Constitution Basics Exam and A2 Lithuanian Exam: Prepare for Both

The Constitution basics exam and the state language exam (I category, level A2) are run by the same authority, the National Agency for Education (NŠA), and usually sat within the same few weeks. Preparing for both at once is not just possible, it is the most efficient route, because studying the Constitution in Lithuanian is A2 reading practice in itself.

Below you will find what each exam looks like, a four-week combined plan, 25 Lithuanian terms you must recognise on the paper, and a sensible order for sitting the two tests.

Why the Constitution basics exam and the A2 language exam go together

Both exams are required for a permanent residence permit (leidimas nuolat gyventi) and for citizenship, unless you are exempt. The same people are exempt from both: those aged 65 and over, those with a group I or II disability, and those with a severe chronic mental illness.

The Constitution exam is booked through the Migration Department's MIGRIS system at migracija.lt, no later than 15 calendar days before the exam date. The fee is paid when you register: NŠA's candidate leaflet lists €21. The language exam is booked separately on NŠA's own portal, eksternams.nsa.smm.lt, which lists a €52 fee; it must be paid within 24 hours of the registration being confirmed, or the application is cancelled. Confirm the current amounts on each portal.

Both are held at base schools (bazinės mokyklos), usually gymnasiums, in municipalities across Lithuania. Both certificates are issued by NŠA and handed out by the school within 3 working days. In practice the two sessions often fall in the same period, so one preparation cycle can cover both.

What each exam looks like

Constitution basics exam

A written test of 20 questions. Each question has 3 answer options and exactly one is correct. You pass with 14 or more correct answers (70%).

The exam is in Lithuanian only, with no dictionary or reference materials. Questions are drawn from all chapters of the Constitution, following the official NŠA programme. Retakes are allowed, with a new registration and fee each time, and six exam dates are scheduled nationally for 2026.

State language exam, I category (A2)

The I category corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework. It checks the four basic skills, listening, reading, writing and speaking, in everyday situations such as shopping, work, health and dealing with offices.

At A2 you are expected to understand short, clear texts and conversations, fill in a simple form, write a short message and hold a basic conversation about yourself and your daily life. The exact structure and assessment criteria are published by NŠA, so check the current version on the portal before the exam.

Feature	Constitution basics exam	State language exam (I category)
Format	Written test, 20 questions, 3 options each	Listening, reading, writing, speaking
Pass mark	14 of 20 correct	Set by NŠA, see the portal
Language	Lithuanian only	Lithuanian, level A2
Fee (2026, confirm on the portal)	€21	€52
Registration	MIGRIS (migracija.lt)	NŠA portal eksternams.nsa.smm.lt
Registration deadline	15 calendar days before	15 calendar days before
Certificate	Within 3 working days	Within 3 working days

Studying the Constitution in Lithuanian is language practice

The Constitution says it itself in Article 14: "Valstybinė kalba – lietuvių kalba" (the state language is Lithuanian). That sentence is A2-level Lithuanian, and so is much of what you need for the exam.

Exam questions are short, reuse the same vocabulary and mostly test facts: who elects whom, for how many years, from what age. When you read practice questions in Lithuanian, you are doing A2 reading practice with the exact words that will be on the test.

The trick is to study in Lithuanian from day one, with the English version alongside to check meaning, rather than studying in English and hoping to recognise the terms on exam day. The free practice questions exist in all three languages, so you can switch to Lithuanian as soon as you are ready.

Two patterns are worth noticing. The suffix -ybė forms nouns of state: pilietybė (citizenship), Vyriausybė (Government), savivaldybė (municipality). The verb renka means "elects" and renkamas means "is elected"; you will meet both in nearly every question about the Seimas, the President and municipal councils.

A four-week combined plan

The plan assumes about one hour a day, split between the two exams. Move faster if your Lithuanian is already solid, slower if you are starting from zero.

Week	Constitution focus	Language focus (A2)
Week 1	Chapters I and II: the state, sovereignty, citizenship, state symbols, human rights (Articles 1 to 37). Learn the 25 terms below.	Reading: read every practice question in Lithuanian aloud. Listening: 15 minutes of slow Lithuanian audio a day.
Week 2	Seimas, President, Government: numbers, terms of office, age limits, who appoints whom (Articles 55 to 101).	Speaking: describe yourself, your work and your day. Practise numbers, dates and years, which appear in both exams.
Week 3	Constitutional Court, courts, local government, budget, defence, amending the Constitution (Articles 102 to 154).	Writing: a short note, a simple form, a message to a doctor or landlord. Reading: notices, timetables, official letters.
Week 4	Timed 20-question mock exams. Review every mistake and reread the article behind it.	A full run-through of all four skills. Repeat the 25 terms until you recognise them instantly.

For week 2, the learning module on state institutions collects the numbers in one place. For the timed practice in week 4, premium gives you full 20-question mock exams with explanations.

25 Lithuanian exam terms you must know

These words appear in the Constitution and in the exam questions again and again. Learn them as written, with diacritics, because that is how they will look on the paper.

Lithuanian	English	Where you meet it
Konstitucija	Constitution	Article 6: a directly applicable act
įstatymas	law, statute	Article 7: only published laws are valid
straipsnis	article (of the Constitution)	Question wording
valstybė	state	Article 1: an independent democratic republic
Tauta	the Nation, the people	Article 2: sovereignty belongs to the Nation
suverenitetas	sovereignty	Articles 2 to 4
pilietis	citizen	Articles 33 and 34: political rights
pilietybė	citizenship	Chapter I
valstybinė kalba	state language	Article 14
Seimas	Parliament (the Seimas)	Article 55: 141 members, four-year term
Seimo narys	member of the Seimas	Article 56: at least 21 years old
Respublikos Prezidentas	President of the Republic	Article 78: elected for five years
Vyriausybė	Government	Article 91: the Prime Minister and ministers
Ministras Pirmininkas	Prime Minister	Article 92
ministras	minister	Articles 91 and 92
teismas	court	Article 109: justice is administered only by courts
teisėjas	judge	Article 109
Konstitucinis Teismas	Constitutional Court	Article 103: 9 judges, nine-year term
savivaldybė	municipality	Article 119: councils elected for four years
rinkimai	elections	Articles 34, 55, 78
rinkimų teisė	right to vote	Article 34: from age 18
referendumas	referendum	Article 9
kadencija	term of office	Articles 78 and 103
teisė	right	Chapter II
laisvė	freedom, liberty	Article 18: rights and freedoms are innate

Which exam to sit first

There is no rule about the order. They are separate registrations with separate fees, and both certificates are needed before you apply on MIGRIS. The best order depends on your Lithuanian.

1. You can already read simple Lithuanian: sit the Constitution exam first. It needs a few weeks of focused fact-learning, the reading is repetitive, and passing early gives you one certificate in hand and more time for the language.
2. Your Lithuanian is below A2: book the language exam first, or both close together, and study in the combined way described above. The Constitution test is in Lithuanian, so the reading skill you build for A2 is what lets you decode the 20 questions.
3. You are short on time: book both for the nearest dates and follow the four-week plan. If one goes wrong you can retake it; there is no fixed limit on attempts, only a new registration and fee.

Whatever the order, register at least 15 calendar days before the chosen date and keep the confirmation. The full exam guide walks through the registration steps and what to bring on the day.

FAQ

Can I take the Constitution exam in English or Russian?

No. The official exam is in Lithuanian only, without dictionaries or reference materials. Prepare in English if you like, but switch to Lithuanian practice questions well before the exam date.

Is the Constitution exam harder than the A2 language exam?

They test different things. The Constitution exam is a fact test with a clear pass mark of 14 out of 20; the language exam measures four skills. Most people find the Constitution exam quicker to prepare for once their reading is at A2.

Do I need both exams for a permanent residence permit?

Yes, unless you are exempt. The permit is usually available after 5 years of continuous lawful residence and is applied for via MIGRIS; the state fee in 2026 is €160, or €320 for urgent processing. See the guide to the Constitution exam for the permanent residence permit.

What happens if I fail one of them?

You register again and pay the fee again. There is no fixed limit on retakes. Use the gap to go through your mistakes; in the Constitution exam they are almost always numbers and terms of office.

Where do I find the exam dates?

NŠA publishes them. Six Constitution exam dates are scheduled for 2026; you book them through MIGRIS no later than 15 calendar days before. The language exam dates are listed, and booked, on NŠA's portal eksternams.nsa.smm.lt.

Start with the free practice questions in Lithuanian today, and put the four-week plan in your calendar.