At Britain International Academy we take pride in ourselves on being experts in preparing students for international examinations for ESOL – English for Speakers of Other Languages. Our reputation for preparation for English Language Courses has been cemented with the success of our students in this subject. We have distinct preparation courses, an intensive 30-day preparation course which incorporates language training and test-taking strategies, and One to One Counselling, where a tutor can help you maximize your strengths and eradicate your weaknesses. This Training Course familiarizes students with the strategies required to succeed, which leads to an international award for non-native English speakers.

LanguageCert International ESOL is a set of English Language qualifications mapped to the CEFR that have been designed and abide by the most rigorous quality and reliability standards. Learners choose the qualification level they feel ready to sit for and the certifications are awarded to them upon successfully passing the exams.

The following two exams are offered at each level from A1 to C2, to cover all four language skills:

• LanguageCert International ESOL Written Exam (Listening, Reading, Writing)
• LanguageCert International ESOL Spoken Exam (Speaking)

Written and Spoken Exams can be taken independently of each other at the candidates’ convenience. They are separate tests, so students can choose to focus their preparation on one exam before taking the other.

LanguageCert International ESOL qualifications are regulated by Ofqual in the sector subject area “Languages, literature and culture of the British Isles”:

The qualifications are Intellectual Property of LanguageCert, which aims to continue developing high quality ESOL examinations, as well as leveraging globally recognized state-of-the-art exam delivery technologies in order to make the examinations accessible and convenient.

Who are the LanguageCert International ESOL Qualifications intended for?

• Non-native speakers of English worldwide wanting to provide documented evidence of their knowledge of English, for study or employment
• Students aspiring to enter or exit institutions of higher education in the UK or overseas, where proof of knowledge of English is a requirement
• People who need proof of their English language skills for their everyday or working life
• People who are attending courses over a period and require a series of graded examinations which provide steps up the ladder of proficiency
• Learners who require externally recognized certification of their proficiency levels in English for any other purpose

What makes the LanguageCert International ESOL Qualifications different?

• Frequent exams available throughout the year
• Unparalleled exam experience guaranteed through highly-skilled examination personnel
• Increased success in candidates’ performance and decreased examination anxiety, as students are allowed to sit for the examination at Approved Test Centers.
• Candidates’ communicative skills are emphasized, as the exams have been developed on the basis of real-life situations (including academic and employment contexts)
• Separate Written and Spoken Exams, which lead to a different certificate and can be taken independently at the candidates’ and/or centers’ convenience, allowing learners to prepare and sit for one or the other examination (at any time) focusing on specific skills areas
• Student and teacher-friendly exams, requiring little specific preparation, with an average exam duration of about 2.5 hours for the Written Exam and 15 minutes for the Spoken Exam

LanguageCert International ESOL (Listening, Reading, Writing) – the ‘Written Exam’

LanguageCert International ESOL (Listening, Reading, Writing) qualification is usually referred to as the ‘Written Exam’.

The exam is enjoyable and fun to take, as candidates are confronted with interesting language tasks from one’s everyday life events, such as writing letters to friends, sharing their thoughts, listening to an interesting story or reading a piece of news – only to mention a few examples; however, the nature of the tasks varies according to the qualification level.

The exam is available in both Paper and Computer-based format.

The Written Exam offers a range of tangible benefits:

• Student and teacher-friendly exam, requiring little exam-specific preparation
• Exam duration: about 2.5 hours depending on the qualification level
• Flexible structure:
  • Listening section: 26 questions
  • Reading section: 26 questions
  • Writing section: 2 tasks

All questions of the Listening and Reading sections, and the 2 tasks of the Writing section are equivalent.

• Pass Score: at least 50% overall in all sections. No thresholds or limitations per section.
• LanguageCert Certificate in International English for Speakers of Other Languages (Listening, Reading, Writing) is awarded to successful candidates

What are the assessment rules of the Written Exam?

The LanguageCert International ESOL suite of examinations is directly aligned to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) produced by the Council of Europe. The Written Exam is rigorously assessed against CEFR specified criteria. The grades awarded will be either High Pass, Pass or Fail.

All Examiners are approved by LanguageCert and undergo rigorous and frequent training and moderation, to ensure that grades are awarded strictly in accordance with CEFR levels and LanguageCert examination requirements.

LanguageCert International ESOL (Speaking) – the ‘Spoken Exam’

LanguageCert International ESOL (Speaking) qualification is usually referred to as the ‘Spoken Exam’.

Candidates find the Speaking Exam very enjoyable to take, as they participate in a guided conversation with a LanguageCert Interlocutor – who does not assess – on various topics of interest, such as inviting friends to the cinema, talking about their hobbies or arguing for a particular standpoint – only to mention a few examples; however, the nature of the tasks varies according to level.

The Spoken Exam offers a range of tangible benefits:

• Student and teacher-friendly exam, requiring little exam-specific preparation
• Exam duration: about 15 minutes depending on the qualification level
• Individual interview, so that candidates perform at their best
• Pass mark: at least 50%
• LanguageCert Certificate in International English for Speakers of Other Languages (Speaking) awarded to successful candidates

What are the assessment rules of the Spoken Exam?

The LanguageCert International ESOL suite of examinations is directly aligned to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) produced by the Council of Europe. The Spoken Exam is rigorously assessed against CEFR specified criteria. The grades awarded will be either High Pass, Pass or Fail.

All Markers are approved by LanguageCert and undergo rigorous and frequent training and moderation, to ensure that grades are awarded strictly in accordance with CEFR levels and LanguageCert examination requirements.