Cambridge English Language Assessment (Cambridge exam) is an international document proving the fact of English language proficiency at a certain level. It was developed in 1858 by the University of Cambridge in England. At first it was used only to test the knowledge of university students, but in 1913 the exam became available to everyone.
Cambridge Exam Levels
There are five levels, each of them assessing the skills of oral communication, writing, listening and reading.
- KET - indicates that the degree of language proficiency of the examinee corresponds to the basic level;
- PET - confirms that the degree of language proficiency corresponds to the beginning of the intermediate level;
- FCE - confirms the average level of knowledge of the dealer;
- CAE - indicates the beginning of a professional level of language proficiency;
- CPE - proves a professional level of language proficiency.
The exam program for children and adults is different, as well as for those who plan to teach the language.
Blocks that make up KEY and PET
- Reading.
- Writing.
- Listening.
- Speaking.
Reading - reading. The text will be given, after - tasks on it. Most of the time, students don't have much trouble with this module and try to get a good score.
Writting - a letter. Before taking the Cambridge exam, those who want to get a decent result memorize all the possible variants of the letter or cliches that will help keep a strict structure. This also does not cause any particular difficulties. Good preparation for writing is required, then we recall the memorized key phrases and introductory words. It should be noted that the most important thing is to understand what they are asking to write a letter about and also its length. If the characters are less than the required minimum, the letter will be scored at zero points.
Listening - listening. Consists of listening to a dialogue or a monologue in English and answering the required questions.
For Speaking (personal conversation), two examiners are invited to the office, in which 2-3 experts are already present. You will be asked to sit down, after the greeting they will start a conversation on certain topics. First, they will ask a few questions personally to each, then they will offer a topic for dialogue and it will be necessary to start a conversation with the interlocutor. Top tip: Practice before the real exam with your friends, colleagues, or family. For a person who speaks the language at a high level, with "free" English, this will not be difficult. In FCE, CAE, CPE one more part is added - Use of English (grammar and vocabulary). This part comes after the letter and is a list of tasks forgrammar, tenses, and a test of the dealer's vocabulary.
Pricing
The cost of the Cambridge exam depends on many factors. First of all, the price depends on the exam level you choose. The fees for KET and CAE will vary greatly. Secondly, on the exchange rate, since initially the price is set in the national currency of Great Britain. Prices vary from 3,500 to 14,150 rubles. This is the price for the exam itself. If you are going to prepare not on your own, but with the help of special schools and additional courses / classes, the fee depends on your knowledge of the English language. If your knowledge is minimal or even zero, you should at least study in depth from three months to six months. The average price of individual lessons per hour in megacities is 600-800 rubles (depending on the region). In the provinces - 300-400 rubles.
Cambridge exam preparation
You need to spend as much time learning the language as possible. There are many free and paid online platforms now available to help you learn English on your own. If you can’t figure it out in person, you can use online English schools. Lessons will be held via Skype at any time convenient for you. Or use the classic option and enroll in a special school or find a tutor.
Pay more attention to practice. Find yourself a pen pal from English-speaking countries, go on a trip, replace books in Russian with foreign editions, or listen to listening instead of songs. Practice is everything! It has been proven that a person learns a foreign language the fastest when it is really necessary. For example, if you moved to a new place of residence in another country, or you are not hired for a good position without knowing English, and so on. The more acute the need for new knowledge, the sooner you will master the language.
Conclusion
The Cambridge English exam is quite difficult. Fortunately, it is not possible to take the exam remotely. Otherwise, the certificate of passing the exam would not confirm the real level of knowledge of the person being examined. A competitive advantage over other exams is the absence of an expiration date (no need to retake the exam every 2-3 years). If you are in a village, urban-type settlement, city where there are no special schools with a license to take the Cambridge exam, you should go to a city or metropolis where such an opportunity exists. Be calm, prepare carefully and then you will have a high score in the international exam. Good luck in your endeavors!
