Filipino NAATI CCL Preparation
Practise Filipino interpreting, one detail at a time.
Interpret in both directions, review the meaning and build a routine you can return to.
AI feedback is a practice aid. It does not predict your exam result or establish eligibility for migration points.
English → Filipino
Filipino → English
Build on Your Filipino
Practise transferring the whole message
Knowing both languages gives you a foundation for interpreting.
Practice helps you listen, keep track of details and express them in the other language.
CCL assesses communication between English and Filipino through recorded dialogues.
Details to review in your practice:
- •Word choices and borrowed terms (Taglish): check the language-specific policy
- •Words you skip without realizing (omissions)
- •Formality that fits the speakers (po/ho vs ka/ikaw)
Choose one detail to review, then try it again in context.
How NAATI Scoring Works
NAATI deducts marks according to how errors affect communication.
45
Available Marks
per dialogue
29+
Minimum Each
to pass
63/90
Pass Threshold
total needed
Score 41 + 23 = 64
Below 29 minimum on one dialogue
Score 32 + 32 = 64
Both above minimum, total above 63
Both dialogue minimums matter.
These are illustrative exam totals, not practice results. Review both interpreting directions across a range of topics.
Read NAATI’s CCL assessment guidanceFilipino Interpreting Details to Practise
Compare each source with the example interpretation and choose a detail to review.
NAATI does not penalise English words that Filipino speakers regularly and commonly use. Focus on preserving the message: a missing negative can reverse what the speaker said.
“Hindi … pa” carries “not”. The first version says the application has been submitted.
Listen for negatives and conditions. Compare the source with your interpretation, and use practice feedback as a prompt to review.
Adjectives, numbers and qualifiers carry information. Check that your interpretation preserves these details.
"Chronic" (malalang) and "lower" (ibabang bahagi) are critical — omitting them changes the diagnosis
Review possible omissions in your practice feedback, then compare them with the source. Note the location and duration together.
Politeness markers (po/ho) and formal pronouns convey respect when speaking with professionals. Leaving them out can make the interpretation sound too familiar.
Use po/ho and formal pronouns (ninyo, kayo) in this professional conversation.
Practise matching the tone of the conversation as well as its meaning. Consider who is speaking to whom.
Filipino's focus system changes verb forms based on what's emphasized. Using wrong focus can distort meaning.
Swapping ng and ang reverses who examined whom.
Practice recognizing what the English sentence emphasizes, then match your Filipino focus.
Keep the specific role and legal decision in your interpretation. A general statement about release loses the detail that bail was granted.
Magistrate = mahistrado. Judge = hukom. Bail = piyansa ≠ Release
Review legal vocabulary in context, then practise using it in a complete interpretation.
AI-Powered Feedback
Find a Detail Worth Practising Again
Use AI practice feedback to review possible changes in meaning and language. Compare it with the source; it can miss errors or flag acceptable wording.
If “chronic” is missing, the listener loses information about duration.
Check borrowed words against NAATI’s policy for Filipino; borrowing alone is not proof of an error.
Read the language policyFilipino Practice Dialogues
Explore the available dialogues by topic
Healthcare
0 dialogues
Medicare & Bulk Billing · GP Consultations · Specialist Referrals
Social Services
0 dialogues
Centrelink Claims · Pension Applications · Family Assistance
Legal & Court
0 dialogues
Police Interviews · Court Hearings (Pagdinig) · Legal Aid
Immigration
0 dialogues
Visa Applications · Permanent Residency · Citizenship Tests
Housing
0 dialogues
Lease Agreements · Bond Disputes · Tenant Rights
Employment
0 dialogues
Job Applications · Workplace Rights · Fair Work
Filipino Vocabulary in Context
Review word choices in context and check the language-specific borrowing policy.
| English | Filipino | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner (GP) | Pangkalahatang Manggagamot | Pang-ka-la-ha-tang Mang-ga-ga-mot |
| Specialist | Espesyalista | Es-pes-ya-lis-ta |
| Diagnosis | Diyagnosis | Di-yag-no-sis |
| Symptoms | Sintomas / Palatandaan | Sin-to-mas / Pa-la-tan-da-an |
| Prescription | Reseta | Re-se-ta |
Sign up free to access 15+ terms in Health & Medical
Try Symbols for Important Details
Try short symbols or words that help you recall the message.
Future
Past
Increase
Decrease
Is
Not
And
Because
Learn the complete system with your free account
Common Questions
Answers to common preparation questions
NAATI does not penalise English words that Filipino speakers regularly and commonly use, and markers allow for language variation. NAATI has no Filipino-specific rule beyond these general policies. Use the clearest wording you can and focus on accurate meaning.
The CCL test is in Filipino. Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray and other Philippine languages are separate languages, not dialects of Filipino. Check NAATI’s current list of CCL languages before booking.
“Po” and “opo” are respect markers used when addressing elders, authority figures or professionals. “Opo” means “yes” respectfully, while “po” is added within sentences. Example: “Opo, naiintindihan ko po” (Yes, I understand). Leaving them out with doctors, lawyers or officials can make the interpretation sound too familiar.
Filipino verbs use affixes to indicate which participant is the focus: Actor focus (mag-, um-), Object focus (-in, i-), Location focus (-an), Benefactive focus (ipag-). Using wrong focus can change meaning. For example, "Binili niya" (Object focus - he bought IT) vs "Bumili siya" (Actor focus - HE bought).
This is critical in legal dialogues: Piyansa (Bail) is PRE-trial release—the person is "nasasakdal" (accused). Parol (Parole) is POST-conviction conditional release—the person is "nagkasala" (offender). Using Piyansa for parole distorts the legal status.
Filipino uses “na” and “-ng” to connect modifiers to nouns. After vowels, use “-ng” (magandang bata). After consonants, use “na” (mabait na bata). Wrong or missing linkers sound unnatural.
Numbers and dates are easy to omit. Write them clearly in your notes. Filipino uses Spanish-derived number words (uno, dos, tres) alongside native ones (isa, dalawa, tatlo).
No. Naturalized loans such as ospital, abogado and doktor are standard Filipino, and NAATI does not penalise English words that Filipino speakers commonly use. Where a Filipino word is just as clear, such as magpahinga for “rest”, it is useful to have it ready.
Get the 8-Week Filipino CCL Study Plan
A suggested routine for your CCL preparation. Includes daily tasks, vocabulary checklists, note-taking symbols, and exam-day preparation.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Exactly what to practice each day
Vocabulary Checklists
50+ essential terms with pronunciation
Note-Taking Symbol System
14 symbols that save your memory
Exam-Day Checklist
Everything you need to be ready
Download Free PDF
21 pages of structured preparation
Make your next Filipino session count.
Record an interpretation, check the feedback and choose one detail to practise again.
Start practising free0 Filipino dialogues · No credit card required