AMFA

آزمون مهارت زبان فارسی

Persian Language Proficiency Test

AMFA is the Persian abbreviation for Persian Language Proficiency Test. It is the only official international examination to certify the language proficiency of Persian language learners. It is held inside and outside Iran pursuant to the order of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The international AMFA exams abroad are administered by the Saadi Foundation, which is the Islamic Republic of Iran state foundation established in order to promote the Persian language and culture overseas.

Candidates who passed the test successfully are awarded an internationally-recognised certificate, accepted by all public institutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The certificate in the Persian Language Proficiency will give you some benefits when applying for:

1. a visa to the Islamic Republic of Iran;
2. a work visa to the Islamic Republic of Iran;
3. a visa to the Islamic Republic of Iran for establishing a joint venture in the field of economy, culture, social policy, etc.;
4. a permit to teach the Persian language in schools and international institutions working under the auspices of the Saadi Foundation;
5. a visa to study at university in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Book an exam

You can register for the exam from 16 February 2021 to 8 April 2021 in the office of the Language Testing Centre at St Petersburg University located at: 11, Lieutenant Schmidt Emb, room 210.

Online registration in available here.

Please note that the registration is in two stages:

The first stage: You register at the Language Testing Centre either in person, or online.

The second stage: You complete your registration on the official AMFA website

Exam fees

Exam fees are paid in two parts:

1. 1,600 roubles – Upon registration for the exam at the Language Testing Centre, you will receive an invoice with the bank account details for making this payment.
2. 35 EURO – this fee is paid when you register on the AMFA website.

Exam format and content

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

On the exam day, test-takers must bring: a blue or black pen, a pencil and an eraser.

Exam format

1. Listening – 55 mins (3 parts) – 45 points
2. Reading – 60 mins (3 texts) – 45 points
3. Writing – 60 mins (2 tasks) – 45 points
4. Speaking – 15 mins (3 parts) – 45 points

Total: 3 hour 15 mins, maximal score – 180 points.

The AMFA exam does not have a passing score. However, according to the test results, the test-taker receives a certificate indicating the level of his or her language skills. The table below compares the AMFA scores to the current international tests, as well as the correspondence between the test scores and the CEFR level:

Sample tasks are available here.

Results announcement

The test results are announced on the official AMFA website within 30 days from the date of the exam.

Certificates

Paper certificates are mailed upon request to the address stated in the Candidates’ Personal account on the AMFA website. Please note there is an additional charge for shipping the certificates. A sample certificate.

[1] International English language testing (IELTS)

[2] Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)

[3] Standard Reference for Teaching Persian (SRTP)

St Petersburg University By-laws

• Order No 9991/1 of 11 October 2019 ‘Ob ustanovlenii razmera platy za okazaniye uslug po provedeniyu testirovaniya po persidskomu yazyku AMFA’

• Order No 11244/1 of 12 November 2019 ‘Ob ustanovlenii razmera platy za okazaniye uslug po provedeniyu testirovaniya po persidskomu yazyku AMFA’