Bell Exam Guide

For more information on Cambridge ESOL exams, visit the website www.cambridgeesol.org

Exam Level Use Skills Tested Exam Dates Result Date
CPE
Certificate of Proficiency in English		 Proficient / Expert CPE is Cambridge ESOL's most advanced exam. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

2010 CPE exam dates

 10 weeks after exam
CAE
Certificate in Advanced English		 Advanced CAE is an exam for advanced users of English. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

2010 CAE exam dates

 10 weeks after exam
FCE
First Certificate in English		 Upper Intermediate To demonstrate all round knowledge of English Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

2010 FCE exam dates

 10 weeks after exam
PET
Preliminary English Test		 Lower Intermediate To demonstrate all round knowledge of English Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

2010 PET exam dates

 10 weeks after exam
IELTS
International English Language Testing
www.ielts.org 		Intermediate and above British University entrance requirement Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking

2010 IELTS exam dates

 2 weeks after exam
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language
www.ets.org
www.toefl.com		 Intermediate and above American University entrance requirement Reading, Listening and Grammar On demand every week throughout year 2/3 weeks after exam
TOEIC
Test of English for International Communication
www.toeic.com		 Intermediate and above Requirement by some foreign businesses and companies Reading and Listening

2010 29 January, 26 February, 26 March, 23 April, 21 May, 18 June, 2, 16, 30 July, 13, 27 August 17 September, 15 October, 12 November, 10 December

 1/2 weeks after exam


Other exams

We can also provide courses, or arrange for you to sit the following exams:

TOEIC (Test of English as a foreign language)

www.ets.org

EFB (English for Business)

www.englishjobmaze.com/exam-lcci.htm

EFC (English for Commerce)

www.englishjobmaze.com/exam-lcci.htm


EFL Exam Levels Chart

Bell Level

Common European Framework

Cambridge

IELTS

TOEFL

TOEIC

BEC

8 Expert

 C2+

          

9

600/250/100

900

7 Proficient

C2

Mastery

CPE

8.5

8

    

7.5

7.0

 6.5

6.0

550/213/80

750

6 Advanced

C1

Effectiveness

CAE

    

 BEC H

5 Upper Intermediate

 B2+

FCE

500/173/61

600

BEC V

B2

Vantage

5.5 

5.0

    

4 Intermediate

 B1+

PET

4.5 

4.0

3.5-

450/133/45

450

 BEC P

B1

Threshold
   

3 Lower Intermediate

A2+

KET

 3.0

  

2 Elementary

A2

 Waystage

    

1 Beginner

A1

Breakthrough

0 Complete Beginner

  


General English

Exam What is this exam?
KET - Cambridge Key English Test

KET tests basic communication skills in English, and is the first of the 5 level Cambridge Main Suite examinations. There are 3 components: reading/writing, listening and speaking.
PET - Cambridge Preliminary English Test

PET tests the language skills needed to survive in social and work situations in an English-speaking environment. PET has 4 components: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
FCE - Cambridge First Certificate in English

This is an examination at an intermediate level, requiring competence in all the language skills. It is widely recognised in commerce and industry, and by educational institutions in Britain and overseas as proof of language ability at an intermediate level. The exam is composed of reading, writing, use of English, listening and speaking.
CAE - Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English

This is an examination at an advanced level and is suitable for people who require English for professional or study purposes. There is an emphasis on real-life tasks. It is also recognised by the majority of British universities as fulfilling English Language entrance requirements. CAE has 5 components: reading, writing, English in use, listening and speaking.
CPE - Cambridge Proficiency in English

This is an examination at an advanced level, which is recognised as fulfilling English language requirements by British universities, and for business and academic purposes overseas. CPE has 5 components: reading comprehension, composition, use of English, listening comprehension and an interview.


Academic Examinations

Exam What is this exam?
IELTS - International English Language Testing System IELTS is recognised as an entrance requirement by British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian universities and for secondary, vocational and training programmes. It is also accepted by some US institutions. All candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same listening and speaking modules. The choice of reading and writing modules is determined by the purpose for taking IELTS. The academic reading and writing modules are suitable for those seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. General Training Reading and Writing modules are suitable for candidates who are going to English-speaking countries to complete their secondary education or to undertake work experience, or training programmes not at degree level. The General Training modules are also used for immigration purposes.
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL evaluates the English proficiency of individuals whose native language is not English. Most people who take the TOEFL test are planning to study at colleges and universities in the United States or Canada. TOEFL is also used by institutions in other countries where English is the language of instruction. In addition, many government agencies, scholarship programmes, and licensing/certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency.

TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication

TOEIC is an English language proficiency test for people whose native language is not English. It tests English used in the workplace. The TOEIC test is a 2.5-hour, paper-and-pencil, multiple-choice test that consists of 200 questions divided into 2 separately timed sections: listening & reading.


Business & Professional Examinations

Exam What is this exam?
LCCI - London Chamber of Commerce and Industry There are 2 written exams designed to test knowledge of the English language for communicating in business and commercial contexts. The English for Business (EFB)and English for Commerce (EFC) are available at 3 levels.
The Spoken English for Industry and Commerce (SEFIC) exam provides useful proof of students' ability to communicate in a social and work environment.
EFB - English for Business This examination has 5 levels, from a test of  ‘survival’ skills in written English and its use in basic office communication, to the high level ability to write and understand English for a range of business topics, and in formats used in business communication.
Reading and writing skills are tested in the completion of a series of simulated "real-life" business tasks, plus an optional oral test for non-native speakers at Second Third, fourth & fifth Levels.
EFC - English for Commerce This examination has 3 levels, testing knowledge of written English from a basic level to advanced use for business. A knowledge of business practice and the ability to discuss commercial and economic issues are required for the advanced levels. It tests the candidate's knowledge and comprehension of written English, and the ability to use language efficiently and appropriately in a business context. An optional oral test is available for non-native speakers at all Levels.
BEC - Cambridge Business English Certificates This is a series of proficiency tests designed to meet the international business needs of learners of English as a foreign language. It is an examination in reading, writing, listening and speaking in work-related situations, aimed at three levels of competence: BEC P (intermediate), BEC V (upper-intermediate) and BEC H (advanced).