Midwest Ellinomatheia Examination Center

The Centre for the Greek Language

The Ellinomatheia Exams are organized by the Center for the Greek Language (CGL) in Thessaloniki, Greece. The CGL is a non-profit organization supervised by the Greek Ministry of Education to support, promote and organize the teaching of Greek as a foreign/second language in Greece and abroad and to publish educational material that may contribute to the promotion and spread of Greek. Presidential Decree 363/98 assigned CGL exclusive responsibility to organize and administer the examinations for the Certification of Attainment in Modern Greek, the sole title of proficiency in Modern Greek valid worldwide.

Certificates are issued for candidates who successfully pass the exams at the following six levels of attainment in Greek: A1 (A1 for children 8-12 and A1 for adolescents and adults), A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. The Ellinomatheia levels are linked to the corresponding levels of the Common European Framework (CEFR). All language skills (comprehension of oral and written communication and production of oral and written communication) are examined at each level. 

The Ellinomatheia certificates Level B1 and above are officially approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy Program. For further details regarding the Biliteracy Program, CLICK HERE

Examination Center in Chicago 10030

The authorized examination center for the Ellinomatheia Exams in Illinois is the Hellenic American Academy, 445 Pine Street, Deerfield, IL 60015. 

Dates of Examination

The Exams will take place on May 20th for levels A1, A2, May 21st for levels B2 and C1,  and May 22nd for levels B1 and C2. An email will follow after the end of the registration period with details regarding policies and procedures for the day of the exams. Students will receive a letter of participation in the Ellinomatheia Exams so they will not be considered absent from their regularly scheduled classes.

Applications and fees

The Applications period is from February 1st to March 28th 2025. 

In the past years, our Examination Center made several exceptions and registered candidates past the deadline in an effort to help candidates in our community who missed the deadline. 

This year unfortunately, we will not be allowed to make any exceptions and we will follow a strict deadline policy. ALL applications MUST be submitted by March 20th at NOON (GREEK TIME) where the online platform officially closes. 

Candidates are highly encouraged to apply online through the Center of the Greek Language online platform at https://www.greek-language.gr/certification/application/index.html

Please do not get discouraged to register online because the application is in Greek. The application can be also found in English: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “NEW APPLICATION” for English. 

Alternatively, candidates can fill out the application form attached below and mail it to: Hellenic American Academy (attn. Ellinomatheia), 445 Pine Street, Deerfield, IL 60015, or scan and email the application at ellinomatheia@haamail.net.

If you submit a paper application, please fill out the questionnaire (second document attached). 

Applications will be accepted upon receipt of payment proof. Payments can be made by: 

1) Check (payable to Hellenic American Academy, memo: Ellinomatheia) mailed to 

Hellenic American Academy, 445 Pine Street, Deerfield, IL 60015 

NO LATER THAN March 20th

2) Cash at HAA front desk. 

3) Zelle the tuition in the email address accounting@haamail.net. 

IMPORTANT: write the name of the candidate and level when submitting money with zelle. Sometimes the name of one parent is different from the name of the candidate. 

Credit card payment by calling our office at 847.317.1063 ( daily from 9:00am - 12:30pm)

Please note that there  will be a 3% credit card processing fee. 

Refund Policy

Candidates can receive a refund by contacting the Director of the Chicago examination Center until April 5, 2025. After that date, no refunds will be made.  

Level Policy (A1 candidates please read!)

Only candidates who will be at least 8 years old on 31st May 2025 are eligible to participate in the Examinations.

 Candidates who will be over the age of 12 on 31st May 2025 are not eligible to participate in the examination for Level A1 for children 8-12 years old (they can participate in the examination for Level A1 for adolescents/adults instead). Our examinations have no other age limits. However, candidates under the age of 16 are advised not to participate in the examinations for Levels B2, C1 and C2 because answering the exam questions in the papers may require prior knowledge and experiences that young candidates do not have. If you have concerns about the level of examination that you would like to sign up for, please contact the Director of the Exams. 

Contact information: 

If you need further information or have questions  regarding  the Exams please email us at ellinomatheia@haamail.net or call the Hellenic American Academy/ Ellinomatheia Examination Center at 847.317.1063

Tuesdays through Fridays 8:00am - 3:00pm

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm 

Certificate Policy

The Certificates for the 2024 Exams that have not been picked up from the Examination Center during the Certificate Ceremony held on November 15, 2024 can ONLY be mailed to successful candidates living outside Illinois. ONLY upon special circumstances can certificate be mailed. A delivery fee may apply and is the responsibility of the candidate.  The Examination Center has no responsibility for damage or loss of the certificate when sent by mail.  

The Hellenic American Academy is formally accredited as the midwest region examination center for the Exams of Attainment in Greek Language, Ellinomatheia Exams, by the Greek Ministry of Culture, Education, and Religious Affairs and The Center for the Greek Language.

All of the Greek programs at the Hellenic American Academy - Day, Evening and Saturday - prepare students to participate in the examination for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek, Ellinomatheia Certificate,  the only official title of proficiency in Modern Greek valid worldwide. 

Illinois and 10 more states recognize the Level B1 and all higher levels of Ellinomatheia Certificates as proof of language proficiency in Modern Greek. As a result, our students can submit the (translated) B1 Certificate to their high school to be awarded the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy at graduation. 

• State Seal of Biliteracy Frequently asked Questions 

Useful links 

• Greek language Certification-General information
• Guide to the Examinations of Attainment in Greek ( English and Greek )
• Διαγνωστικά Τεστ Πιστοποίησης Ελληνομάθειας
• H πύλη για την Ελληνική γλώσσα : Internet portal for the study and teaching of the Greek language. Center for the Greek language.