British Council
Examinations Service
Certificazione della lingua
inglese per lo studio e il lavoro
Milan 3 April 2013
www.britishcouncil.org 1

British Council
Who we are
The United Kingdom international
organisation for educational and
cultural relations
www.britishcouncil.org 2

British Council Examinations Services
exists to
•provide a secure, comfortable testing environment which
gives all candidates an equal chance of performing to their
full potential in accordance with the regulations of the exam
board
•support teachers, schools, universities and companies by
providing high quality, trusted, internationally recognised
certification
•support students and teachers in preparation for exams by
providing guidance, training and access to materials
•provide advice to the public and the Italian education
system with regard to recognition
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LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION IN ITALY
•Universities need proof of your language level as credits for
graduation or for admission to courses – usually B1 or B2 level.
OPTIONS:
•You might already have a recognised certificate from school
• Internal tests written and administered by the university?
•International certification produced by the exam boards of the
various countries associated with the language ?
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Benefits of doing an international exam
•A reliable reflection of your true language level
•Recognition all over the world
•Increased mobility for work and study
•An official qualification to put on your curriculum vitae
•A way of differentiating yourself from other applicants
So how do you find out more?
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Enti certificatori per la lingua inglese
What is an exam board?
www.britishcouncil.it
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EXAM BOARDS – ENTI CERTIFICATORI
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What is B1 or B2 ?
The Common European Framework of
Reference for Language level
For all languages
Council of Europe
www.coe.eu
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Common European framework
C2
EXPERT USER
C1
B2
INDEPENDENT
B1
USER
A2
BASIC USER
A1
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CEF Writing descriptor
In social and travel contexts, users at
this level can write short notes and messages
and simple personal letters of a narrative or
descriptive type, such as thank you letters and
Threshold
postcards
In the workplace, they can write a short note
B1
of request and record a routine order. They can
make notes during a meeting for their own
purposes and write a straightforward routine
letter, although this will need to be checked by a
colleague.
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B2 – Writing Descriptor – In the workplace
Can make notes that are useful to both him/herself and to colleagues
Can write most letters he /she is likely to be asked to do; such errors
as occur will not prevent understanding of the message
Can write a simple report
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http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/LanguageSelfAssessmentGrid/en
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Assess your level at
www.britishcouncil.it
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The Common European Framework of Levels
and Business English Exams
C2 Proficiency UK University level
C1 Advanced BEC Higher UK University level
ILEC/ICFE
B2 First BEC Vantage/ Italian University
ILEC/ICFE Scuola Superiore
B1 Preliminary BEC Preliminary Italian University
Scuola Superiore
A2 Key/Flyers Scuola Media
A1 Movers Scuola Elementare
Starters
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Internationally recognised qualifications
•High quality, reliable testing
instruments
•Set to European Standards
•4 skills – Reading , Writing,
Speaking, Listening
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Cambridge ESOL
World of Work Assessments
BULATS ICFE
Business International
Language Certificate in
Testing Service Financial English
BEC ILEC
Business International
English Legal English
Certificates Certificate
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So you need to get an English language
certificate…..
•How do you decide which exam to do?
TOEFL, PET, IELTS
•What variety of English? General English? Business
English? Academic English ? British /American?
•When do you want to do the exam?
•Where do you want to do the exam?
•How much time have you got to prepare?
•Paper based or computer-based?
•How soon do you need the results ?
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Important to choose a test of all 4 language skills
•Reading
•Writing
•Listening
•Speaking
•All assessed as equal value
•WHY?
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Preliminary English Test Session March 2002
ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Statement of results
Reference No
Candidate Name
To be quoted on all
correspondence Place of entry
Qualification
Business English Certificate- Vantage
PAPER PROFILE Result B
Pass
Listening
Exceptional
Reading Speaking
Good Writing
Borderline
Weak
8
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Extended certification for PET
B2 PET Pass with Distinction B2 Certificate
B1 PET Pass with Merit PET Certificate
PET Pass PET Certficate
A2 PET Narrow Fail A2 Certificate
Fail No Certificate
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Extended certification for Cambridge First /BEC Vantage
C2 First Grade A C1 Certificate
B2 First Grade B First Certificate
B2 First Grade C First Certficate
B1 First Grade D B1 Certificate
First Grade E Fail –no
certificate
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IELTS exam structure
Paper 1 Listening 40 minutes 25%
Paper 2 Reading 1 hour 25%
Paper 3 Writing 1 hour 25%
Paper 4 Speaking 14 minutes 25%
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Cambridge FCE, Advanced, Proficiency exam
structure
Paper 1 Reading 20%
Paper 2 Writing 20%
Paper 3 Use of 20%
English
Listening
Paper 4 20%
Paper 5 Speaking 20%
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Use of English
tests your knowledge of
Grammar
Vocabulary
Exams with a Use of English paper
encourage you to raise your language level
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How is writing tested?
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First and Advanced Writing tasks overview
Format Task focus Marks
Compulsory task – Responding to a letter or email
writing an email or and accompanying notes, using
1 20
letter of a variety of functions
120–150 words
One piece of Choice of tasks may include:
extended writing of article, essay, letter, report,
2 20
120–180 words from review, story
a choice
Question 5 (a and b) is based
of five
on two set texts (one question
on each)
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BEC Vantage Writing tasks
Part 1 : An internal communication – email
Part 2: An external communication - a letter, report
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BEC Vantage Writing Part 1
You are a regional sales manager for an international company. You
have been asked to go to a meeting at your company’s head office.
You cannot go so someone else will go in your place.
Write an email to Erica Young, who is organising the meeting
•apologising for not being able to go to the meeting
•explaining why you cannot go
•saying who will go
•Write 40-50 words
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Writing
Range of tasks accordingly to level
Marked in Cambridge by regularly standardised markers
Marking criteria
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Assessment of Writing
Content 5
Accuracy 5
Range of vocabulary and grammar structures 5
Organisation and cohesion 5
Effect on the target reader 5
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IELTS Writing tasks
A choice of modules
•General training module
•Academic module
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4 Skills
Test Format
2 ore, 45 minuti
Listening
4 sections, 40 items, 30 minutes
Academic Reading General Reading
3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes
Academic Writing General Writing
2 tasks, 60 minutes 2 tasks, 60 minutes
Speaking
1:1 oral interview, 11-14 minutes
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Academic Writing Task 1
In task 1 candidates are asked to look at a diagram or table and
to present the information. They may need to:
organise, present and compare data
describe the stages of a process or procedure
describe an object or an event or sequence of events
explain how something works
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The chart below shows the number of men and women in further education in Britain in three
periods and whether they were studying full-time or part-time. Write a report for a university
lecturer describing the information shown below. (At least 150 words)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970/71 1980/81 1990/91
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Part 1 : You must write at least 150 words
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Band score 6
According to the graph, the number of men and women in further
education in Britain shows the following pattern. In the case of male, the
number of males has declined slightly from about 1000 thousands in
12970/71 to about 850 thousands in 1980/81. However this figure rose
back to about 850 thousands in 1980/81. The proportion of full-time
education has declined during this periods. However, the proportion of
part-time education has increased dramatically. On the other hand , in
the case of female, the number of both full.-time education and part-
time.education has increased during this period. From about 700
thousands in 1970/71, these figures rose to about 820 thousand s in
1980/81, to about 1100 thousands in 1990/91………..
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IELTS writing assessment crieria
Task achievement 9
Grammatical range and accuracy 9
Vocabulary 9
Coherence and cohesion 9
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Academic Writing Task 2
In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument
or problem They may need to:
present a solution to a problem
present and justify an opinion
compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications
evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument
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Task 2 Sample task
Some people say that governments need to do more to
prevent damage to the environment
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Write at least 250 words.
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General tips for IELTS writing
Write at least the minimum number of words requested
Use a range of linking words to connect and sequence your
ideas
In Task 1 make sure what you write reflects the information
in the chart accurately
In Task 2 make sure your view is clear and that you support
it effectively
Check your work for particular mistakes you make
Paragraphing is essential
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Cambridge Speaking Tests
•25%/20% of marks for whole test
•face-to-face interaction
•friendly non-threatening environment
•PET 10-12 minutes First 12-14 minutes
•2 candidates: 2 examiners per test
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Speaking tests
Different interaction patterns:
examiner to candidate
candidate to candidate
range of tasks
range of material available to examiners
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Speaking tests
standard interlocutor frame
visual prompts
assessment based on range of speaking skills
examiners carefully trained, regularly co-ordinated
and monitored
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Speaking tests
standard interlocutor frame
visual prompts
assessment based on range of speaking skills
examiners carefully trained, regularly co-ordinated
and monitored
www.britishcouncil.org 49

Video
..Documents and SettingsAll UsersDesktopTop Tips for FCE.lnk
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Compensation strategies
I’m sorry, I don’t understand
I’m sorry, could you repeat that, please?
I’m sorry, I don’t know the word in English
It’s a type of ….
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The IELTS Speaking test
One examiner and one candidate
Interview is digitally recorded
Realistic interactive conversation with a live
examiner
Shows your real life communication skills
Preferred by many institutions in the U.S. and
worldwide.
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Speaking, 11-14 minutes
britishcouncil.it/ielts
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IELTS Speaking Test
11-14 minutes 3 parts
Part 1: General questions about home, family, job, studies
etc
Part 2: Monologue based on a verbal prompt on a card (1
minute to prepare)
Part 3: Discussion of more abstract issues
based on theme of part 2
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Part 2 card
Describe a memorable meal you have had:
You should say:
where you ate
who you went with
what you ate
and explain why it was so memorable
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Part 2 card
Describe something you own which is very important to you.
You should say:
where you got it from
how long you have had it
what you use it for
And explain why it is so important to you
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Speaking Part 3
Let’s consider first of all how people’s values have changed
…
• What kind of things give status to people in your country?
• Have things changed since your parents’ time?
Finally, let’s talk about the role of advertising …
• Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
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Criteria for assessment of speaking
Fluency and coherence 9.0
Lexical Resource 9.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy 9.0
Pronunciation 9.0
One examiner
All interviews are recorded on digital recorders for double
marking
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IELTS video
..Documents and SettingsAll UsersDesktopTop Tips for IELTS Academi
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PREPARATION
www.ielts.org
www.cambridgeesol.org
www.learnenglish.britishcouncil.org
Published Materials in bookshops
Materials on sale at the British Council, via Manzoni 38
Intensive courses, one-day workshops at the British Council
Road to IELTS : free online course for all registered
candidates
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Some facts about language certification in Italy
Most Italian school leavers and university graduates know
their language level according to the European framework
And thousands of them can prove their level with an
internationally recognised certificate
Over 170,000 candidates take a Cambridge exam in Italy
every year
Another 15,000 a year take IELTS
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Applying the Common European Framework in
the working world
Recruitment: Use the CEF reference levels in applications
for for jobs
eg. C1 English Writing skills desirable, B2 level speaking
skills, B2 English language skills
Application forms:
Language Level? Reading? Writing? Speaking ? Listening?
□A1 □ A2 □ B1 □ B2 □ C1 □ C2
Shortlisting for interview: Attach a copy of your most
recent certificate to your CV and application form as proof
of language level
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Recognition in Italy
•University websites
•MIUR website
•Exam board websites
•Expiry dates of certificates
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Recognition in the UK and the USA
www.britishcouncil.it/istruzione
www.educationUK.org
www.ielts.org
www.cambridgeesol.org
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More information about
preparation and registration
www.britishcouncil.it
esami.milano@britishcouncil.it
02 772221
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