News

Revising the Certificate of Proficiency in English (C2 level)

4 January 2010

Cambridge ESOL is starting a comprehensive review of its Proficiency exam to ensure it continues to meet test taker and teacher needs in the 21 century. A revised version of this prestigious, high-level qualification is due to be introduced in 2013 on the hundredth anniversary of the exam. The review process kicked off with a meeting in Cambridge in November with senior consultants who chair the item writing teams and act as principal examiners for each of the papers. The meeting considered a range of options for developing the exam to make it attractive and relevant to universities and employers, as well as to candidates who need to demonstrate a very high level of skills in English. One likely development will be a reduction in the overall length of the exam, without compromising either the rigour and thoroughness of the assessment or the level of the test; this has been a particularly popular feature of the revised First Certificate in English (FCE) and Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) exams introduced last year.

 

Cambridge ESOL has already completed an online survey to gather the opinions of teachers and exam administrators, and the revision programme will involve an extensive process of research and validation, trialling and consultation with teachers, candidates and other stakeholders.

 

Cambridge ESOL Subject Manager Ron Zeronis - who is managing the revision programme - explains that the revision will follow Cambridge ESOL's well-established methodology for revising and updating exams which is described in detail in several volumes in the series Studies in Language Testing, published by CUP. ‘It’s part of Cambridge ESOL's ongoing commitment to ensure that all of its exams remain up to date with best practice in language learning, teaching, assessment and technology and that they continue to meet the needs of learners, teachers and recognising organisations all over the world."