The Maltese MQF Level 2 test: pass mark, format, who needs it
Facts checked against the official sources on 21 October 2026. Independent guide, not affiliated with the Government of Malta.
The short answer
You need 65% to pass the Maltese language test at MQF Level 2 (CEFR A2). It is one of the requirements for long-term residence in Malta, together with the 100 hour Cultural Orientation course, which has its own pass mark of 75%. The language test has no time window: a pass stays valid, while the 100 hour course must be attended in the 12 months before you apply.
What the test looks like
The Level 2 award in Maltese as a Foreign Language assesses four skills. Listening: a short dialogue, then questions about it. Reading: short everyday texts such as notices, messages and adverts. Speaking, the oral exam: you introduce yourself, describe a picture and answer questions. Writing: grammar exercises and a short paragraph of about fifty words. In the Jobsplus award the weighting is listening 10%, reading 10%, oral 20% and written 20%, with the rest from work during the course; other providers may weight it differently, so confirm when you enrol.
Where you take it
Since 15 June 2026 the free I Belong Maltese language courses have ended. Applicants take the Level 2 award with an external accredited provider. Learning Works, for example, lists its MQF Level 2 Award in Maltese as a Foreign Language and Cultural Orientation at €350 for two months of evening classes, with a face to face assessment and a 2025 pass rate of 84%. The University of Malta and other licensed institutions run comparable courses. Prices are for residents and EU citizens; check the provider's conditions for third-country nationals.
How people fail
Not on grammar. On vocabulary they never drilled and on the oral exam, where nerves meet a language they have only read. The fix is boring and works: ten words a day with the example sentence said out loud, one grammar point a day, a mock test every week, and the three oral prompts practised until the answer comes without thinking.
Practise for it
Għaddi Malti is a free practice tool built on the Level 2 syllabus: 200 words with audio, 12 grammar lessons with instant feedback, reading texts, listening dialogues, writing tasks with model answers, the oral exam prompts, and mock tests marked with the real 65% pass mark. No account, works on any phone. It is independent and not affiliated with Identità, the Government of Malta or any school.