About ECCEThe
Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE)
is a standardized high-intermediate level English as a foreign language
(EFL) examination. You might use an ECCE certificate:
- As evidence of high-intermediate competence in English for personal, public, educational, and occupational purposes
- To provide evidence of your level of English to employers
- When applying for a job or a promotion, or when conducting business with companies worldwide
LevelThe ECCE is aimed at the B2 level of the
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and is valid for the lifetime of the recipient.
ECCE has four components: Speaking - 15 minutes A structured oral interaction occurs between the test taker and the
speaking test examiner. The interaction involves a visual prompt (4 stages).
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Listening - 30 minutes, two parts Part 1 (multiple choice) - A short recorded conversation is followed by a question. Answer choices are shown as pictures (30 items). Part 2 (multiple choice) - Short talks delivered by single speakers on different topics, followed by 4 to 6 questions each (20 items).
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Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading - 90 minutes, three parts Grammar (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of words or phrases to complete it. Only one choice is grammatically correct (35 items). Vocabulary (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of words or phrases
to complete it. Only one word has the correct meaning in that context (35 items). Reading (multiple choice) - Part 1: A short reading passage is followed by comprehension questions.
Part 2: Two sets of four short texts related to each other by topic are followed by 10 questions each (30 items).
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Writing - 30 minutes The test taker reads a short excerpt from a newspaper article and then
writes a letter or essay giving an opinion about a situation or issue (1 task).
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Preparation and resources
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Preparing for the ECCE The best preparation for the ECCE is through study and use of the
English language. CaMLA is committed to helping you in your preparation
efforts. We provide a range of ECCE support materials that you can use to familiarize yourself with the structure and level of the ECCE and to prepare for the exam.
There is no set course, syllabus, or prescribed program of English
language study to be taken in preparation for the ECCE. However,
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General English courses at the high-intermediate or advanced levels will be useful to prepare for the ECCE
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The test tasks that examinees encounter on the test are similar to what students do in English courses all over the world
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Many different publishers produce study guides for the ECCE
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Materials used in preparation for other advanced-level English
proficiency tests (ECPE, MELAB, TOEFL, TOEIC) may also be helpful in
preparing for the ECCE
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Practice tests are available through our authorized test centers
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Resources Visit the ECCE resources section for sample tests and practice materials, as well as other information for learners, teachers, test centers, and examiners. |
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About ECPEThe
Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) is a
standardized English as a foreign language (EFL) examination. It is
recognized in several countries as official documentary evidence of
advanced proficiency in the English language and can be used for
academic and professional purposes. It is accepted by some universities
as evidence of proficiency in English if the certificate has been
received within the past two years.
LevelThe ECPE is aimed at the C2 level of the
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and is valid for the lifetime of the recipient.
ECPE has four components: Speaking - 30 - 35 minutes Test takers participate in a semistructured, multistage task involving two examinees and two examiners. (1 task).
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Writing - 30 minutes Test takers write an essay based upon one of two topic choices (1 task).
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Listening - 30 - 45 minutes, three parts Part 1 (multiple choice) - A short recorded conversation is accompanied by three printed
statements. Test takers choose the statement that conveys the same
meaning as what was heard, or that is true based upon the conversation (50 Items). Part 2 (multiple choice) - A recorded question is accompanied by three printed responses. Test takers choose the appropriate response to the question. Part 3 (multiple choice) - Three recorded talks, such as those that might be heard on the
radio, are each followed by recorded comprehension questions. The
questions and the answer choices are printed in the test booklet. Test
takers choose the correct answer from the choices.
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Grammar, Cloze, Vocabulary, Reading - 30 minutes Grammar (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of words or phrases to complete it. Only one choice is grammatically correct (40 Items). Cloze (multiple choice) - Two passages with 10 deletions each are followed by choices of words
and phrases to complete the text. Test takers must choose the option
that best fills each blank in terms of grammar and meaning (20 Items). Vocabulary (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of words to complete
it. Only one word has the correct meaning in that context (40 Items). Reading (multiple choice) - Four reading passages are followed by comprehension questions. Test
takers choose the correct answer from the printed answer choices (20 Items).
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Preparation and resources
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Preparing for the ECPE The best preparation for the ECPE is through study and use of the English language. CaMLA is committed to helping you in your preparation
efforts. We provide a range of ECPE support materials that you can use to familiarize yourself with the structure and level of the ECPE and to prepare for the exam. |
Resources Visit the ECPE resources section for sample materials, practice materials, as well as other information for learners, teachers, test centers, and examiners. |
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About MELABThe
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) evaluates
advanced-level English language competence of adult nonnative speakers
of English. The MELAB is intended for:
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Students applying to United States, Canadian, British, and other
educational institutions where the language of instruction is English
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Professionals who need English for work or training purposes
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Anyone interested in obtaining a general assessment of their English
language proficiency for educational or employment opportunities
The MELAB is a secure test battery and is administered only by
authorized official examiners. Many educational institutions in the
United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries accept
the MELAB as an alternative to the TOEFL.
MELAB has four components: Writing - 30 minutes Test takers write an essay based on one of two topic choices. (1 task).
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Listening - 35 - 40 minutes, three parts Part 1 (multiple choice) - A short recorded question or statement is accompanied by three
printed responses. Test takers choose the statement that conveys a
reasonable answer or response (18 Items). Part 2 (multiple choice) - A recorded conversation is accompanied by three printed statements.
Test takers choose the statement that means about the same thing as what
is heard (22 Items). Part 3 (multiple choice) - Four recorded interviews, such as those that might be heard on the
radio, are each followed by recorded comprehension questions. The
questions and answer choices are printed in the test booklet. Test
takers choose the correct answer from the choices (20 Items).
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Grammar, Cloze, Vocabulary, Reading - 80 minutes Grammar (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of four words or
phrases to complete it. Only one choice is grammatically correct (32 Items). Cloze (multiple choice) - Two passages with deletions are followed by choices of words and
phrases to complete the text. Test takers must choose the word or phrase
that best fills the blank in terms of grammar and meaning (24 Items). Vocabulary (multiple choice) - An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of four words or
phrases to complete it. Test takers must choose the option that best
completes the sentence in terms of meaning (31 Items). Reading (multiple choice) - Four reading passages are followed by comprehension questions. Test
takers choose the correct answer from the printed answer choices (23 Items).
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Speaking - 15minutes Test takers engage in a conversation with an examiner.
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Preparation and resources
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Preparing for the MELAB The best preparation for the MELAB is through the study and use of the
English language. CaMLA is committed to helping you in your preparation
efforts. A MELAB sample test is
available online that you can use to familiarize yourself with the
structure and level of the MELAB and to prepare for the exam. |
Resources Visit the MELAB resources section
for a range of materials to help you prepare and familiarize yourself
with the test, as well as other information for learners, teachers, test
centers, and examiners. |
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About METThe Michigan English Test (MET) is an examination for test takers who
want to evaluate their general English language proficiency in social,
educational, and workplace contexts. Listening recordings and reading
passages reflect everyday, authentic interaction in an American-English
linguistic environment. An
MET Speaking Test is also available.
The MET:
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emphasizes the communicative use of English
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is designed to measure proficiency in the basic language skill areas
of listening, reading, and language usage (grammar and vocabulary)
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is offered monthly at test centers around the world
The exact cut scores between adjacent CEFR levels, based on research conducted by CaMLA, are available in
Interpreting Scaled Scores in Relation to the Common European Framework Levels (PDF). Selected CEFR performance descriptors illustrate what test takers should be able to do at each level.
Who takes the MET?The MET is intended for adults and adolescents at or above a secondary
level of education who want to measure their general English language
proficiency in a variety of linguistic contexts. It can be used for
educational purposes, such as when finishing an English language course,
or for employment purposes, such as applying for a job or pursuing a
promotion that requires an English language qualification. The MET is
not an admissions test for students applying to universities and
colleges in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom (see the
MELAB).
MET has four components: Listening, Reading and Grammar Test The MET that tests listening, reading, and grammar is a
paper-and-pencil test that contains 135 multiple-choice questions in two
sections.
Section I: Listening (approximately 45 minutes)
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60 questions assessing the ability to understand conversations and talks in social, educational, and workplace contexts
Section II: Reading and Grammar (90 minutes)
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25 questions testing a variety of grammar structures
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50 reading questions assessing the ability to understand a variety of texts in social, educational, and workplace contexts
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vocabulary is assessed within the listening and reading sections
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Speaking Test
The MET Speaking Test measures an individual’s ability to produce
comprehensible speech in response to a range of tasks and topics. It is a
structured, one-on-one interaction between examiner and test taker that
includes five distinct tasks. The tasks require test takers to convey
information about a picture and about themselves, give a supported
opinion, and state the advantages and disadvantages of a particular
proposal.
The five tasks are designed to give test takers the opportunity to speak on a number of different topics.
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Task 1: The test taker describes a picture.
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Task 2: The test taker talks about a personal experience on a topic related to what is seen in the picture.
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Task 3: The test taker gives a personal opinion about a topic related to the picture.
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Task 4: The test taker is presented with a situation
and will have to explain some advantages and disadvantages related to
that situation.
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Task 5: The test taker is asked to give an opinion on a new topic and to try to convince the examiner to agree with the idea.
The MET Speaking Test takes approximately ten minutes to complete.
Ratings will take into account the fluency, accuracy, and clarity of
speech in addition to the ability to effectively complete each task. The
final rating is based on answers to all five parts of the test. A
sample speaking prompt is available in the MET Resources section.
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Preparation and resources
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Preparing for the MET The MET is a general proficiency exam, which means that it does not
follow a specific English language curriculum; special preparatory
classes are not required. Any upper-intermediate English language course
should be sufficient. We provide a range of MET support materials that you can use to familiarize yourself with the structure and level of the MET and to prepare for the exam. |
Resources Visit the MET resources section for sample tests and practice materials, as well as other information for learners, teachers, test centers, and examiners. |
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About YLTE
CaMLA Young Learners Tests of English (YLTE) are a fun and motivating way to test the English of young learners in the primary and middle grades. The tests cover all four language skills and are developed by CaMLA in association with Cambridge English.
The tests provide a clear and transparent assessment from
Bronze (
beginner) through
Silver to
Gold (
early intermediate). The tests are international, focusing on American English. Of primary importance is that the testing experience have a positive impact on children and on their subsequent language learning.
Download a copy of the YLTE Information Bulletin...Format of the YLTEThere are three levels of assessment for the CaMLA YLTE: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All three levels of the speaking tests have similar features such as test formats, test environment, assessment procedures, and the standardization of examiners. The three levels differ in the tasks they ask children to attempt, and the assessment criteria used.
Bronze
Listening
| About 20 minutes
| 4 parts / 20 questions
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Reading & Writing
| 20 minutes
| 5 parts / 25 questions |
Speaking
| 3-5 minutes
| 5 parts
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SilverListening
| About 25 minutes
| 5 parts / 25 questions
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Reading & Writing
| 30 minutes
| 6 parts / 40 questions |
Speaking
| 5-7 minutes
| 4 parts
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GoldListening
| About 25 minutes
| 5 parts / 25 questions
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Reading & Writing
| 40 minutes
| 7 parts / 50 questions |
Speaking
| 7-9 minutes
| 4 parts
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Preparation and resources
Preparing for the YLTE The best preparation for taking a CaMLA YLTE is through study and use of the English language.
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Resources Visit the YLTE resources section for Bronze, Silver, and Gold sample tests. |
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Are you a private candidate? It’s easy to register for CaMLA exams in just three steps: | |