Free Practice Questions for AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test

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Key Facts: AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test Exam

185 Minutes

Total AMFA testing time across Listening (55), Reading (60), Writing (60) and Speaking (10)

Saadi Foundation, «آمفا در یک نگاه» official AMFA specification

180 Points

Maximum AMFA raw score, four modules of 45 points each, converted to a 0–9 band

Saadi Foundation, «آمفا در یک نگاه» official AMFA specification

8 Reported Levels

AMFA score bands run N, A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1 and C2 with no pass or fail mark

AMFA regulation score-conversion table, Saadi Foundation

3 Years

Validity of the AMFA certificate from its date of issue; results are released after 14 working days

Saadi Foundation, «آمفا در یک نگاه» official AMFA specification

3 Sittings

Minimum number of AMFA administrations the Saadi Foundation holds each year

Saadi Foundation, «آمفا در یک نگاه» official AMFA specification

2 Versions

AMFA Academic is run by سازمان سنجش آموزش کشور for university admission; AMFA General is run by the Saadi Foundation

Saadi Foundation AMFA page (saadifoundation.ir)

AMFA (آمفا), published in English as the Persian Language Proficiency Test, is Iran's official four-skill Persian examination for non-native speakers, run 185 minutes across Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking modules worth 45 points each and reported on a 0–180 scale with no pass mark. This free bank offers 100 independent English-language MCQs on Persian reading, grammar, spoken pragmatics and vocabulary.

Sample AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the following text about Iranian commerce: 'بازار بزرگ تهران صرفاً یک مرکز مبادلات تجاری و اقتصادی نیست، بلکه از دیرباز کانون تحولات مهم اجتماعی، فرهنگی و حتی سیاسی بوده است. ساختار کالبدی بازار با راسته‌ها، تیمچه‌ها و کاروانسراهای متعدد نشان می‌دهد که اصناف گوناگون نه تنها بر اساس تخصص حرفه‌ای، بلکه در قالب نهادهای همبسته مدنی در کنار یکدیگر فعالیت می‌کرده‌اند.' According to the passage, what distinguishes the Grand Bazaar of Tehran beyond its purely mercantile function?

A.Its strict physical segregation between domestic craft workshops and international import-export agencies

B.Its historical role as an active focal point for social, cultural, and political developments organized through civic guild solidarity

C.Its reliance exclusively on state-managed price controls administered directly by municipal trade inspectors

D.Its complete abandonment of traditional architectural elements like caravanserai courtyards in favor of modern retail malls

Explanation: The text explicitly states that the bazaar is not merely an economic and commercial exchange center, but has historically been a focal point of major social, cultural, and political developments ('کانون تحولات مهم اجتماعی، فرهنگی و حتی سیاسی') where guilds operated as interconnected civic institutions.

2Read the passage regarding traditional hydrology: 'کاریز یا قنات یکی از شگفت‌انگیزترین دستاوردهای مهندسی کهن در فلات ایران است. این سامانه با استفاده از شیب ملایم زمین، آب سفره‌های زیرزمینی کوهپایه‌ها را بدون نیاز به هیچ‌گونه انرژی مکانیکی به مناطق خشک و دشت‌ها هدایت می‌کند. به دلیل سرپوشیده بودن مجراهای زیرزمینی، میزان تبخیر آب حتی در گرم‌ترین ماه‌های تابستان به کمترین حد ممکن می‌رسد.' What key physical advantage of the qanat system prevents massive water loss in desert climates?

A.High-pressure hydraulic pumps that accelerate water flow to urban storage reservoirs

B.Chemical desalination additives introduced at the mother well to neutralize mineral salts

C.The subterranean, enclosed transport channels that minimize surface evaporation during extreme heat

D.Perforated stone aqueducts elevated above arid plains to catch prevailing humid winds

Explanation: The text highlights that because the underground channels are covered ('سرپوشیده بودن مجراهای زیرزمینی'), the rate of water evaporation is minimized even in the hottest summer months.

3Read the following cultural excerpt: 'سفره هفت‌سین نماد پیوند ایرانیان با طبیعت، زایش دوباره هستی و امید به سالی پربار است. هر یک از اجزای این سفره معنایی نمادین دارند؛ برای نمونه، سیب نشان‌دهنده تندرستی و زیبایی، سبزه نماد خرمی و شادابی، و سنجد نماد خردورزی و سنجیدگی رفتار در روابط انسانی به شمار می‌رود.' In the traditional Haft-Sin display, what does the 'senjed' (سنجد / oleaster) primarily symbolize according to the passage?

A.Physical vigor, martial bravery, and athletic endurance

B.Wisdom, prudence, and thoughtful moderation in human interpersonal relationships

C.Accumulation of monetary wealth and speculative commercial success

D.Patience in sorrow and mourning for ancestral sacrifices

Explanation: The text explicitly states that 'سنجد نماد خردورزی و سنجیدگی رفتار در روابط انسانی به شمار می‌رود' (senjed is considered a symbol of wisdom and thoughtful deliberation in human relations).

4Read the environmental report: 'یوزپلنگ آسیایی که زمانی در بخش‌های وسیعی از قاره کهن می‌زیست، امروزه تنها در زیستگاه‌های حاشیه کویر مرکزی ایران، به‌ویژه در پارک ملی توران و پناهگاه حیات‌وحش میاندشت، باقی مانده است. تهدیدات اصلی بقای این زیرگونه شامل تصادفات جاده‌ای، تخریب زیستگاه ناشی از چرای بی‌رویه دام و کاهش شدید طعمه‌های طبیعی مانند آهو و قوچ می‌باشد.' Which of the following is NOT listed in the text as a major threat to the surviving Asiatic cheetah population?

A.High rates of fatal collisions with automotive traffic on regional highways

B.Severe depletion of natural wild prey species such as gazelles and wild sheep

C.Proliferation of invasive exotic predator species introduced from maritime trade

D.Habitat degradation resulting from intensive, uncontrolled livestock overgrazing

Explanation: The text lists traffic accidents ('تصادفات جاده‌ای'), habitat destruction from overgrazing ('تخریب زیستگاه ناشی از چرای بی‌رویه دام'), and severe prey loss ('کاهش شدید طعمه‌های طبیعی'). It does not mention introduced invasive predator species.

5Read the text on traditional Iranian craftsmanship: 'تولید قالی دستباف در شهرهایی چون کاشان، اصفهان و تبریز فراتر از یک صنعت محلی، نمایانگر آمیزه‌ای از هندسه پیچیده و مهارت دستی استادکاران است. استفاده از پشم مرغوب و رنگ‌های کاملاً طبیعی به‌دست‌آمده از روناس، پوست گردو و برگ مو سبب می‌شود که الیاف فرش با گذشت زمان نه تنها زیبایی خود را از دست ندهند، بلکه درخشندگی و جلای بیشتری پیدا کنند.' Why do traditional Persian rugs dyed with natural substances retain or enhance their aesthetic appeal over time?

A.Synthetic wax coatings applied annually seal synthetic pigment layers against oxidation

B.Direct daily exposure to desert sunlight bleaches natural fibers into uniform pastel shades

C.Frequent chemical washing dissolves rough surface wool fibers to reveal underlying silk threads

D.Natural plant dyes derived from madder, walnut husks, and vine leaves mature with age to gain greater luster

Explanation: The passage explains that premium wool combined with natural plant dyes from madder ('روناس'), walnut husks ('پوست گردو'), and vine leaves ('برگ مو') causes the fibers over time to gain greater brilliance and luster ('درخشندگی و جلای بیشتری پیدا کنند').

6Read the architectural text: 'بادگیرها در معماری کویری یزد شاهکاری از سازگاری با اقلیم خشک به شمار می‌آیند. این سازه‌ها با بهره‌گیری از جریان بادهای مساعد در ارتفاعات بالاتر، نسیم خنک را شکار کرده و به تالارهای زیرین هدایت می‌کنند. جریان هوا پس از عبور از حوضچه‌های آب زیرزمینی خنک و مرطوب شده و در سراسر فضای مسکونی گردش می‌یابد.' How does a traditional Yazd windcatcher achieve passive evaporative cooling inside residential chambers?

A.By capturing high-altitude breezes and channeling air across subterranean water basins before circulating it indoors

B.By burning fragrant resins at chimney bases to create mechanical updrafts that pull in courtyard moisture

C.By storing chilled night air in hollowed granite bricks that radiate cold during daylight hours

D.By utilizing rotary metal fans powered by outdoor solar panels at the top of the tower shaft

Explanation: The passage explains that the windcatcher catches favorable breezes at higher elevations ('جریان بادهای مساعد در ارتفاعات بالاتر') and directs them across subterranean water pools ('حوضچه‌های آب زیرزمینی'), which cools and humidifies the air before circulating it through the living spaces.

7Read the passage on historical science: 'ابوعلی سینا با نگارش کتاب «قانون در طب» معیاری جامع برای دانش پزشکی در سراسر جهان اسلام و اروپای سده‌های میانه پدید آورد. نوآوری بنیادین ابن‌سینا در این اثر، فراتر رفتن از نظریه‌پردازی‌های انتزاعی و تکیه بر مشاهده بالینی، ثبت دقیق نشانه‌های بیماری و تأکید بر داروسازی تجربی بر پایه آزمودن خواص گیاهان دارویی بود.' What was Avicenna's fundamental methodological breakthrough in 'The Canon of Medicine'?

A.Relying exclusively on astrological charts and celestial alignments to diagnose internal ailments

B.Prohibiting the use of botanical remedies in favor of surgical cauterization

C.Transitioning beyond purely abstract theorizing toward rigorous clinical observation and empirical pharmacology

D.Translating ancient Greek texts verbatim without adding original empirical observations

Explanation: The passage states that his core breakthrough was going beyond abstract theorizing to rely on clinical observation, precise documentation of symptoms, and empirical pharmacology based on testing medicinal plants ('فراتر رفتن از نظریه‌پردازی‌های انتزاعی و تکیه بر مشاهده بالینی ... و تأکید بر داروسازی تجربی').

8Read the educational notice: 'دانشگاه‌های معتبر سراسر کشور به منظور تسهیل پذیرش دانشجویان بین‌المللی، دوره‌های فشرده زبان فارسی را به صورت برخط و حضوری برگزار می‌کنند. متقاضیانی که موفق به کسب حداقل نمره استاندارد در آزمون‌های بسندگی رسمی شوند، می‌توانند بلافاصله در رشته‌های تخصصی مقاطع کارشناسی یا تحصیلات تکمیلی ثبت‌نام نمایند.' What privilege is granted to foreign applicants who achieve the standard passing mark on official Persian proficiency tests?

A.Guaranteed full financial scholarships covering all living, travel, and accommodation expenses

B.Immediate exemption from attending all future scientific seminars and academic lectures

C.Automatic appointment as full-time Persian language instructors in national universities

D.Immediate matriculation into specialized undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs without supplementary language delays

Explanation: The text states that applicants who attain the required score on official proficiency tests can immediately register in specialized undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs ('می‌توانند بلافاصله در رشته‌های تخصصی مقاطع کارشناسی یا تحصیلات تکمیلی ثبت‌نام نمایند').

9Read the literary critique: 'شاهنامه فردوسی تنها حماسه‌ای منظوم از پهلوانان اساطیری ایران نیست، بلکه سندی سترگ از پاسداری از هویت ملی و زبان فارسی است. در روزگاری که زبان عربی به زبان غالب دربارها و نگارش متون علمی بدل شده بود، فردوسی با سرودن حدود پنجاه هزار بیت به فارسی سره و پرهیز آگاهانه از واژگان بیگانه، حیات زبانی یک تمدن را تضمین کرد.' What specific linguistic deliberate strategy did Ferdowsi employ to protect Persian language vitality in the Shahnameh?

A.Adopting foreign diplomatic vocabulary to make epic poetry accessible to neighboring regional courts

B.Composing tens of thousands of couplets in pure Persian while consciously avoiding foreign loanwords

C.Translating ancient Avestan ritual chants into simplified commercial rhymed prose

D.Replacing traditional Persian poetic meters with flexible free-verse conversational patterns

Explanation: The text states that Ferdowsi preserved the Persian language by composing roughly fifty thousand couplets in pure Persian ('فارسی سره') and consciously refraining from using foreign loanwords ('پرهیز آگاهانه از واژگان بیگانه').

10Read the agricultural economic analysis: 'زعفران که به عنوان «طلای سرخ» شناخته می‌شود، ارزشمندترین محصول صادراتی بخش کشاورزی ایران است. این گیاه کم‌آب‌طلب عمدتاً در اقلیم خشک استان‌های خراسان جنوبی و رضوی به ثمر می‌نشیند. حساسیت فوق‌العاده کلاله‌های زعفران ایجاب می‌کند که برداشت گل‌ها پیش از طلوع خورشید و با دست انجام گیرد تا عطر، طعم و قدرت رنگ‌دهی آن تحت تابش مستقیم نور خورشید آسیب نبیند.' Why must saffron blossoms be harvested strictly by hand prior to sunrise?

A.To safeguard the delicate stigmas' aroma, flavor, and coloring potency from sun exposure and heat degradation

B.To avoid heavy afternoon seasonal rains that flood shallow desert croplands

C.To comply with legal harvest curfews enforced by regional agricultural cooperatives

D.To ensure that morning soil frost hardens the flower stems for motorized reaper blades

Explanation: The text explains that harvesting must take place before sunrise by hand so that the aroma, flavor, and coloring power of the stigmas are not damaged by direct sunlight ('تا عطر، طعم و قدرت رنگ‌دهی آن تحت تابش مستقیم نور خورشید آسیب نبیند').

About the AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test Exam

The Azmoon-e Maharat-e Zaban-e Farsi (AMFA / آزمون مهارت زبان فارسی), published in English by its sponsor as the Persian Language Proficiency Test (PLPT), is Iran's standardised Persian proficiency examination for speakers of other languages. It rests on a Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution act on organising international Persian language examinations (session 809, 29 Khordad 1397) and on clause 17 of article 2 of the Saadi Foundation charter, which assigns the foundation responsibility for standardised Persian placement examinations. AMFA is issued in two versions. AMFA Academic is the criterion for admitting foreign applicants to Iranian universities and is administered by the National Organization for Educational Testing (سازمان سنجش آموزش کشور). AMFA General, administered by the Saadi Foundation, serves the foundation's other statutory purposes: residence and work permits in Iran, permission to establish joint economic or cultural offices, employment with Iranian embassies and cultural counsellorships, teaching authorisation in schools and institutes under Saadi Foundation supervision, and open candidates who simply want a certified Persian level. The paper runs 185 minutes across four equally weighted 45-point modules: Listening (55 minutes, three sub-parts, 30 items), Reading (60 minutes, three passages, 30 items), Writing (60 minutes, a letter of at least 150 words plus an essay of at least 250 words) and Speaking (a recorded 10-minute one-to-one interview in three parts). There is no pass mark. The 180-point raw total converts to a 0–9 band and to one of eight reported levels from Novice (نوآموز) to Superior (فوق پیشرفته / C2), drawn from the Saadi Foundation's seven-level reference standard for teaching Persian worldwide, which itself localises the Common European Framework and the ACTFL proficiency guidelines. Results are released after 14 working days and the certificate is valid for three years from issue. This question bank is independent Persian-language practice by OpenExamPrep. It is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation of AMFA's assessable knowledge — Persian reading comprehension, morphosyntax, spoken and written register, and vocabulary — written in English so that learners preparing in English can use it. It is not an official AMFA paper, not an official translation, not a simulation of the examination's format, and no substitute for the writing and live speaking components, which cannot be practised through multiple-choice items. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Saadi Foundation.

Exam sponsor: Saadi Foundation (بنیاد سعدی) for AMFA General; National Organization for Educational Testing (سازمان سنجش آموزش کشور) for AMFA Academic. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

AMFA runs as a single 185-minute session over four modules worth 45 points each: (1) Listening — 55 minutes, three sub-parts (10 short two-turn exchanges, 10 items on multi-turn conversations, 10 items on a 7–8 minute monologue); (2) Reading — 60 minutes, three general-topic passages with 10 questions each; (3) Writing — 60 minutes, two tasks (a letter of at least 150 words worth 15 points, then an essay of at least 250 words worth 30 points); (4) Speaking — a 10-minute one-to-one interview in three parts, recorded so scores can be moderated or re-marked on appeal. Raw scores total 180 and are converted to a 0–9 band.

Time Limit

185 minutes (~3 hours 5 minutes)

Passing Score

No pass/fail threshold; scored out of 180, converted to a 0–9 band and reported as one of eight levels — نوآموز/N (0–15), پیش‌مقدماتی/A1 (16–44), مقدماتی/A2 (45–64), پیش‌میانی/B1 (65–84), میانی/B2 (85–104), فوق‌میانی/B3 (105–125), پیشرفته/C1 (126–149), فوق‌پیشرفته/C2 (150–180). Required levels are set individually by each accepting institution or government agency.

Exam / Certification Fees

Not published for the 2026 cycle; fees are payable in Iranian rials or foreign currency, and the last publicly announced sitting fee was IRR 5,000,000 (April 2021)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Reading Comprehension

Study cluster for the official Reading module: literal retrieval, main theme, contextual vocabulary inference and discourse structure across Persian narrative, expository and academic passages.

25%

Grammar & Morphology

Underpins the Writing and Speaking modules: ezafe, tense-aspect and mood paradigms (imperfect, perfect, past perfect, subjunctive, conditional, passive), compound-verb structure, clitics, râ placement and relative clauses.

25%

Spoken Interaction & Pragmatics

Study cluster for the official Listening and Speaking modules: colloquial phonology and contractions, regional accent features, polite formulaic exchanges (ta'arof), register differentiation and situational pragmatics.

20%

Vocabulary & Writing Conventions

Study cluster for the official Writing module: administrative and civil vocabulary, proverbs and idioms, discourse connectors, formal letter structure, and Academy of Persian Language orthography such as the half-space (nim-fasele).

Preparing for the AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No pass/fail threshold; scored out of 180, converted to a 0–9 band and reported as one of eight levels — نوآموز/N (0–15), پیش‌مقدماتی/A1 (16–44), مقدماتی/A2 (45–64), پیش‌میانی/B1 (65–84), میانی/B2 (85–104), فوق‌میانی/B3 (105–125), پیشرفته/C1 (126–149), فوق‌پیشرفته/C2 (150–180). Required levels are set individually by each accepting institution or government agency.
Assessment: AMFA runs as a single 185-minute session over four modules worth 45 points each: (1) Listening — 55 minutes, three sub-parts (10 short two-turn exchanges, 10 items on multi-turn conversations, 10 items on a 7–8 minute monologue); (2) Reading — 60 minutes, three general-topic passages with 10 questions each; (3) Writing — 60 minutes, two tasks (a letter of at least 150 words worth 15 points, then an essay of at least 250 words worth 30 points); (4) Speaking — a 10-minute one-to-one interview in three parts, recorded so scores can be moderated or re-marked on appeal. Raw scores total 180 and are converted to a 0–9 band.
Time limit: 185 minutes (~3 hours 5 minutes)
Exam / certification fees: Not published for the 2026 cycle; fees are payable in Iranian rials or foreign currency, and the last publicly announced sitting fee was IRR 5,000,000 (April 2021) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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AMFA Persian Language Proficiency Test: Suggested Study Strategy

1Work on formal written Persian (فارسی معیار) and colloquial spoken Persian (محاوره) side by side — the Reading and Writing modules use the written register while the Listening and Speaking interviews use contractions and vowel shifts such as نان → نون and می‌رود → می‌ره.

2Practise reading unvocalised Persian and inferring the ezafe vowel (-e / -ye) from the syntactic relationship between nouns, adjectives and possessors; the Reading module gives you three passages in 60 minutes, so speed matters.

3Rehearse the ta'arof formulas that pair up in conversation — خسته نباشید / سلامت باشید, دست شما درد نکند / نوش جان, قدمتان روی چشم — because the Speaking interview opens with personal and everyday topics where these appear.

4Time the two Writing tasks separately: a letter of at least 150 words in 20 minutes, then an essay of at least 250 words in 40 minutes. Learn the discourse connectors (بنابراین، از این رو، با وجود این) and the Academy half-space rules (می‌رود، خانه‌ها) that formal writing is marked on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AMFA examination?

AMFA (آزمون مهارت زبان فارسی), published in English by the Saadi Foundation as the Persian Language Proficiency Test (PLPT), is Iran's standardised Persian proficiency examination for speakers of other languages. It measures listening, reading, writing and speaking regardless of how or where the candidate learned Persian, and rests on a 1397 Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution act on organising international Persian language examinations.

Who administers AMFA, and what is the difference between the General and Academic versions?

AMFA is issued in two versions. AMFA Academic is the criterion for admitting foreign applicants to Iranian universities and is administered by the National Organization for Educational Testing (سازمان سنجش آموزش کشور). AMFA General is administered by the Saadi Foundation for the foundation's other purposes, including residence and work permits, establishing joint offices, employment at Iranian missions abroad, teaching authorisation, and open candidates.

How is AMFA structured and scored?

The session runs 185 minutes across four modules worth 45 points each: Listening (55 minutes, three sub-parts, 30 items), Reading (60 minutes, three passages, 30 items), Writing (60 minutes, a letter of at least 150 words and an essay of at least 250 words) and Speaking (a recorded 10-minute one-to-one interview in three parts). The 180-point raw total converts to a 0–9 band and to one of eight levels from N to C2. There is no pass or fail mark.

How often is AMFA held, and how long is the certificate valid?

The Saadi Foundation states that AMFA is held at least three times a year and can be run at any university or accredited Persian-language teaching centre under its supervision, as well as at Iranian cultural counsellor centres abroad. Candidates receive their score report after 14 working days and the certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue.

What level do I need, and where do I register?

AMFA has no universal pass mark. Each accepting university, ministry or agency sets the level it requires, so check the requirement with the institution you are applying to. The Saadi Foundation designates amfa.ir as the official AMFA site, but as of September 2026 its own AMFA page still describes that registration portal as under construction, so registration currently runs through the Saadi Foundation and its overseas representatives.

Is this practice question bank an official AMFA test?

No. This is independent Persian-language practice by OpenExamPrep: an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation covering Persian reading, grammar, spoken pragmatics and vocabulary. It is not an official AMFA paper, not an official translation, and not a simulation of the examination's format. It cannot substitute for the writing and live speaking modules, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Saadi Foundation.