Exam Preparation Language Courses

In a global world, the ability to communicate in a foreign language becomes important more than ever. In order to prove this ability many exams are available these days which are officially accepted by universities and companies. There are special preparation courses for most of these exams which can help you to achieve good results and improve exactly those language skills which are required by the exam.  
Most of the exam levels can be compared with the levels of the European Reference Framework. A great number of our partner schools offer such exam preparation courses, helping you to achieve outstanding results. 
Please be aware that:

• Most courses require an advanced level
• Many courses start on fixed starting dates which are set in accordance to exam dates of the local test centre
• The exams are often offered during the last week, which will then not allow for full tuition or they are offered in the adjacent week, requiring additional accommodation days
• Exam fees are always be paid directly at the place of examination 
• The enlisting to the exam will be a separate process, which you will have to take care of before or upon your arrival in order to keep deadlines

English language exams 

Due to the extensive amount of English exams, we are giving a brief overview first: 

• The Cambridge Exam preparation course is a good opportunity for everybody who has the time to participate in long term courses with a few selected starting dates and is looking for a lifelong lasting certificate proving general knowledge of English. The Cambridge exam is widely accepted for business purposes, but there is also an equivalent business version, the BEC which may be required by certain companies.
• The IELTS Exam suits all people who want a general certificate of their English capabilities for academic purposes. Some jobs may also require or accept IELTS as an official document. It is also of interest if you do not have enough time to participate in a Cambridge exam but still want to have the credibility of the famous Cambridge University. Professional versions of IELTS are ILEC for legal matters and ICFE for financial matters.
• The TOEFL Exam is especially interesting for people who want to study in the USA and Canada.
• The TOEIC Exam is especially interesting for people who want to get the most popular exam for non-native English speakers in the business world.

Cambridge language exams

The Cambridge exams, which are sometimes also referred to as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) examination, allows the evaluation of your English capability in real communication situations. They have been developed by the University of Cambridge, which is also responsible for the design of the periodical tests.

The tests are carried out around the world on the same day by selected test centers, which sometimes are represented by our partner schools as well, 2 or 3 times per year. All tests survey the abilities of reading, writing, listening and speaking English. Due to the set exam dates and necessary preparation times, the preparation courses last 9-12 weeks and have set starting dates.

The Cambridge Exam is recognized worldwide and can be used for various purposes, such as university admissions and as proof of your abilities for your future employer. An advantage of the Cambridge exam is the livelong validity. The Cambridge exams are sequential but you can also enter on a higher level. Depending on your existing level, you will be able to complete various stages of the Cambridge Exam at one of our selected schools.

1. KET (Key English Test): This is the first and most simple test which refers to level A2 in the European Reference Framework . It is only offered at very few of our partner schools.
   Exam structure - reading and writing: 70 minutes, listening comprehension: 30 minutes, speaking: 8 – 10 minutes. More on the Key English Test.
2. PET (Preliminary English Test): This test is designed to test your abilities at a medium proficiency (Level B1 – European Reference Framework). The successful completion of this level is necessary to become citizen of the United Kingdom. This test is seldomly offered at our partner schools.
   Exam structure - reading and writing: 90 minutes, listening comprehension: 35 minutes, speaking: 10 - 12 minutes. More on the Preliminary English Test
3. FCE (First Certificate in English): This exam shows that you can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate (Level B2 – European Reference Framework). It is ideal if you want to build a foundation for the following tests and if you want to use English for work or study purposes. Completing this level is often mandatory to attend universities if you are a foreigner.
   Exam structure - reading comprehension: 60 minutes, listening comprehension: 40 minutes, speaking: approx. 14 minutes, writing: approx. 80 minutes, use of English: approx. 45 minutes. More on the First Certificate in English.
4. CAE (Certificate in Advanced English): This exam proves that you are an advanced user of the English language (Level C1 – European Reference Framework). You will need to show that you can use English at ease in a social and business context or in an educational background. It is widely recognized for work or study purposes.
   Exam structure - reading comprehension: 75 minutes, listening comprehension: 40 minutes, speaking: approx. 15 minutes, writing: approx. 90 minutes, use of English: approx. 60 minutes. More on the Certificate in Advanced English.
5. CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English): This is the most advanced exam of the general English Cambridge examinations (Level C2 – European Reference Framework). It proves that you can use English to advise on, or talk about complex or sensitive issues and understand the details of documents, correspondence and reports.
   Exam structure - reading comprehension: 90 minutes, listening comprehension: 45 minutes, speaking: approx. 19 minutes, writing: approx. 120 minutes, use of English: approx. 90 minutes. More on the Certificate of Proficiency in English.

Evaluation and Certificate: Each part of the exam equally accounts for the final grade. The grades range from A to E (D and E do not pass). The results will be available online. You will receive the final certificate directly from your test centre. Once you have received your certificate it is valid for your lifetime. 

BEC (Cambridge Business English Certificate)

Next to the standard Cambridge language exams, there are also Cambridge ESOL examinations available for business purposes (BEC). They are especially designed for students who are preparing for a career in business and are recognized by more than a 1000 educational organizations, employers, ministries, government bodies and professional organizations throughout the world as a suitable qualification for business use.

Unlike the standard Cambridge exam, the tests are held monthly at various test centers around the world and are available as computer and paper based tests. Our partner schools may run special preparation courses upon demand or through additional one-to-one lessons

In order to participate in the BEC program you should already have a good command of English. There are three exams, representing the following levels of the European Reference Framework.

1. BEC Preliminary (B1 ): This is the first test and will proof that you have a good knowledge of business English.
   Exam structure - reading and writing: 90 minutes, listening: approx. 40 minutes, speaking in a 2:2 group: 12 minutes
2. BEC Vantage (B2 ): Advancing from the B1 level, you will need to show very good knowledge of business English.
   Exam structure - reading: 60 minutes, writing: 45 minutes, listening: approx. 40 minutes, speaking in a 2:2 group: 14 minutes
3. BEC Higher (C1): The final level of the BEC exams will require advanced knowledge of business English.
   Exam structure - reading: 60 minutes, writing: 70 minutes, listening: approx. 40 minutes, speaking in a 2:2 group: 16 minutes

Evaluation and Certificate: Each element of the four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) will be evaluated separately but does not have a minimum achievement. All four marks account for 25% of a single final grade which range from exceptional – good – borderline - weak. If you pass (until borderline) you will be awarded a certificate from the University of Cambridge ESOL examinations, which is valid for a lifetime.

IELTS - International English Language Testing System

The IELTS exam is also conducted by the Cambridge University. This test is internationally accepted by many universities, companies and government bodies. Many British universities require this test instead of a Cambridge (ESOL) certificate. It also serves as a reference for immigration departments in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Unlike the ESOL test there are no separate stages of completion but one single test with grades from 0 (no achievement) to 9 (most proficient). The score however is only valid for 2 years. Many Universities are listing a necessary IELTS score for admittance .

There are two versions of the IELTS exam which distinguish between academic and general testing. The academic version is necessary to enroll at universities abroad. The general version is necessary for non-university education as well as living and working abroad.

You can sit the test at the local test centre where you participate in the preparation course or in your country. Unlike the Cambridge test, there are several dates per year, depending on the city you can find even monthly test dates. Thus you can take the preparation courses at most of our participating partner schools continuously throughout the year. We recommend a preparation of at least 4 weeks.

Exam Structure - Listening comprehension: 30 minutes (both interests), Reading: 60 minutes (separate academic and general test), Writing: 60 minutes (separate academic and general test), Speaking: 11-14 minutes (both interests).

Evaluation and Certificate: The grades range from 0 to 9 (best). You cannot fail the test but get a definite result stating your capabilities. You will receive the certificate via mail. It will include a picture of you and the final grade as well as the grades for the separate exam elements. To rerun the test, you will need to wait for a minimum of 3 month.

More information on the IELTS Certificate.

ILEC and ICFE – International Accounting and Legal exams
Further specialized versions, similar to the IELTS test in setup and grading are the ICFE (International Certificate in Financial English) for accountants and ILEC (International Legal English Certificate) for lawyers working with international matters. Unlike the IELTS exam, these tests are only available twice per year in May and November. At present we offer ILEC exam preparation course only in Wimbledon/London. The passing levels are between B1 and C1 (with Merit) in accordance with the European Reference Framework.

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

The TOEFL test is a North American based English test which is used by many universities to determine the language capability of foreigners willing to study at their facilities. Depending on the score it certifies an advanced language capability.

You can sit the test at the local test centre where you participate in the preparation course or in your country. Several dates per year are available. Thus, you can take the preparation courses at most of our participating partner schools continuously throughout the year. We recommend a preparation of at least 4 to 8 weeks.

The test takes about 4 hours and is conducted in two different ways, Paper based (PBT) and Internet (iBT). In order to sit the test you will have to register up to 3 months in advance on the official TOEFL Website.

Exam Structure - Listening comprehension: 40-60 minutes (39-49 questions), Grammar: 15-20 minutes (20 to 25 questions), Writing: 30 minutes (writing a text), Reading: 70-90 minutes (44 – 55 questions).

Evaluation and Certificate: You can score between 0 and 120 points in the iTB and 311 to 677 in the PBT. The result will be shown immediately if you are taking the iBT. The certificate will be sent to you from the US approximately 2 weeks after the test date. If you take a PBT the result and certificate will be send to you 5 weeks after you have taken the test. The results are valid for 2 years.

TOEIC – Test of English for International Communication

The TOEIC is a multiple choice test which evaluates your English capabilities in a professional and international exchange context if you are not a native English speaker.

It is a widely accepted measurement in multinational companies for personnel and recruitment evaluation purposes and also used by educational institutions and governments. The test is taken annually by more than 5 million people and thus the most popular English language test for foreigners. Plenty of test centers worldwide offer monthly or bimonthly examination dates, allowing frequent preparation courses. We recommend a preparation time of 4 weeks and more.

The TOEIC test is split into two separate modules which you have to book individually. 
Module one is the paper-based listening and reading test and takes about 2 hours in which you can answer up to 200 questions. Each element will be evaluated separately at a scale from 5-495 points and then added together for the final result.
Module two is an internet-based speaking and writing exam measuring your abilities in business English. It contains daily und cross-professional key situations. This test has been added in recent years and completes the evaluation of all four language competences. The test takes about 90 minutes in which each element is tested individually.

Evaluation and Certificate: The certificate will be send to you approximately 3 weeks after you have taken the test. The results are valid for 2 years.

More on the TOEIC test

GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Test

This specialized test may be necessary if you are willing to study at a business school on a graduate level, such as an MBA. The test is taken annually by more than 100,000 participants. As it is not only on testing the English language itself but also analytical and logical abilities, there are no special preparation courses offered by our partner schools. More information on the GMAT.

SAT Reasoning Test

The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States and taken by high school juniors and seniors in the USA. The executing college board states that the SAT measures literacy, numeracy, and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. They state that the SAT assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems - skills they learned in school that they will need in college. There are no preparation courses by our partner schools for this test.

PSAT - Preliminary SAT 

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a multiple-choice standardized test administered by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States. It is taken by high school juniors and sophomores each year. The scores from the PSAT are used (with the permission of the student) to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. This test is not prepared for in any of our partner schools.

The GED – General Equivalency Diploma

The GED tests are a group of five subject tests which (when passed) certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. The test is always taken in person and never available online. Jurisdictions award a "Certificate of General Educational Development" or similarly titled credential to persons who meet the passing score requirements. Only individuals who have not earned a high school diploma may take the GED tests. At the moment none of our partner schools offer any special preparation courses for this exam. Should you require special preparation classes, please to not hesitate to contact us.

Overview of different destinations and English exams

Exam fees - English language exams

Next to the preperations courses, which you book through us,you will have to sign in by yourself to your desired exam, which may be held subsequently to your course or at another location of your choice.

The prices for the various English exams range from USD 150 (TOEFL) to EUR 300 (Cambridge CPE). These prices are subject to change and only supossed to allow an estimation of the cost. Please see the individuall fees on the according exam pages.

French language exams - D.E.L.F. & D.A.L.F.

The D.E.L.F (Diplôme d’ Etudes en Langue Française) and D.A.L.F (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) certificates are the only diplomas stating your proficiency in French for foreigners, which are acknowledged by the French Ministry of Education (Ministère de l'Education Nationale) and are valid worldwide.

The certificates are split into 6 separate levels which are aligned with the European Reference Framework. For each level you will be tested at an official test centre in the four communication skills of speaking, writing, listening and talking. There are more than 900 test centers in over 154 countries around the world. We recommend a preparation time of 4 weeks and more for each level. The tests are carried out about 4-5 times per year in independent test centers (not at our partner schools). Our partner school in Montpellier works with fixed starting dates for the various exams.

D.E.L.F (Diplôme d’ Etudes en Langue Française)

The D.E.L.F. diploma proves different levels of French, which are equivalent to the European Reference Framework levels A1 – B2. While A1 and A2 state basic knowledge of the French language, B1 and B2 show that you have well knowledge of the French language and are able to use it on an independent basis.

D.A.L.F (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française)

The D.A.L.F. diploma is the next level of testing and proves that you have an upper intermediate to profound knowledge of the French language. The successful completion of this Diploma, which is split into two levels (C1 and C2) proves, that you are able to use French also in a business context. Many French universities require a D.E.L.F B2 or D.A.L.F. C1 or C2 level in order to admit you to their courses.

Exam structure D.E.L.F & D.A.L.F. 

The exam consists of four elements and will be longer the higher the level.

• Listening comprehension – Short examples of 3-10 minutes will be repeated twice before you have to answer relevant questions
• Reading – Different kinds of documents are presented which will be the basis for later questions
• Writing – Filling out forms to writing a full article
• Speaking – Short dialogues to presenting the own article from the writing test

 The total length can vary between 100 (A1) minutes to 5 hours (C2).

Evaluation and Certificate: Each test element has a maximum amount of credits you can earn. The total of all 4 elements is summed up to determine the final grade. The certificate will be sent to you from the test center and is valid for a lifetime.

TCF - Test de connaissance de français

The TCF is part of the new wave of modern “thermometer”exams. A simple, fast and efficient evaluation gives you a professional validation of your level of French. The TCF is a multiple-choice questionnaire. After the DELF/DALF, the TCF has become the most popular exam to be taken at foreign language schools. Based on the CEFR for foreign languages, it has already achieved high recognition. Our school Lyon is an official TCF exam centre. The exams are offered once a month.

Spanish language exams - D.E.L.E

The D.E.L.E. – (Diploma de Espanol como Lengua Extranjera) exam is the only official Spanish certificate that was developed on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. It was developed by the Instituto Cervantes and the University of Salamanca as a standardized test indicating the Spanish language proficiency, and is of international relevance for general, business and university purposes.

Exams can be taken in Spain and 90 other countries and are conducted simultaneously in all exam centers three times (sometimes only twice) a year. Thus, our partner schools offer selected starting dates in order to prepare in time for the exams. The courses last between 4 and 10 weeks.

In order to sit the exam in Spain, you must register 40 days before the exam takes place. In other countries, registration must take place 60 days before the exam is held. You can check the exam dates and registration periods and register with the Spanish Embassy Educational & Cultural Services, Spanish Consulate, or the Instituto Cervantes in your own country.

The three levels in detail:

1. Inicial: Proves that the owner has basic knowledge of the Spanish language, allowing basic conversations. It is equivalent to the level B1 of the European Reference Framework.
   Exam structure - Reading comprehension: 40 minutes, Writing: 50 minutes, Listening comprehension: 30 minutes, Grammar and Vocabulary: 40 minutes, Speaking: 10 minutes
2. Intermedio: Proves that the owner has good common knowledge of the Spanish language, which is used in daily situations. Equivalent to B2 of the European Reference Framework.
   Exam structure - Reading comprehension: 60 minutes, Writing: 60 minutes, Listening comprehension: 30 minutes, Grammar and Vocabulary: 60 minutes, Speaking: 10-15 minutes
3. Superior: Proves that the exam owner has well advanced knowledge of the Spanish language which allows conversations on a detailed level. Equivalent to level C2 of the European Reference Framework.
   Exam structure - Reading comprehension: 60 minutes, Writing: 60 minutes, Listening comprehension: 45 minutes, Grammar and Vocabulary: 60 minutes, Speaking: 10-15 minutes

Evaluation and Certificate: In all levels you can reach 35 points in the groups reading and writing, 20 points in the group grammar and vocabulary and 45 points in the groups’ aural comprehension and speaking. In each group you must reach 70% of the possible points. The sum of all groups is summed up to determine the final grade. The Instituto Cervantes will notify candidates of the results obtained within approximately three months from the date on which the examinations took place. The Instituto Cervantes will then arrange for individual notices to be sent to the candidates through the Examination Centres in which they are registered.