UN Levels Pilot Exams

With the creation of the exam specifications and the marking schemes for the UN I-Basic and UN II-Intermediate levels, a first step was made to acknowledge staff language skills.

Based on these documents, exams were constructed in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, then trialled and adjusted following results and feedback.

The UN I & UN II Language Exam Specifications Report lists the deliverables produced throughout the project and provides insight into the lessons learned along the way.

The 12 exams - one for each official language at the UN I and at the UN II levels - will gradually be made available as practice exams.

An organization that values languages, honouring the investment of time and resources in the ability to overcome linguistic barriers, not only demonstrates its commitment to fostering multilingualism, it also places diversity and inclusion at the heart of its mandate and recognizes languages as enabling skills for organizational impact.

By piloting the UN I Basic and UN II Intermediate examinations, the Language Training Programme at the UN Office in Geneva UNOG and the Language and Communications Training Unit at UN Headquarters provide the means to acknowledge staff language skills. Earning a UN language certificate is no longer just for advanced language learners.