciation and intonation;
• task completion: did you really answer the questions and describe the picture?

These four criteria make up 80% of the speaking mark. The remaining 20% comes from the overall assessment of the examiner who leads the interview. The INLL page also describes what is expected in simple terms: range, fluency, clarity, grammatical structures, coherence, the ability to make yourself understood and interaction. In other words, it is your ability to communicate that is assessed, not perfect Luxembourgish.

The pass rule

According to the INLL and Guichet.lu, you pass the Sproochentest in either of these two cases:

1. you score at least half the points in the speaking test;
2. your speaking mark is below half, but the arithmetic mean of the two tests (rounded up to the next whole number where necessary) reaches at least half the points.

Example: 45% in speaking and 60% in listening give an average of 52.5%: you pass. On the other hand, 30% in speaking and 50% in listening give 40%: you do not pass. Speaking is therefore the decisive test, but good listening can make up for a slightly weak speaking result.

Fees, registration and venues

The registration fee is set by Grand-Ducal Regulation and amounts to €75 (INLL FAQ). Guichet.lu states that a refund can be requested from the Ministry of Justice, under certain conditions, once your citizenship application has been submitted to the civil registrar.

Registration is online only, on the MyINL portal, which also lists the open sessions. Candidates are received at two venues: INLL Luxembourg (21, boulevard de la Foire, Luxembourg, Glacis site) and INLL Belval (14, Porte de France, Esch-sur-Alzette). The full step-by-step process is in our guide to registering for the Sproochentest on MyINL.

On the day of the exam

The INLL general provisions set strict rules:

• arrive at least 15 minutes before the start: no late arrivals are accepted;
• bring the original of a valid identity document (identity card, passport or travel document): no copies are accepted and a driving licence is not accepted;
• in the exam room, you keep only your identity document and, if you wish, a bottle of water; everything else (phone, bag, watch…) goes in the cloakroom.

Without a valid identity document, you cannot take the test and the fee is not refunded.

After the exam: results and certificate

The INLL FAQ gives three reassuring answers:

• the certificate is valid for an unlimited period;
• the number of registrations is not limited: if you fail, you can retake the test;
• you can only register again once you have received the results of your previous test.

MyINL also states that the information you enter when registering is printed on the diploma: check the spelling of your name before confirming. The INLL pages we consulted do not give a specific timeframe for communicating results.

How to prepare

Start with the examples published on the INLL page: interviews, pictures, and a listening recording with its answer sheet and answer key. They show exactly the kind of questions asked. Then practise speaking out loud, regularly, in conditions close to the exam. To find out what A2 and B1 mean in practice, read our article on the Sproochentest level.

On my-sproochentest.lu, you listen to audio recordings in Luxembourgish, read the text and its translation, then answer out loud. The voice corrector gives you your mark according to the exam grid (vocabulary, morphosyntax, phonetics, task completion) and a model answer to listen to. The Sproochentest pack opens soon; in the meantime, you can already try the free Vivre ensemble mini-quiz.

See the packs Try the free mini-quiz

Frequently asked questions