Stop giving away the Catalan C1: a pilot test and a manifesto

Today in Catalonia, pupils who pass Catalan in the fourth year of ESO (compulsory secondary education) automatically get the C1 level along with their certificate: this is set out in Order VCP/491/2009, updated in 2025. Many teachers feel that this certificate does not match the real level of a large share of pupils. In the last few days, two initiatives to change that have reached me.

A pilot test to find out the real level

DocentsCAT, an association of more than 800 teachers, is promoting a diagnostic Catalan test in the fourth year of ESO, using C1 as the benchmark. It is a pilot for this 2026-2027 school year, and any school in Catalonia can take part:

• it is voluntary;
• it is diagnostic: it doesn't affect marks or the ESO certificate, and it doesn't certify any level;
• the data are anonymous: nothing will be published that could identify a school, teacher or pupil.

The aim is to provide objective data on how many ESO graduates actually have a C1 level. Schools that want to take part can sign up here: docentscat.cat/prova-c1/

On 5 October, the Professors de Secundària (aspepc·sps) union announced its support.

A manifesto: «Ja n'hi ha prou de regalar el C1 de català»

The same union has published the manifesto «Per la dignitat de la llengua: ja n'hi ha prou de regalar el C1 de català» ("For the dignity of the language: enough of giving away the Catalan C1"). It proposes:

• that the C1 be certified with the Batxillerat (upper secondary) certificate rather than the ESO one, with a minimum mark of 7 in Catalan language and literature;
• that pupils finishing the fourth year of ESO who want a B2 have to pass an external test;
• a curriculum reform so that the study of the language and its literature is demanding enough at every stage.

It also points out that in the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Country and Andorra, ESO does not give a C1: it comes with the Batxillerat.

It is now collecting signatures. It will hand them to the Catalan departments of Education and Language Policy so that they change the order, and it has also submitted a petition to the Parliament of Catalonia. You can read and sign the manifesto here: noregalemc1.secundaria.info/

Why I'm sharing this

I recently wrote about Treu la llengua's C1 challenge, which proposes the same thing: B2 at the end of ESO and C1 at the end of the Batxillerat (cursosdecatala.cat/en/actualitat/dono-suport-a-treu-la-llengua-i-al-repte-per-la-llengua). Now there is also a test to gather data and a manifesto to change the rules. If you're a teacher, check whether your school can take the test. And if you agree, sign the manifesto and pass it on.

Image and video: the «Prou de regalar el C1!» campaign by Professors de Secundària (aspepc·sps).