Use of English

The Use of English section includes four tasks, whose types vary, including multiple choice filling, open gap filling, word formation and key word transformation. The error correction task from previous years was removed for the 2008 syllabus. This part of the exam lasts for 45 minutes.

Listening

The Listening section consists of a set of questions based on four spoken texts. The texts vary from news announcements to speeches and dialogues. This section lasts approximately 40 minutes.

Speaking

The Speaking section consists of a dialogue between you and another candidate. This section test your ability in communicating. This section is divided into 4 parts. The first is a simple questionnaire between each candidate and the examiner. The second part includes a turn of 1 minute each of the candidates to describe the 2 photos given to them. The third part includes a dialogue only between the two candidates to describe together and talk about the photos given that all of them are related to only one topic. The forth is familiar to the third. This section last about 15 minutes (two candidates) and 17 minutes (when there are 3 candidates).

Comparability

The First Certificate in English is a worldwide recognised language examination. Its level of difficulty is comparable with the TOEFL examination. Whereas the validity of the test results of the TOEFL expires after 2 years, the First Certificate in English has a long-life validity. The Cambridge Certificate is one of the most recognised language examinations worldwide.^{[ citation needed ]} The table of Exam English compares different levels of the Cambridge Certificate with the TOEFL ibt. The First Certificate in English compares to a TOEFL ibt of between 57 (B1) to 120 (C1).

IELTS

IELTS (pronounced /ˈaɪ.ɛlts/), or ' International English Language Testing System', is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.

There are two versions of the IELTS: the Academic Version and the General Training Version:

· The Academic Version is intended for those who want to enrol in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country.

· The General Training Version is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.

IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States, and various professional organisations. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all candidates with a score from 1 (no knowledge) to 9 (expert user) and each institution sets a different threshold. Institutions are advised not to consider valid a report older than two years, unless the user proves that he has worked to maintain his level.^{[1] [2]}

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14