TYPES OF EXAMS   

The range of Cambridge ESOL exams includes specialist exams for business and academic purposes. All four areas of language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) are tested, focusing on your ability to communicate effectively in English.
You can find out more about these exams by visiting Cambridge ESOL web page.

GENERAL ENGLISH EXAMS
- Young Learners Exams (YLE)

The Cambridge Young Learners exams are suitable for children aged 7 - 12 who are studying English as a foreign language at primary or language schools.

All Cambridge Young Learners English Tests (YLE) are carefully designed to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Most children take them in their own schools, and the tests are based on activities which will be familiar to most children. The exams cover all four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. They are designed to encourage positive learning experiences (there are no pass or fail grades).

They are available in three levels:
STARTERS
The lowest level of the Young Learners English Tests and designed for children from the age of 7 who have completed approximately 100 hours of language study.
MOVERS
The second level of the Young Learners English Tests are designed for children between the age of 8 and 11 who have completed approximately 175 hours of language study.
FLYERS
The third and highest level of the Young Learners English Tests are designed for children between the ages of 9 and 12 who have completed approximately 250 hours of language study. It is equivalent to the level of the Cambridge Key English Test (KET) and provides the first step towards the main suite of the internationally recognised Cambridge exams for teenagers and adults.

Marking
There is no pass or fail. Every child who attempts all three components will receive an Award showing a number of shields (Cambridge crests) up to five for each component. For example, a child may obtain three shields for Reading and Writing, four shields for Listening and five shields for Speaking. The minimum Award for children who have attempted all three components is an Award with one shield for each component.

Results
Marking is completed at Cambridge ESOL within two weeks of receiving the children's completed answer booklets. So children should receive their Awards within one month of taking their test, allowing for despatch time.

Once awarded Cambridge ESOL YLE certificates are valid for life.

- Preliminary English Test (PET)

PET is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an intermediate level. Preparing for the exam is a popular way to develop and improve your language skills because it provides practical language practice in a variety of everyday work, study and leisure situations. PET has 3 papers: Reading and Writing: (90 minutes), Listening (30 minutes) and Speaking (10-12 minutes). It is linked to the Council of Europe B1 language level and it takes about 380 hours of study to reach it.

- First Certificate in English (FCE)

Learners at this level can expect to be able to work or study in an English speaking environment and cope easily as tourists in an English speaking country. This certificate is widely accepted for commercial and preliminary academic purposes in the UK and throughout the world. FCE has five papers: Reading (60 minutes), Writing (80 minutes), English in Use (45 minutes), Listening (approximately 40 minutes) and Speaking (approximately 14 minutes). Certificates are issued to successful candidates with A, B and C grades.

- Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

At this level learners can be expected to cope confidently in most situations that would arise in an English speaking country -socially, professionally and in higher education. CAE is accepted by almost all universities and colleges in Britain and many others throughout the world including employers. CAE has five papers: Reading (75 minutes), Writing (90 minutes), English in Use (60 minutes), Listening (approximately 40 minutes) and Speaking (approximately 15 minutes). Certificates are issued to successful candidates with A, B and C grades.

- Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

At this stage, learners are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker. CPE is accepted by almost all universities and colleges in Britain and many others throughout the world, as proof of a level of English suitable for entry to courses of higher education or postgraduate study. Many employers also recognise CPE. CPE has five papers: Reading (90 minutes), Composition (120 minutes), English in Use (120 minutes), Listening (approximately 45 minutes) and Interview (approximately 19 minutes per individual candidate). Certificates are issued to successful candidates with A, B and C grades.

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH EXAMS

- Business English Certificates (BEC)

A suite of three exams BEC PRELIMINARY, BEC VANTAGE and BEC HIGHER designed to test English language ability used in the context of business. It is ideal if you are preparing for a career in business. In Macedonia we offer BEC VANTAGE and BEC HIGHER exams. BEC VANTAGE is an examination for intermediate level candidates already in work or preparing to work in a range of business-related jobs, from general office work to production and financial services. This level is equivalent to Cambridge level 3 (FCE). BEC Vantage has 4 papers: Reading (1 hour), Writing (45 minutes), Listening (approx. 40 minutes) and Speaking (approx. 14 minutes per pair of candidates). BEC HIGHER is aimed for students who have already acquired or are acquiring business and/or office skills. Learners at this level are expected to be able to handle complex structures and demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of vocabulary. This examination is at an advanced level similar to Cambridge level 4 (CAE). BEC Higher has 4 papers: Reading (1 hour), writing (1 hour and 10 minutes), Listening (approx. 40 minutes) and Speaking (approx. 16 minutes per pair of candidates). Certificates are issued to successful candidates with A, B or C grade.

- The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)
BULATS is designed to test the language of employees who need to use a foreign language in their work and for learners and employees on language courses or on professional/business courses where foreign language ability is an important element of the course.

Information for candidates
BULATS can give you an accurate assessment of your business English language skills. Individuals can use the results as a proof for attending language, professional or business courses or for employment.

Information for employers
BULATS can give you an accurate assessment of your employees' business English language skills. Managers can use the results to assess the language skills of employees during the employment selection or for choosing employees to attend language, professional or business courses.

BULATS
• is user-friendly and can be taken where and when it suits you or your organisation - at the British Council or at your own offices - with minimal time between applying to take a test and the test date.
• results are released quickly to help you make informed decisions about which jobs to go for or which training courses to apply for.
• tests two skills – listening and reading in 75 minutes.
• is available in English, French and German.
• is computer based.
• results are linked to the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ( CEFR).
• is recognised by thousand of organisations around the world
• is developed and delivered by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with leading experts in the assessment of French, German and Spanish: Alliance Française (French) ; Goethe-Institut (German) and Universidad de Salamanca (Spanish)

You can try the demo version of the test.

- International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE)

To meet the demand for helping business professionals to show that they have the financial English skills they need, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) have combined their expertise and developed the International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE).

ICFE is an ideal qualification for anyone thinking of, or already pursuing, a career in accountancy or finance. ICFE exams are given twice a year in May and November. The examination takes about 3 hours in total and consists of four parts: Reading (75 min), Writing (75 min), Listening (40 min) and Speaking (16 min).

Successful candidates are expected to be able to use the language in practical situations, to participate in meetings and discussions of a financial nature, express opinions clearly and understand financial documents including financial statements, journal articles, letters, reports and proposals.

The exam is set at CEFR levels B2-C1 which correspond to FCE-CAE levels. Please visit the official ICFE website for the test papers, audio materials and ICFE Handbook which are available for download even now.

- International Legal English Certificate (ILEC)

ILEC is a Cambridge ESOL examination, produced and assessed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with TransLegal, Europe’s leading firm of lawyer-linguists.

Employers want to make sure their staff has a sufficient level of English to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries and handle written information in English. On the other hand, law students and newly-qualified lawyers are eager to show their employers they have these skills. If you are a law student or a lawyer who is seeking employment in an international legal setting, then this examination is just for you.

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

ILEC exams are given twice a year, in May and November. The examination takes about 3 hours in total and consists of four parts: Reading (75 min), Writing (75 min), Listening (40 min) and Speaking (16 min).

Successful candidates are expected to be able to use the language in practical situations, to participate in meetings and discussions of a legal nature, express opinions clearly and understand texts of various types, including legal letters, memoranda and proposals.

Test results are usually reported within six weeks of the test date. The exam is set at CEFR levels B2-C1 which correspond to FCE-CAE levels.

Cambridge University Press has published an ILEC course book for students which is available in our library. Test papers, audio materials and ILEC Handbook are available for download even now.

CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMS FEES   

EXAM    PRICE in MKD   
YLE (Young Learners English) - Starters    1,800   
YLE (Young Learners English) - Movers    2,000   
YLE (Young Learners English) - Flyers    2,100   
КЕТ (Key English Test)    3,800   
PET (Preliminary English Test) for Schools    4,000   
PET (Preliminary English Test)    4,000   
FCE (First Certificate in English)    7,600   
CAE (Certificate in Advance English)    7,900   
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)    8,500   
BEC (Business English Certificate) Vantage    7,400    
BEC (Business English Certificate) Higher    8,300    
ICFE (International Certificate in Finacial English)    8,600   
ILEC (International Legal English Certificate)    11,600   

EXAMS DATES AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES

MARCH SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    28 March    24 March - 1 April    until 14 March   
FCE    10 March    24 February - 11 March    16 - 23 January   
CAE    17 March    2 - 18 March    16 - 23 January   
CPE    10 March    24 February - 11 March    16 - 23 January   

APRIL SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    26 April    21 - 29 April    until 9 April   

MAY SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    24 May    19 - 27 May    until 7 May   
CB PET    24 May    19 - 27 May    until 14 May   
FCE    19 May    4 - 20 May    26 March - 2 April   
CAE    13 May    4 - 13 May    26 March - 2 April   
CPE    12 May    4 - 13 May    26 March - 2 April   
ILEC    12 May    4 - 14 May    26 March - 2 April   
ICFE    12 May    4 - 14 May    26 March - 2 April   

JUNE SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    23 June    16 - 24 June    until 1 June   
CB PET    8 June    2 - 10 June    until 28 May   
KET for Schools    16 June    8 - 18 June    2 - 12 April   
PET for Schools    16 June    8 - 18 June    2 - 12 April   
FCE    9 and 12 June    25 May - 17 June    2 - 12 April   
CAE    13 June    25 May - 17 June    2 - 12 April   
CPE    14 June    25 May - 17 June    2 - 12 April   
BEC Vantage    7 June    1 - 11 June    2 - 12 April   

JULY SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    6 July    3 June - 8 July    until 18 June   
CB FCE    16 July    9 - 17 July    27 June -1 July   

SEPTEMBER SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    14 September    8 - 16 September    until 3 September   

OCTOBER SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    26 October    20 - 28 October    until 8 October   

NOVEMBER SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    22 November    17 - 25 November    until 5 November   
ILEC    17 November    9 - 19 November    8 - 15 October   
ICFE    17 November    11 - 21 November    8 - 15 October   

DECEMBER SESSION 2012

Exam

Date

Speaking window

Registration period

CB KET    8 December    1 - 9 December    until 19 November   
PET    7 December    10 November - 10 December    8 - 15 October   
FCE    8 December    16 November - 9 December    8 - 15 October   
CAE    2 December    23 November - 2 December    8 - 15 October   
CPE    1 December    16 November - 9 December    8 - 15 October   
BEC Vantage    1 December    9 November - 3 December    8 - 15 October   

Please submit a completed and signed KET entry form, PET entry form or entry form for all other Cambridge ESOL exams (except KET and PET) together with a copy of the bank payment slip within the registration period, in person, by e-mail, by fax  (02/3135 036) or leave it in the drop box next to the front door in the British Council.

If you are attending a preparation course at a language school, you can register through the school.

Before you register, please read our Terms and Conditions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION   

For each exam to take place, there have to be a minimum entry of 4 candidates for that particular exam. We reserve the right to cancel an exam if the number of registered candidates does not meet the Cambridge ESOL minimum entry requirements.   
The dates for Papers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are set by the University of Cambridge and cannot be changed.   
Late entries will not be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances, and an additional fee will be charged.   
Once you have registered, you will not be able to transfer to a later examination sitting or to a different level of examination.   
Registered candidates will receive a Statement of Entry and Notice to Candidates with all the details about the time and the venue of your examination at least two weeks prior to the examination.If you do not receive the Statement of Entry by that time, please contact us immediately.    
The fee will not be refunded in case of failure or withdrawal from the exam. If the candidate is unable to sit all parts of the examination because of illness, he/she may ask for an 80% refund of the examination fee. If the candidate is unable to sit only papers 1-4 of the examination because of illness, he/she may ask for a 50% refund of the examination fee. In both cases, the candidate should submit a medical statement (in English or with an authorized translation). The medical statement must be presented within five days of the date of the examination.   
If a candidate has a permanent or long-term disability, Cambridge ESOL is ready to make suitable arrangements for such candidates provided that our centre has submitted your application to Cambridge ESOL up to 6 months before the date of the exam, supported by medical documents.   
Candidates can check their Statement of Results online about 8 weeks after the examination dates. Certificates are issued only to candidates with passing grades through the centre, approx. 6 to 8 weeks after the issuing of Statements of Results. An invitation to collect their certificates will be e-mailed to all successful candidates. Because of the value placed on certificates, we will require candidates and schools to collect and sign for them in person.   
Candidates cannot inspect their tests on any grounds, as tests remain property of Cambridge ESOL. They could only request a clerical check, which is payable service. More information.   
If a candidate has lost the certificate, a Certified Statement of Results may be applied for, which is a payable service. No duplicate certificate could be issued, as this is a long life valid certificate.   

DISCLAIMER
The British Council and the Examining Boards take all reasonable steps to provide continuity of service.We feel sure you will understand, however, that we cannot be made responsible for any interruptions caused by circumstances beyond our control. If examinations or their results are disrupted, cancelled or delayed, every effort will be made to resume normal service as soon as possible. The British Council’s liability will be limited to the refund of the registration fee or re-testing at a later date.

INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS   

Please read the FCE and CAE exam specifications and also the bulletin informing about the changes. The documents are also available on the Cambridge website.

If your school would like to register your students for any of the University of Cambridge ESOL exams, you can only do so during registration periods by filling in a School entry form.
Please contact us and we will send you all the necessary information and forms.

What your students should know

That exam dates are fixed and cannot be changed;    
That transfers cannot be made from one exam to another or from one session to another;    
Terms and Conditions.    
That they must arrive on time for each exam component - late-comers may not be admitted.    
That they should only have with them the required materials:  Identification (ID or passport), pen, pencil and eraser and Statement of Entry - no dictionaries are permitted.    
That all answers must be transferred to an answer sheet within the time allowed - no extra time is allowed and no exceptions will be made.    
They must be aware that some components require pen and others written in pencil.    
They must understand and be familiar with the Notice to Candidates which is sent together with the Statement of Entry.    
They must listen very carefully and adhere to the instructions given by the Examination Supervisor on the day of the exams.    
They should also be familiar with the Cambridge ESOL Malpractice Procedures.   

What you should know

After you collect the fee from your students, transfer it to our bank account 300000001838574 at Komercijalna Banka;    
Send the entry form to us by the deadline, together with the copy of the payment slip.   
We offer the following for your teachers:
- Teachers’ refresher seminars
- Exams preparation materials in our resource centre (handbooks, past tests, course and resource books)   
Please visit the Cambridge ESOL Teaching Resources web page    

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Take a look at the presentation prepared for the seminar for teachers of general English.

AFTER REGISTRATION   

Upon successful registration, you will receive a Statement of Entry from us or your language school at least two weeks prior to the examination. The Statement of Entry will specify the date, time and venue for all parts of the test. If you have not received your Statement of Entry two weeks before the date of the written part of the test, you should contact us or the institution where you registered for the exams immediately.    

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM   

You can borrow our practice course books by becoming a member of our resource centre   
take a preparatory language course at any of the language schools in Macedonia If your school is not on the list, please complete the attached form and send it to us.   
visit new Cambridge ESOL candidate website.   
check out Flo-Joe

for online help and free test materials if you are preparing for Cambridge FCE, CAE and CPE exams.   

ON THE TEST DAY    

All of exams are held in two days: (1) Written part which consist of Reading, Writing, Use of English and Listening and (2) Speaking. The dates for Written part are set by the University of Cambridge and cannot be changed.You will receive details about the times, dates and venues of both of these parts at least two weeks before the exam. Please read the information carefully and follow the instructions.

On the test day(s), please be punctual and bring along your (valid) picture ID (National ID card or passport) and your Statement of entry.

RESULTS   

Candidates can check their Statement of Results online about 8 weeks after the examination dates. Certificates are issued only to candidates with passing grades through the centre, approx. 6 to 8 weeks after the issuing of Statements of Results. An invitation to collect their certificates will be e-mailed to all successful candidates. Because of the value placed on certificates, we will require candidates and schools to collect and sign for them in person.

You can compare Cambridge ESOL exams to the Common European Framework levels issued by the Council of Europe:

Council of Europe Level    Cambridge ESOL exams    IELTS bands   
C2 Good User    CPE    7.5+   
C1 Competent User    CAE    6.5; 7.0   
B2 Independent User    FCE    5.0; 5.5; 6.0   
B1 Threshold User    PET    3.5; 4.0; 4.5;   
A2 Waystage User    KET    3.0   
A1 Breakthrough    2.0; 1.0   

CONTACTS   

We are pleased to offer you detailed information on our exams during the following times: on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm till 4pm. Would you wish to make an appointment outside of the dedicated hours please contact us:

Telephone    02/3135 035 ext.2110   
Fax:    02/3135 036   
E-mail:    exams@britishcouncil.org.mk