CYLET – Cambridge Young Learners English Test
These tests are designed for children between ages of 7 and 12 and are set at three levels: Starters, Movers and Flyers. The tests are specified in four categories: topics, structures, words and tasks. The word list for Starters, Movers and Flyers consist approximately 350, 650 and 1050 words respectively, and the highest level (Flyers) is set at a proficiency level roughly equivalent to that of the Key English Test (KET). Modules: Reading and Writing – Listening – Speaking.

KET – Key English Test
KET is an early learning objective, which enables people to acquire a general basic ability in English. It represents a level of proficiency approximately half way to Preliminary English Test (PET).

The Key English Test is at Level 1 in the Cambridge five level system.
KET is a first step for students wishing to progress towards the Preliminary English Test (PET) and the other UCLES EFL main suite examinations.
Modules: Reading/Writing – Listening – Speaking.

PET – Preliminary English Test
PET is intended to assess language ability and be able to cope linguistically in a range of everyday situations which require use of English in their own or a foreign country, in contact with native and non-native speakers of the language.

The Preliminary English Test is at Level 2 in the Cambridge five level system.
Modules: Reading – Writing – Listening – Speaking.

FCE – First Certificate in English
FCE has widespread recognition in commerce and industry, e.g. for contact with the public or secretarial work in banking, airlines, catering, etc. It is also recognized by some university faculties, colleges and other institutions as fulfilling English language requirements. It tests general competence in English.

The First Certificate Examination is at Level 3 in the Cambridge five level system.
Modules: Reading – Writing – Use of English – Listening – Speaking.

CAE – Certificate in Advanced English
It indicates a high level of language competence for candidates wishing to use English for professional or study purposes. It is recognized by the majority of British universities and higher education institutions as fulfilling entrance requirements in English language.

The Certificate in Advanced English is at Llevel 4 in the Cambridge five level system.
Modules: Reading – Writing – English in Use – Listening – Speaking.

The Certificate of Proficiency is at level 5 in the Cambridge five level system.
Modules: Reading comprehension – Composition – Use of English – Listening Comprehension.

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication.

IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, British Council and IDP: IELTS Australia. IELTS conforms the highest international standards of language assessment. It covers the four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.

IELTS is recognized by universities and employers in many countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is recognized by professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government agencies.

IELTS is not recommended for candidates under the age of 16.

Academic and General Training
IELTS is available in two formats – Academic and General Training.

The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assesses whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is based on the results of these Modules.

The General Training reading and Writing Modules emphasise basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to complete their secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

Test format:
Listening: Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts. These include a mixture of monologues and conversations and feature a variety of English accents and dialects. The recording is head only once, and candidates are given time to read the questions and write down their answers. Time: approximately 30 minutes.
Reading: There are two options:
Academic Reading: There are three reading passages with tasks. Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers, al written for a non-specialist audience. At least one of the texts contains a detailed argument. Time: approximately 60 minutes.
General Training Reading: The texts are based on the type of material candidates would be expected to encounter on a daily basis in and English speaking country. They are taken from sources such as newspapers, advertisements, instruction manual and books, and test the candidate’s ability to understand and use information. The test includes one longer text, which is descriptive rather than argumentative. Time: approximately 60 minutes.
Writing: There are two options:
Academic Writing: Candidates write a description of at least 160 words. This is based on material found in a chart, table, grasp or diagram and demonstrates their ability to present information and to summarise the main features of the input. For the second task, candidates write a short essay of at least 250 words in respond to a statement of question. They are expected to demonstrate and ability to present a position, construct an argument and discuss abstract issues. Time: approximately 60 minutes.
General Training Writing: The first task requires candidates to write a letter of at least 150 words either asking for information, or explaining a situation. For the second task, candidates write a short essay of at least 250 words in response to a statement. They are expected to demonstrate an ability to present a position, construct an argument and discuss issues. Time: approximately 60 minutes.
Speaking: The test is a face-to-face interview. Candidates are assessed on their use of spoken English to answer short questions, to speak at length on a familiar topic, and also to interact with the examiner. Time: approximately 11-14 minutes.

IGCSE – International General Certificate of Secondary Education

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a balanced international curriculum which is designed to encourage high academic standards through a practical approach to teaching and learning. It leads to a qualification which is internationally recognised as equivalent in standard to the UK GCSE and the International GCE O level examinations.

The IGCSE provides a foundation for higher level courses such as the North American Advanced Placement Test (APT), the International Baccalaureate (IB), the GCE AS/A Level and the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE). It is used by schools in well over 100 countries and is recognised around the world for university entrance purposes.

A & AS – Cambridge International A & AS Level

Cambridge International A Levels typically take two years to complete and offer a flexible course of study that gives students the freedom to select subjects that are right for them.
International AS Level is typically taken at the mid-point of an A Level programme and is optional. Schools can offer AS Level as a qualification in its own right to increase breadth in the curriculum and allow students to complement other subjects they are studying.

International A and AS Level syllabuses have been created specifically for an international audience. The content of International A and AS Levels is carefully devised to suit the wide variety of Cambridge schools worldwide and avoid any cultural bias. The structure and administration of International A and AS Levels are also designed to meet the needs of our schools and students around the world.

International A and AS Level use a wide range of assessment processes and techniques to supplement formal written examinations – orals, practicals, projects and coursework of differing types are all used in various subjects where they are the most effective and appropriate means of measuring attainment.

Subjects are graded A through to E. Grade A is awarded for the highest level of achievement, grade E for the lowest, and a U grade (ungraded) is issued for papers that do not meet the requirements of the assessment. In some circumstances, a candidate who has been entered for international A Level but not reached the standard of a grade E will be awarded a compensatory international AS Level in the subject.

CAMBRIDGE CHECKPOINT

The launch of Cambridge Checkpoint, an innovative new diagnostic testing service, marks a major landmark in the development of assessment services for the international school. A unique service and an invaluable tool for schools and colleges, it will enable access to standardised tests that provide feedback on a student's strengths and weaknesses in key curriculum areas. Feedback of this kind is an invaluable source of information. Schools and colleges will be able to make strategic decisions, drawing upon a pool of information and specialist reporting tools built in to Checkpoint. Students at international schools will have a transferable indication of their academic progress. Rapid turnaround of feedback, within four weeks of receipt, will ensure that the information returned can be put to immediate use.

Cambridge Checkpoint tests are available in English, Mathematics and Sciences and are to be offered at three times during the year. The service is aimed at students of approximately 14 years of age studying mid-secondary curriculums. The tests cover all major areas of learning required in the first years of an international secondary education. It is these sub-topics which provide the framework for feedback on each and every student.

ILEC International Legal English Cambridge

The International Legal English Cambridge (ILEC) is equivalent in level to the world famous Cambridge First Certificate in English and Certificate in Advanced English, and assesses language skills in a legal context.
It is used as proof of the level of language necessary to work in an international legal context or to follow a course of legal study at university level.

It is recognised by leading associations of lawyers including the European Company Lawyers Association, the European Law Students Association, the International Association of Young Lawyers, and the European Young Bar Association.

BEC – Business English Certificates

BECs 1 (lower intermediate), 2 (upper intermediate) and 3 (advanced) are suitable for adults (aged 17 and over) who are either already in business-oriented work, or preparing for a career in business. Test content is chosen for its accessibility to those interested in a variety of fields of business, whether they have little work experience, or are already established in the world of work.

The Business English Certificates are a suite of three examinations designed to test the English used in business. BEC 1 spans Cambridge Levels 1 and 2 (PET); BEC 2 is at level 3 (FCE) and BEC 3 at level 4 (CAE).
Modules: Reading – Writing – Listening – Speaking.
(See Examination Change)

BULATS – Business Language Testing Service

The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is a language assessment service specifically for the use of companies and organisations. BULATS is for organisations which need a reliable way of assessing the language ability of groups of employees or trainees.
The service is designed to test the language of employees who need to use a foreign language in their work, and for students and employees on language courses or on professional/business courses where foreign language ability is an important element of the course.

Certificate of Attainment in English

Level 1 Basic Communication
For those needing to use basic skills for simple practical purposes in everyday situations.

Level 2 Elementary Communication
For those needing to express ideas, feelings, opinions and explanations related to a variety of everyday purposes.

Level 3 Intermediate Communication
For those needing to communicate in a variety of contexts in daily life, for instance using simple English at work.

Level 4 Advanced Communication
For those needing to communicate in a range of situations and to express personal ideas, attitudes and experiences competently; for those intending to apply to study for a first degree in an English-speaking university or for a University of London External Degree.

Level 5 Proficient Communication
For those needing to communicate in a wide range of daily, professional and academic situations and to express themselves effectively and with a high degree of accuracy, for instance in postgraduate study or at international conferences.

Level 6 Expert Communication
For those needing to communicate in a wide range of specialized and non-specialized situations and to express themselves with a high degree of fluency and accuracy, for instance in work at the highest professional level.

Skills tested: Each level follows the same format, of a single paper comprising listening, reading and writing tasks linked together in a situation to which the candidate can relate. The paper at level 1 lasts about one hour and fifteen minutes, increasing proportionally up to level 6 which lasts two hours and thirty minutes. In addition there is an optional oral test at each level, based initially on and developing out of the situation from the written test at the same level, conducted with candidates in pairs.

ESOL – Spoken English Grade Examinations

Trinity College offers a series of twelve Grades which are grouped into four stages: Initial, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced.
The examinations are suitable for anyone over seven years of age whose first language is not English.
Teachers, adults and young learners can choose levels to suit individual ability and they can monitor progress in a visible way.
Candidates carry out an increasing number of tasks at each Stage. They will be assessed in general conversation as well as their ability to communicate about topics of their own choice.

IB – INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

The Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate Organization’s Diploma Programme, created in 1968, is a demanding pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. It is designed for highly motivated secondary school students aged 16 to 19. The programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world’s leading universities. The Diploma Programme’s grading system is criterion-referenced: each student’s performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement consistent from one examination session to the next. The IBO has shown, over the course of 30 years, that students are well prepared for university work.

The programme is a comprehensive two-year international curriculum, available in English, French and Spanish, that generally allows students to fulfill the requirements of their national or state education systems. The Diploma Programme incorporates the best elements of national systems, without being based on any one. Internationally mobile students are able to transfer from one IB school to another. Students who remain closer to home benefit from a highly respected international curriculum.

The programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for students moving from one country to another. International educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an idealistic vision: students should share an academic experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.

The Middle Years Programme

The IBO’s Middle Years Programme (MYP) provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills for students aged 11-16 years. The five-year programme offers an educational approach that embraces yet transcends traditional school subjects. It follows naturally the Primary Years Programme and serves as excellent preparation for the Diploma Programme.

Schools may subscribe to any or all of the programmes; however, none is a prerequisite for another.

The framework is flexible enough to allow a school to include other subjects not determined by the IBO but which might be required by local authorities. After consultation with the IBO, and provided certain conditions are met, schools enjoy much flexibility in terms of language of instruction and languages taught. The MYP, like the other two programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organization, is based on the premise that education can foster understanding among young people around the world. Intercultural awareness is central to the programme, to enable future generations to live more peacefully and productively than we do today.

Students at this stage—early puberty to mid-adolescence—are in a particularly critical phase of personal and intellectual development. This is a time of uncertainty, sensitivity, resistance and questioning. An educational programme needs to provide them with discipline, skills and challenging standards, but also with creativity and flexibility. The IBO builds its programme around these considerations but it is also concerned that students develop a personal value system by which to guide their own lives, as thoughtful members of local communities and the larger world.

After consultation with the International Baccalaureate Organization, and provided certain conditions are met, schools enjoy much flexibility in terms of language of instruction and languages taught. At the heart of the PYP is a commitment to structured inquiry as a vehicle for learning.

Six organizing themes help teachers and children explore knowledge in the broadest sense of the word. Teachers and students use key questions that are concept-based to structure the units of inquiry. They acquire and apply transdisciplinary skills while developing an understanding of these important concepts. The development of explicit attitudes and the expectation of socially responsible behaviour are also essential elements of the programme.

CELTA - Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults

CELTA is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience and opens up a whole world of exciting teaching opportunities. Because it is awarded by Cambridge ESOL, part of the world famous University of Cambridge, you can rely on its quality and recognition.
CELTA can also be taken as Module One of the Certificate in Further Education Teaching Stage 3 with the Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists, which is a qualification for teachers who want to specialise in teaching English in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and Wales.

CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge CELTA has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) at level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally.
CELTA is also Module One of a two-module course leading to the following qualifications:
· Certificate in Further Education Teaching at Stage 3
· Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists.
These qualifications meet the UK government's teacher training requirements for people who want to work in this sector.

TKT - Teaching Knowledge Test

TKT is a new test from Cambridge ESOL about teaching English to speakers of other languages. It aims to increase teachers' confidence and enhance job prospects by focusing on the core teaching knowledge needed by teachers of primary, secondary or adult learners, anywhere in the world. This flexible and accessible award will help you to understand:
• different methodologies for teaching
• the 'language of teaching'
• the ways in which resources can be used
• the key aspects of lesson planning
• classroom management methods for different needs

After taking TKT, teachers who want to develop their knowledge further can progress to Cambridge ESOL's well-established teaching awards, such as ICELT (In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching) and CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults).

TKT gives teachers a strong foundation in the core areas of teaching knowledge needed in the English language teaching classroom. It is ideal for all teachers, whatever your background and teaching experience, and is also suitable for people who would like to teach English but do not yet have a teaching position.