Macmillan Publishers India Ltd has forged a strategic alliance with the world renowned University of Cambridge to administer Cambridge ESOL Examinations (University of Cambridge examinations in English for Speakers of Other Languages) in India. Cambridge ESOL offers the world’s leading range of certificates for learners and teachers of English - taken by over 3 million people in 130 countries.

In this era of globalisation, we work cutting across diverse geographies and time zones. People, processes & practices have amalgamated to form a whole new that makes it so pertinent for the professionals to acquire and develop skills, techniques and capabilities on par with global competency levels to become successful both in social and professional lives. And English language skill is one of them; learning English gives competitive advantage in today’s international environment and open the door to new work, study and travel opportunities.

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations is the world’s leading provider of English language assessment has developed a range of qualifications, which provide students and professionals with the real life language skills that they will require for study, work & social purposes. Cambridge ESOL qualifications are valid for life and truly international, recognised around the world as proof of language ability. They help people gain entrance to university or college, improve job prospects or measure progress in English. Over 10,500 educational organizations, employers, government agencies, immigration authorities and professional bodies throughout the world recognise Cambridge ESOL qualifications for study, work and travel purposes.

Cambridge ESOL exams are increasingly being used in primary and secondary education around the world as a way of enhancing English language teaching and learning. Cambridge ESOL aims to enrich the classroom experience with its wide range of exams tailored specifically to the interests and experiences of learners in compulsory education. Language learning should always be about real-life communication and for children that means making it fun, relevant and rewarding. That is why more and more schools around the world are adopting Cambridge ESOL exams – they provide children with internationally recognised qualifications as well as giving them the confidence and incentive to use their language skills.

The examinations aim at assessing the competency level in English language covering all the four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. They include a range of tasks which assess candidates’ ability to use English, so that in preparing for the examinations, students develop the skills of using practical language in a variety of everyday work, study and leisure contexts. Above all, what the Cambridge ESOL examinations assess is the ability to communicate effectively in English.

Each Cambridge ESOL exam is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – an internationally recognised benchmark of language ability, which Cambridge ESOL helped to develop. The CEFR scale ranges from A1 for basic language skills to C2 for those who have mastered a language. This makes it easier for schools to incorporate them into local or national curricula. This also facilitates international partnerships by allowing schools to match up children in different countries with the same level of ability in their respective target languages. Cambridge ESOL is also a member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE).

Cambridge ESOL suite of General English Qualifications

Young Learners English Tests (YLE); Level A1 & A2
Children who learn English at young age will have an advantage that will stay with them all their life. Cambridge ESOL recognises this and has developed Cambridge Young Learners English Tests (YLE) to get children of primary school age and upwards on the path to learning English. YLE is an excellent way of motivating children and showing how much progress they have made. YLE has three levels for children to work through – Starters, Movers and Flyers. The tests are specially designed so that children can learn in a progressive way. They start by learning simple words and phrases for Starters, and progress to using extended and more challenging language in Movers and Flyers.

Key English Test (KET); Level A2
KET is Cambridge ESOL's exam which recognises the ability to deal with everyday written and spoken English at a basic level. Although KET is a basic exam, it offers a chance to find out the strengths and weaknesses in using English, and gives a pathway to higher qualifications such as the Preliminary English Test (PET) and First Certificate in English (FCE). Thousands of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise KET as a basic qualification in English.

Key English Test for Schools (KET for Schools); Level A2
There are two versions of KET available: KET and KET for Schools. Both follow exactly the same format and the level of the question papers is identical. The only difference is that the content and treatment of topics in KET for Schools have been particularly targeted at the interests and experience of school pupils.

Preliminary English Test (PET); Level B1
PET is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an intermediate level. PET is a truly international certificate, recognised by administrative, industrial, and service-based employers as a qualification in intermediate English. It is also accepted by a large number of educational institutions for study purposes. It gives a pathway to higher qualifications such as the First Certificate in English (FCE).

Preliminary English Test for Schools (PET for Schools); Level B1
There are two versions of PET available: PET and PET for Schools. Both follow exactly the same format and the level of the question papers is identical. The only difference is that the content and treatment of topics in PET for Schools have been particularly targeted at the interests and experience of school pupils.

First Certificate in English (FCE); Level B2
The First Certificate in English is generally taken by older children and adults. Success at this level shows that the learner can deal confidently with a broad range of written and spoken English used in real-life situations. FCE is the most widely taken qualification from the Cambridge ESOL suite of English qualifications. It is an ideal qualification for people who want to use English for work or study purposes. Thousands of employers, universities and government departments officially recognise FCE as a qualification in upper-intermediate English. FCE gives a pathway to higher qualifications such as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).

Cambridge ESOL suite of Professional English Qualifications

Business English certificates (BEC); Levels B1 to C1
BEC is an internationally recognised qualification in English for the workplace. BEC gives an opportunity to learn practical workplace English skills and boosts confidence in using business English. It is taken by students and young professionals around the world to improve their job prospects or study business courses. It is recognised by thousands of educational organisations & employers throughout the world as suitable qualification for business use. Around 200 corporates in India recognise Cambridge BEC qualification. BEC is set at 3 levels; BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher. The levels range from lower intermediate to advanced, so one can choose a BEC qualification that matches one’s level of English language skills and professional needs.

International Legal English Certificates (ILEC); Levels B2-C1
Cambridge ILEC is a high-level English language qualification testing the ability to use English in an international legal environment. Created especially for lawyers by Cambridge ESOL in co-operation with TransLegal Group, Europe’s leading firm of lawyer linguists. Cambridge ILEC demonstrates to employers and clients that an individual has the language skills to work effectively with international law. It will help legal professionals improve their language skills and use them in a wide range of practical legal contexts. It will give a greater advantage in business and more flexibility in dealing with international legal matters. It provides evidence that students have sufficient grasp of legal English to study law in that language.

International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE); Levels B2-C1
Cambridge International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE) demonstrates that finance professionals have the necessary English language skills to succeed in an international finance environment. This certificate can be used as proof of the ability in English necessary to work in an international finance context or to follow a course of accountancy or finance study at university level. ICFE has been developed by Cambridge ESOL in collaboration with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

We, at Macmillan, believe in furthering the noble cause of education by providing world class educational materials and bringing in vital skill enhancement opportunities available around the world. Our association with Cambridge University is a testimony to our resolve to advance the interest of students & professionals.

For more information and registration please contact your nearest Macmillan office or write to CESOL@macmillan.co.in