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Qualifications are a form of currency. And in a global environment for business, education, the media and professions such as law and finance, certificates with international value and recognition are a gold standard. All the exams are linked to the highest international standards through alignment with the Council of European Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Framework was developed through a process of scientific research and wide consultation, and provides the basis for the international recognition of language qualifications.
As a result, Cambridge ESOL certificates are recognised as a crucial entry requirement by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide. Major international employers such as Cable & Wireless, GlaxoSmithKline, KPMG, Nestle, Sony and Siemens regard Cambridge ESOL examinations as the standard for assessing the English language skills of recruits. Different courses are offering the range of Cambridge ESOL exams from KET (Key English Test) at the A2 level of the CEFR, to the intermediate level certificates PET (Preliminary English Test) at Bl, and FCE (First Certificate in English) at B2 level.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that few international examinations, if any, actually enjoy universal acceptance. East is east, and west is west, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the domain of examination preparation. At the heart of this conflict, standing at opposite poles, are the United States and Britain, and though Britain seemingly outpaces the US in sheer numbers of English foreign language exams, fielding among others the Cambridge and Trinity College London Exams, IELTS, Pitman and LCCIEB English for Business Exams, The US holds its own with the TOEFL. It should be noted that, though attempts are seriously underway by both countries to obtain recognition for their own exams in each other countries, universal recognition has yet to be obtained. Therefore, students are well advised to first determine whether or not the exam for which they are seeking preparation is recognized in the host country for which the exam results are to be destined.
The second consideration, though of no less importance than the first, is an understanding of the terms «achievement» and «assessment». With regard to the testing of English language skills, «achievement» refers to one's ability to pass an exam at a given level of language proficiency, and just as one is capable of passing such an exam, so too, is one capable of failing it. Cambridge and Pitman Exams are examples of achievement exams. «Assessment», on the other hand, refers to the overall measurement of one's current language proficiency. Unlike a pass-fail exam, an assessment exam only measures your present level of knowledge. The TOEFL and IELTS are defined as assessment examinations. The fact, however, that these two examinations are 'related' by type should not confuse the student into thinking that they have been designed with similar formats. Different test formats indicate different methods of test preparation.
American English is accepted in just the same way as British English by examiners, and exam development involves writers from English-speaking countries around the world, including the US. No specific preparation or classroom activities are needed to include a Cambridge exam, just the usual good standards of teaching and classroom interaction provided by schools. Having said that, there are large amounts of support materials and ready-made activities directly linked to the exams which are available to teachers at the Teaching Resources web site www.cambridgeesol.org/teach) [25].
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