Skills for Life
Information for centres
Centre registration
All Cambridge ESOL exams are taken at authorised Cambridge ESOL exam centres. They must meet high standards of professional integrity, security and customer service, and are subject to inspection by Cambridge ESOL.
To become an authorised centre
The Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life are designed to be manageable and cost-effective for centres to operate, with the minimum disruption and bureaucracy. Schools, colleges and other learning providers interested in becoming a Cambridge ESOL centre for the Skills for Life examinations need to meet these conditions:
- Minimum of 10 entries per mode at each session. In addition, for the Speaking and Listening test a minimum of four at any one level.
- Local teacher to act as interlocutor for the Speaking and Listening test.
- CD player for use in the Speaking and Listening test.
- Some centres may act as 'devolved' centres for the Speaking and Listening test.
Centres may run up to nine sittings of the Reading and Writing modes at each level in the academic year. For example, Entry 1 Reading is available to each centre nine times this academic year. This restriction does not apply to the Speaking and Listening mode.
If your centre is currently not authorised to run Cambridge ESOL examinations and you would like to apply to become a centre for the Skills for Life examinations, please download the centre application form (PDF 141Kb).
Existing Cambridge ESOL centres
LSC-funded centres already authorised to run Cambridge ESOL examinations have received an invitation to register for the Skills for Life examinations. Please contact ESOLCentreSupport@CambridgeESOL.org if you wish this invitation to be sent to you again.
For further guidance, please contact Cambridge ESOL's Centre Registration Unit at ESOLCentreRegistration@CambridgeESOL.org
Centre responsibility regarding interlocutors
Local teachers from the college/centre where the candidates are taking the test act as interlocutors for the Speaking and Listening test. This ensures, as far as possible, that the test is conducted by somebody who understands the experience, background and learning context of the candidates. Interlocutors must meet the Minimum Professional Requirements (MPRs) stipulated by Cambridge ESOL and need to engage with the 'Interlocutor Training pack' before conducting any Speaking and Listening tests. The 'Interlocutor Training pack' is provided by Cambridge ESOL and can be used by individuals or a group. It contains a 'Guidelines to Interlocutors' booklet and a training video. The booklet details how to work with the training materials and also summarises the main responsibilities of the interlocutor role. It is very important, in the interests of fairness to candidates, that centres ensure all interlocutors work through this pack in good time before running any tests in order to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the interlocutor role. The pack can also be used by interlocutors to refresh their skills and this should be done approximately every six months.
Cambridge ESOL provides an external assessor, who does not participate in the interaction between the candidates and the interlocutor.
Download the PDF on the professional requirements of the interlocutor.
