Local Secretaries are a highly valued and central part of the Cambridge ESOL community and we are constantly looking for ways to provide an enhanced service and build even stronger relationships. During 2006 we invited them to provide feedback in the form of a Centre Consultation Survey, which was completed by 342 centres around the world.
Main findings
- The overwhelming majority of centres believe Cambridge ESOL exams meet the needs of their students. They are particularly satisfied with the levels offered, the relevance of language tested and the range of tasks and topics offered
- Reasons for offering the exams are their positive impact on learning, their access to the Cambridge brand and the fact that students want to take them
- Centres predicted that the next five years would see more computer-based assessments, greater flexibility in exam dates; increased demand for ESP and skills products such as TKT and faster turnaround of results
- Centres believe Cambridge ESOL outperforms its competitors in most areas, including relevance of exam content, range of exams, exam recognition, customer service and support
- Most centres felt they could offer computer-based assessments either immediately or in the next couple of years and were particularly keen to see BEC, KET and TKT on computer
- Centres are satisfied with access to recognition information but they also asked for greater assistance in promoting recognition at
a local level - Teacher seminars were rated highly in terms of content, suitability, clarity, presenter knowledge and meeting teacher needs
- Support materials used most often by centres are sample papers, past papers, teacher handbooks and answer keys
- The vast majority of centres thought the range of Teaching Awards was appropriate for staff development
- Centres rated the quantity and quality of administration materials very highly
- Most centres were happy with Local Secretary support and training
- Of the centre resources supplied by Cambridge ESOL, the Handbook for Centres, Exam Timetables, Examination Regulations, Examinations and Timetable booklet, Administration Calendar and Summary Regulations are used most often by centres
- The majority of centres felt that the Team Leader System met their needs well
- Centres rated the public website, Centre Bulletin and teacher support website very highly. Where deployed, country websites are also highly valued
- In general Local Secretaries feel valued and part of the Cambridge ESOL community
- Promotional materials were given high approval in terms of their usefulness/relevance, range, timely arrival, and key messages
- All aspects of customer service support were rated highly.
Cambridge ESOL will be using the feedback from the survey to review ways to enhance services and operations. Centres will be updated on progress through the Centre Bulletin and Centre.Net.
Have your say
We appreciate all feedback from Local Secretaries, teachers and other exam centre staff. If you would like to comment on any aspect of these findings, we welcome your comments. Please use ESOLhelpdesk@CambridgeESOL.org and write Centre Consultation in the subject space.