DO I NEED TO ATTEND A COURSE IF I WANT TO TAKE A CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAM OR IELTS?

No, it is not necessary to take a course. It is up to the candidate where and how he/she will prepare for the exam.

WHAT IF I AM ILL ON THE DAY OF THE CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAM?

50% of the fee will be refunded, provided that a request for the refund is accompanied by a statement from a medical practitioner. This statement should specify the reasons why the candidate was unable to sit the examination. You have to submit this statement to us no later than 7 days after the examination.

WHAT IF I AM ILL ON THE DAY OF THE IELTS TEST?

80% of the fee will be refunded, provided that a request for the refund is accompanied by a statement from a medical practitioner. This statement should specify the reasons why the candidate was unable to sit the examination. You have to submit this statement to us no later than 7 days after the examination.

HOW LONG IS MY CAMBRIDGE ESOL CERTIFICATE VALID FOR?

The University of Cambridge examinations in English as a foreign language certificates are valid for life.

HOW LONG IS MY IELTS RESULT VALID FOR?

IELTS result is valid for 2 years.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER FROM ONE EXAM SESSION TO ANOTHER ONE OR TO A DifFERENT LEVEL?

Transfer is not permitted from one exam date to a later one or to a different level of the exam.

IS USE OF DICTIONARIES ALLOWED DURING THE ENGLISH EXAM?

No. Any candidate using or attempting to use a dictionary or spell-checker will be disqualified.

HOW AND WHEN DO CANDIDATES RECEIVE THEIR EXAM RESULTS AND THEIR CERTIFICATES? WHAT IF I LOSE MY CERTIFICATE?

Cambridge ESOL Statements of Results are sent two months after the exam has taken place. Candidates can also access their results online as they are released by Cambridge ESOL. Certificates are issued to candidates with passing grades within 1.5 months from issue of the statements of results at an awarding ceremony organised by the British Council. If candidate is not able to come to the ceremony, the certificate can be collected at the British Council.

If you lose your Cambridge ESOL certificate, you can apply for a Certified Statement of Results, for which you pay an additional fee.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHECK MY TEST AND SEE MY ERRORS?

No, because all question papers are sent to Cambridge ESOL in the UK. Candidates' scripts and other work done by them as part of the exam, remain the property of Cambridge ESOL and will not be released to candidates, schools or administering centres.

DO I HAVE TO START WITH THE LOWEST LEVEL EXAM IN ORDER TO PROGRESS?

No, you can enter any level of exam that suits your needs and knowledge.

CAN I STILL REGISTER FOR AN ENGLISH EXAM AFTER THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE?

Yes, you can register later, paying a late entry fee.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT'S THE RIGHT LEVEL FOR ME?

You can visit Cambridge ESOL web pages, download the Handbook and Sample Papers, try doing the test, check your success and make a judgement based on that.

I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND STUDY ABROAD. WHICH TEST DO I NEED?

IELTS is specified as fulfilling English language requirements for entry to academic courses by the majority of institutions of Further and Higher Education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom and currently by over 380 universities and colleges in the USA. You can search IELTS Global Recognition system database on line by institution or by your bandscore.

The Cambridge ESOL examinations are recognised by thousands of employers, universities & colleges, professional bodies and ministry & government organisations throughout the world. A list of organisations using Cambridge ESOL examinations can be checked on Cambridge ESOL website.

If you are going to study we strongly recommend you check with your university which test is required.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND A LANGUAGE SCHOOL WHERE I CAN PREPARE FOR THE TEST?

No language school in Macedonia is officially “recognised”, “accredited” or “recommended” by the British Council in any way. If you want to attend a preparation course for one of the Cambridge ESOL exams or IELTS exam, you can read a list of language schools in Macedonia that prepare candidates for the Cambridge ESOL exams.

I HAVE A PHYSICAL / LEARNING / SOME OTHER DISABILITY. CAN I STILL TAKE AN EXAM?

If you have special needs because of dyslexia, speaking, hearing or visual difficulties, please notify the examination centre upon registration so that we can make special arrangements for you. Your request must be supported by medical evidence.

CAN I CHANGE THE DATE OF THE EXAM AFTER I'VE REGISTERED FOR IT? CAN I CANCEL THE TEST AND GET A REFUND?

Dates for written parts of the Cambridge ESOL exams (FCE, CAE, CPE and BEC) - papers 1, 2 & 3 - are set in advance by the University of Cambridge. They are fixed and cannot be changed. The dates for Listening and Speaking for FCE, CAE, CPE and BEC are set by the British Council.

We can accept timely requests for change only for serious and justified reasons provided we have free time slots on other Speaking or Listening Test dates.  If a candidate has problems with the Speaking/Listening dates, he/she must notify the British Council immediately.

HOW ARE EXAMS MARKED AND WHO MARKS THEM?

A team of highly trained examiners are employed to mark the tests.

The written part of the test is marked by examiners in Cambridge and the Speaking test is marked by local Cambridge ESOL examiners. All examiners undergo a rigorous selection process and thorough training. They are also coordinated regularly to make sure they all mark to standard. All marks are double checked to eliminate the possibility of mistake. A certain percentage of exams are marked for the third time by Examiner Team Leader in Cambridge.

HOW IS IELTS MARKED?

IELTS tests are prepared by Cambridge ESOL and are the same for the whole world.
IELTS has a rigorous, quality-assured system for marking every IELTS test.

Marking of Listening and Reading parts

Every Listening and Reading answer sheet is marked by 2 trained IELTS markers and according to the table of acceptable answers which is prepared and sent by Cambridge ESOL. As you can see, there is no possibility of subjectivity or a mistake. Candidates should take care when writing answers on the Listening and Reading answer sheets as incorrect spelling grammar are penalised. Both UK and US varieties of spelling are accepted. If a candidate is asked to write an answer using a certain number of words and/or numbers, they will be penalised if they exceed or do not meet this requirement. In questions where candidates are expected to complete a gap, candidates should only transfer the necessary missing word(s) on to the answer sheets. Candidates should read and follow the instructions and questions very carefully. In listening part especially, care should be taken when transferring answers on to the answer sheet.

Marking of Writing and Speaking parts

Marking of writing scripts and speaking interviews are carried out by trained examiners who follow standardised guidelines. The examiners hold relevant teaching qualifications and are certificated by Cambridge ESOL. Each examiner is tested every two years to retain their certification. Speaking and writing mark are sum of 8 marks, which are input in special software which generate one mark. Speaking interviews are recorded in order to enable interview to be re-marked if necessary and to ensure that the examiner is following the correct procedures during the interview.

With this kind of rigorous procedures, standard of IELTS marking is kept in the whole world. If there is a 2 marks difference between the parts of the test (which means that there is overbalance in candidate’s knowledge), those parts are re-marked by different examiner.

If the candidate is not satisfied with received marks, he/she can ask remarking of certain part of the test or of all parts of the test. This remarking is done in Cambridge ESOL. This procedure is called “Enquiry of results” and can take up to 6 weeks. Candidate should ask for this service no later than 6 weeks after the test date and the fee is 5500 denars. If the candidate receives higher mark, he/she will be refunded and will receive a new TRF (Test Result Form).

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM LATE FOR THE EXAM?

If you arrive late for any of the papers, report to the Supervisor or Invigilator. You may not be allowed to take the examination; if you are admitted, not all of your work may be accepted or you might have to complete the test in the remaining time. You will not be admitted to the Listening Test for any of the exams.

What help is available if I have special needs?

We make every effort to cater for candidates with special needs, to enable them to best understand questions and tasks and to give their answers. It is our aim for the language level of all candidates to be assessed fairly and objectively. Candidates with a permanent disability, such as hearing/sight impairment, dyslexia or a speech impediment; or short-term difficulties (for example, a broken arm) may need arrangements such as modified papers, readers or amanuenses, or extra time. If you require a modified version of the test, e.g. Braille, you must give us three months notice. This notice period is necessary for the modified test version to be prepared. If your circumstances require special administrative arrangements only to be made, e.g. extra time, you must give us six weeks notice. Full details of these arrangements are given on the IELTS website and Cambridge ESOL website.