THE
ENGLISH
TUTORIAL CENTRE
OXFORD
UK EXAMINATIONS
GENERAL ENGLISH
CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATIONS / QUALIFICATIONS LEVEL
| |
Skills tested - all main skills
|
Dates
|
Level
|
| 1 |
The Preliminary English Test (PET) |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November |
Lower Intermediate |
| 2 |
The First Certificate (CFC or FCE) |
Mid June
Mid December |
Upper Intermediate |
| 3 |
Advanced (CAE) |
Mid June
Mid December |
In the middle of the Advanced Range |
| 4 |
Proficiency (CPE) |
Mid June
Mid December |
Upper Advanced (near native speaker
level) |
THE OXFORD - ARELS EXAMINATIONS
| |
|
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Level
|
| 1 |
Oxford Preliminary (and Junior counterpart
for candidates under 16) |
Reading and Writing |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November |
Lower Intermediate / Intermediate |
| 2 |
Oxford Higher |
Reading and Writing |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November |
Upper Intermediate - Lower Advanced |
| 3 |
ARELS Preliminary |
Listening and Speaking |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November
and on demand |
Lower Intermediate - Intermediate |
| 4 |
ARELS Higher |
Listening and Speaking |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November
and on demand |
Upper Intermediate / Lower Advanced |
| 5 |
ARELS Diploma |
Listening and Speaking |
Mid May
Late November
and on demand |
Upper advanced (near native speaker
level) |
NB For a rounded qualification incorporating all four main skills (listening,
speaking, reading, writing) the candidates should "complement"
the ARELS and Oxford Examinations at the appropriate level. This may seem
cumbersome; but it is also flexible: Should a candidate for example not
be sufficiently strong in Reading and Writing (s)he will still have a qualification
in listening and speaking or vice-versa.
EXAMINATIONS IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES
The Oxford International Business English Certificate
| |
|
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Level
|
| a |
First |
All |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November
On demand at special rates |
In terms of General English:- Lower
Intermediate / Intermediate |
| b |
Executive |
All |
Mid March
Mid May
Late November
On demand at special rates |
Advanced NB Success in this examination
is accepted as a linguistic entry qualification for appropriate courses
by many UK Universities |
USA
| |
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Level
|
| Test of English for International Commerce
(TOEIC) general Business English (an assessment of attainment rather
than a pass / fail test) |
Listening and Reading Multiple choice
format |
On demand at 2/4 weeks notice: result
is available within 3 days |
Variable: TOEIC is an assessment
of existing proficiency rather than a pass / fail test. But there
would be little point in taking it before the candidate was well into
intermediate level. |
US GENERAL ENGLISH
EXAMINATIONS / QUALIFICATIONS
| |
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Level
|
| Test of English as a Foreign Language
(to EFL) |
Listening
Reading
Grammatical
Structure
(Multiple choice format) |
Early August
Late October
Early December
Mid February
and May |
Upper Intermediate |
| Test of Written English (TWE) |
Written - short essay |
as above - the TWE has to combined
with the TOEFL: You cannot register for the TWE only |
Upper Intermediate |
Test of Spoken English (TSE) Divided
into:
- Academic (TSE-A) for those studying or taking their first teaching
post at a University.
- Test of spoken English Professional (TSE-P) for those who need
English for occupational purposes.
|
Speaking
Listening
Reading (to an extent) |
12 times possible to select date
per month and year
NB The TSE is separate from the TOEFL but is often taken concurrently
to gain a rounded qualification. |
Upper Intermediate |
These examinations are accepted as the EFL entry qualifications for 2,400
Colleges and Universities in the USA and Canada.
NB The Cambridge Oxford / ARELS suites (UK) and the TOEFL suite (US) can
be taken at Centres world-wide. The ETC will furnish a candidate who cannot
take such examinations in Oxford with details of the appropriate Centre(s)
in his own country.
ESP (BUSINESS ENGLISH)
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCIEB) Examination Board offers
many at 3 or 4 levels from preliminary to Advanced. Obviously at the Preliminary
level (lower intermediate) the specialist content will be relatively restricted.
| |
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Levels
|
| Spoken English for Industry and Commerce
(SEFIC) |
Speaking / Listening
Optional telephone and liaison interpreting tests |
on demand |
4: elementary (survival) to near
native speaker |
| English for Business (EFB) |
Writing
Reading -tasks based on real business activity |
on demand |
3 |
| English for Commerce (EFC) |
Writing
Reading
formats-traditional essay, comprehension summary |
on demand |
3 |
| NB Both EFB and EFC are
accepted as the EFL entry requirement for many Universities in the
UK and world-wide. Hence for non-native speakers they have a short
oral test at levels 2 & 3 |
| Practical Business English (PBE) |
Reading / Grammatical structures.
Format - multiple choice designed to test candidates ability to survive
in an environment where business is being done in English. |
On demand |
Intermediate Upper intermediate |
| Communication Use of English |
Writing: stress is on the quality
of written communication in Business |
On demand |
3: intermediate to advanced |
ESP (Tourism)
LCCIEB Examinations / Qualifications Cont.
English for Tourism
| |
Skills Tested
|
Dates
|
Levels
|
| Spoken English for the Tourism Industry
(SEFTI) |
Talking / Listening
Modelled on SEFIC but all materials relate to Tourism |
on demand |
Preliminary and threshold |
| Written English for Tourism |
Writing / Reading |
on demand |
First level - intermediate for desk
and reception staff
Second level Upper Intermediate
Lower Advanced for planners, administrators, Managers |
| English for the Tourism Industry (EFTI) |
A comprehensive qualification for
those who have successfully passed both the above at the same level |
on demand |
|
Teachers of Business English
- Diploma (Dip TEB) Teaching English for Business
- Certificate (Cert TEB)
Specialist qualifications for those who are already qualified and experienced
general EFL teachers.
NB. The higher levels of L.C.C.I. suites are designed to be taken by native
as well as non-native speakers of English. This in itself reflects extra
credit on a successful candidate whois a non-native speaker.
The International English Language Testing System (I.E.L.T.S.)
Sponsors: The University of Cambridge local Examinations Syndicate
(U.C.L.E.S.), The British Council and I.D.P. Education Australia.
|
Divisions
|
Skills Tested
|
Dates / Availability
|
Levels
|
| a. Academic Reading and Writing
Modules - assessment of fitness to enter an English speaking University |
All |
Practically on demand: but the programmes
of different test centres vary slightly |
Candidates will be graded at Intermediate,
Upper Intermediate, Lower Advanced, Upper Advanced (or equivalent)
according to their performance). |
| b. With General Training, Reading
and Writing Modules designed for those who wish to enter an English
speaking Secondary School, or to take work-experience or non-University
training in the medium of English |
Basic linguistic survival skills |
as above |
Intermediate.
Good candidates may be graded Upper Intermediate |
NB. I.E.L.T.S. strictly speaking is not a formal EFL qualification on the
model of the Oxford ARELS and Cambridge suites, but rather an assessment
for specific purposes. |
