Cambridge English: English Tests for the Workplace Dr David Davies, Global Manager, Higher Education and Workplace

Cambridge English

Part of Cambridge University

100 years experience

Not for Profit

Delivering world-class assessment Leading-edge and operational research on assessment in education Influencing thinking through publishing and consultancy

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The Cambridge English mission and vision

Our mission To be the experts in language assessment, delivering excellence and innovation

Our Vision To make our flexible range of assessment tools an indispensable component of language learning, teaching and testing throughout the world

Our offer - focused on specific sector or purpose

Work

Teaching

Schools

Higher Education

Business

Young learners

General & for schools Academic & professional

Teaching qualifications

A range of exams to meet different needs Proficient User

C2

BULATS

Advanced (CAE)

C1

Business Vantage (BEC)

International Legal English Certificate (ILEC)

International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE)

9

90

IELTS 8 7.5 75

Independent User

7 First for schools (FCE for schools)

B2

Preliminary for schools (PET for schools)

B1

First (FCE)

Preliminary (PET)

Business Vantage (BEC)

Business Preliminary (BEC)

6.5 60

6 5.5

40

5 4.5

A2 Basic User

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Proficiency (CPE)

A1

Young learners Flyers (YLE Flyers)

Young learners Movers (YLE Movers)

Young learners Starters (YLE Starters)

Key for schools (KET for schools)

Key (KET)

20

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Cambridge English What is Cambridge English? • Cambridge English produces the world’s leading range of examination and assessments for learners and teachers of English. • A not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge. • Part of Cambridge Assessment group, Europe’s largest assessment agency. • First offered English language exams in 1913, with the Certificate of Proficiency in English – an exam we still offer (although with many revisions over the years).

Cambridge English English for the Workplace • Cambridge English is planning to introduce a range of tests designed for the workplace • The tests are designed to support organisations to identify candidates’ competencies across a wide range of functions • The tests will consist of evidence-based assessment that will provide the tools to measure general English proficiency • The tests are designed to support recruitment, selection and progression • Results will be reported on the CEFR scale from A1 to C2

Cambridge English Why are we introducing Workplace Tests? • Research evidence indicates that employers need evidence of candidates’ ability to use English in many different workplace contexts • Need for a test that measures English proficiency in familiar workplace contexts. • The tests will be online and on-demand to meet the needs of employers and candidates • The tests are based on the can-do statements within the CEFR • Topics and themes will be immediately familiar to anyone in a normal working environment- meetings, applying for jobs, pay and benefits etc

Cambridge English What will be included in the Workplace Test? • There will be Tests of Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. • All tests will be online • Reading and Listening tests will be computer-adaptive (i.e. they will adapt to the candidate’s ability level in order to maximise the precision of the tests, based on the candidate’s answers to earlier questions) • Speaking and Writing tests will be computer-based and linear • A single Test will be provided for each module- it will be possible to have a single test for each skill but Reading and Listening will normally be taken as one test, although reported on separately

Cambridge English Reading and Listening Tests • Computer-adaptive Tests (i.e. they will adapt to the candidate’s ability level in order to maximise the precision of the tests, based on the candidate’s answers to earlier questions) • As the test is adaptive the length of the test will depend on the candidate’s level of ability but the test is usually 60 minutes long • General English proficiency in a workplace context • Candidates can take a combined Reading and Listening test or separate tests. • Separate Reading and Listening scores for all tests

Cambridge English Reading and Listening Tests: question types • • • • • • •

Read and select Gapped sentences Multiple-choice gap fill Open gap-fill Extended reading- multiple choice questions Listen and select- multiple choice questions Extended listening- multiple choice questions

Cambridge English Speaking and Writing Tests • Computer-based linear tests • Complementary to Reading and Listening tests but can be taken independently • Marking administered by agents (standard) or by Cambridge English if required • Marked by examiners

Cambridge English Speaking Tests: tasks • • • • • •

The test lasts about 15 minutes. Part I: Interview Part 2: Reading aloud Part 3: Presentation Part 4: Presentation with graphics Part 5: Communication activity

Cambridge English Writing Tests: question types • The test lasts 45 minutes. • Part 1: Short e-mail- candidates are given input in the form of a short text to which they must respond concisely. The input text may be in the form of an email, advertisement etc. Three bullet points guide candidates towards the content required in their answers. Output in the form of an e-mail.50-60 words. • Part 2: Report or letter- candidates are given a context and a reason for writing the required text. The output will either be a report or a letter. 180200 words. Part 2 is designed to allow candidates with higher level language to demonstrate maximum language proficiency by following the instruction to write about ‘…any other points which you think are important.’

Cambridge English Tests in different contexts • Also measure General English proficiency • Business (from early 2015) • Future possibilities: • Travel and Tourism • Hospitality? • …

Cambridge English Results Reporting • • • •

Results Reporting form provided for all modules taken Results reporting for Reading and Listening will be immediate Overall scores and scores for each section will be available Reporting scale will be 0-100, linked to A1 to C2 of the CEFR

Cambridge English Our Organisation • Around 440 UK based staff • 130 staff in our network of 27 offices worldwide including Argentina Australia Brazil China France Germany

Greece UAE India Italy Malaysia Mexico

Poland Russia South Korea Spain Taiwan Turkey

Internationally Recognised

Accepted by over 15,000 organisations Including employers, universities and government bodies

Over 7,300 H/E institutions from 100 countries © UCLES 2013

Over 5,500 corporate users from 100 countries

500 Government bodies from 66 countries

Why Cambridge English Best in class and world leaders Broad & comprehensive assessment Fit for purpose Continual research & development Truly international – content, delivery, recognition Results you can trust Unparallel Support

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Cambridge English Any questions? • • • •

Dr David Davies Global Manager, Higher Education and Workplace, Business Development [email protected] Tel: 00441223556059