Exam Options

Did you know you may be able to receive high school or college credit for Hungarian? Explore exam and accreditation options!

BALASSI CERTIFICATE

This is an award certificate for those who pass the Hungarian geography, history, grammar and literature portion of the KMCSSZ's (Hungarian Scouts in Exteris) scout leader exam around the age of 14-16. Students who pass this exam usually attend weekend heritage school programs or speak Hungarian.

The issuer of this certificate is the Balassi Institute.

Use:

May count as part of the bi-literacy seal for high school credit

Contact:

Kata Tóth Kollár
katalinkt@aol.com

THE SEAL OF BILITERACY / GOLDEN SEAL

The Seal of Bi-literacy is an award given by a school, district or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. Certificates are given at graduation ceremonies. This is a complex program and acceptance criteria differ by state, some have minimum GPA requirements as well. 

Mostly high school credits are given. Select universities, community colleges may honor the seal. 

US states accepting Hungarian in the Bi-literacy and Golden Seal programs:

• AZ - Arizona Department of Education -   june 21. 2022.
• IL  - Illinois State Board of Education - Hungarian references,     
         - Illinois accreditation to some universities   
• MN - Golden Seal is awarded for B1 ECL and Platinum Seal for B2 ECL recipients -  more here; statewide acceptance in 30 colleges
• NC  - January,  2019 
• VA

The Seal of Bi-literacy - is the official site and contacts to US states. There is a good guide to "Steps to Implement" if your district does not have this program yet.

GLOBAL SEAL OF BILITERACY

This certificate is not a different level of the Seal of Bi-literacy. It is a different agency. It differs from the Seal of Bi-literacy as GSB is independent from the individual state legislation and regulations. The Global Seal is thought to be more flexible but not always as widely regarded for accreditation as the Seal of Bi-literacy at the state level.

GSB is accepted and accredited at these universities.. Pls. verify with the university that your exam has not timed out if taken many years prior to applying for university credit

Exams such as ECL and ALTA are accepted into GSB within 12 months after passing the exam. 

ECL is classified at these levels for GSB B=Functional Fluency, B2=Working Fluency, C1=Professional Fluency

International Baccalaureate accepts  ACTFL and awards at these levels
ACTFL Intermediate-Mid = IB Score of 4
ACTFL Advanced-Low = IB Score of 6

Self assessment

ALTA CERTIFICATION

ALTA is one of the few organizations that administers Hungarian exams in the USA. ALTA does not accept individual registration rather directs applicants via the member school organizations. 

• Costs: $66 per test (listening and speaking or writing), $132 for both tests
• Oral exams (listening and speaking) last 25 minutes and administered via the phone by an ALTA language examiner
• Written exams can take up to 1 hour and can be administered online or at the local ALTA approved school.

Topics are in English in the PDFs

ALTA Szóbeli témák ALTA Irásbeli témák

ALTA preparation advice and practice

ECL CERTIFICATIONS

ECL (European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages) is the most regimented certification we know for Hungarian in the USA. It is accredited by ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) Cambridge, HQ. 

Use:

High schools and universities may accept ECL certifications pending on level.  This certificate is widely accepted in Europe and it is beginning to gain ground in the US. In Europe, it is customary to note such certifications on resumes.
Junior exams target ages 12-14. While junior exams are not going to count for high school credit it sets a path to work toward the next level. Even if a child is a fluent speaker she may not grasp the necessary concepts or vocabulary to satisfy C level exams. There are few Hungarian tests in the USA.  ECL is gaining broader acceptance e.g.  at Bi-literacy Seal or Global Seal and others. 

Contact: 

Réka Werner
ECL Language Center Leader
E-mail: werner.reka@inyk.pte.hu 
Telephone: +3672501500/2217

http://inyt.pte.hu - Hungarian
http://inyk.pte.hu/english/pte-idegen-nyelvi-titkarsag/ - English
www.ecl.hu
www.eclexam.eu

US states accepting Hungarian ECL certifications:

• AZ
• MN 
• NC - NCDPI Approved External Exams for World Languages for Use with the GLE 
• OH - in progress
• VA

Some states may have expiry dates for the validity of ECL exams, for example, Minnesota only certifies for three years (which may matter if you seek college credit not to take ECL too early). Regulations differ greatly, please check with your own the State Board of Education for details.

Accredited Hungarian Exam locations for ECL in the US

• AZ - Phoenix  
• CA - San Francisco   
• IL   - Chicago
• NC - Durham
• NY - CUNY - City University of New York  has applied for ECL exam location. The contract is in progress. Due to COVID, the university has not returned to in person operations and we are still awaiting completion of contract from their end.

Hungarian Language ECL Examination Centers and Exam Dates

ECL Preparatory Materials and Further Information:

• Junior exam 
• Overall details about ECL Hungarian as a foreign language exams - switch the language in upper right

• Sample tests  
• Topszótár - Vocabulary by topic, grammar, level calibration test, .

ECL Exam Fees in US:

Each exam site has a right to set its own fees. We know of one site to give you an idea:
$90 each if oral and written tests are taken separate occasions - $150 if taken together. 

EXAM DESIGNATIONS AND LEVELS - CONVERGENCE TABLE

Origo and ECL exam comparison table

In Canada Origo is the preferred exam for Hungarian. Contact is Magdolna Velki mvelki [@] videotron.ca 514-916-8874

More on Hungarian testing in Canada

ACCREDITATION IN THE HUNGARIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM (1-12)

School name:

Báró Wesselényi Miklós Alapítványi Általános Iskola, Gimnázium, Szakgimnázium és Alapfokú Művészeti Iskola
This is a highly respected private school specialized in long-distance education providing Hungarian report cards.

Use:

If you would like to return to the Hungarian public or private school system in the same grade, this is the venue. It helps those who temporarily stay abroad or seek acceptance to Hungarian universities (instructions in Hungarian) and to satisfy the "Hungarian SAT/érettségi" preparation criteria. 

Contact:

           Beáta Bárdi-Farkas 
           Assitant Principal
           beatabardifarkas@bwmiskola.hu
           +36 (30)-606-6176
           8184 Balatonfűzfő Nike körút 2/3
           https://balatonfelvideki-iskola.com/
           facebook.com/bwmiskola