International Certificates

The achievement of a foreign language international certificate is an important goal in every student's educational path.

For this reason the University Language Centre decided, in September 2003, to stipulate an agreement with the University of Cambridge.

In the University several faculties have joined the agreement by stipulating service protocols with the Language Centre (Faculty of Engineering*, Faculty of Pharmacy, Language Mediation Degree Course, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences) for the participation of their students to one of the certificates activated.

* The Faculty of Engineering acknowledges 5 of the 180 credits of the three-year Degree Course. The Faculty of Engineering provides specific didactics for the learning of the English language, through the assistance of mother-tongue collaborators.

What exactly is a certificate?

It is an official document issued by authorized organizations which certifies the level of knowledge of a foreign language.

What are the advantages of having a certificate?

Having a certificate gives the chance to be a step ahead when looking for a qualified job in a market which is more and more competitive.

Furthermore, a certificate can be useful not only during the university career (assignment of credits on behalf of many faculties) but also to attend a master's degree in Italy and especially abroad.

Which certificates can be achieved at the Language Centre?

The Language Centre is an authorized centre for the achievement of the PET, FCE, BEC and IELTS certificates, given by the University of Cambridge.

The PET (Preliminary English Test) is an exam of lower intermediate level, which represents the second step of the Cambridge main suite exams. Passing level 2 indicates that the student is able to interact in the social and working life in an English speaking context.

The FCE (First Certificate Exam) is a high intermediate level exam which evaluates the capability of being fluent in a wide range of written and oral communication.

The BEC (Business English Certificates) is a three exam suite (Preliminary – Vantage – Higher) particularly aimed at certifying the language skills in an economic and commercial context.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) originates from the partnership between the British Council, the IDP Education Australia and the University of Cambridge – ESOL. It is greatly appreciated in the academic area, in order to allow the access to university courses on behalf of foreign students.

The PET is structured in three tests (papers):

1. Reading and writing
2. Listening
3. Speaking

The Reading and Writing test contributes for 50% to the final assessment, while Listening and Speaking contribute for 25% each.

PAPER 1 - Reading and Writing

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 30 minutes

In the reading test the candidates must develop 5 tasks in order to demonstrate that they are able to read and comprehend texts of different types. This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

In the writing communication the candidates are called to complete 3 tasks which include, apart from the transformation of given sentences, the capacity of giving information, reporting facts, describing situations, expressing opinions, etc. This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 2 - Listening

Duration of the test: about 35 minutes

The candidates are asked to comprehend and answer to public announcements, to catch the main points and to comprehend conversations, demonstrating that they have understood the speaker's point of view.

PAPER 3 - Speaking

Duration of the test: about 12 minutes

The candidates are examined in couples by two testers and they must be able to participate actively in interactive situations, to comprehend questions and tasks assigned and to react appropriately.

At the end of the tests, all the papers are sent to Cambridge to be corrected and evaluated. The PET test has four different assessments:

• Pass with merit
• Pass
• Narrow fail
• Fail

Six weeks after the exam, each candidate receives a report of the results achieved (Statement of Results), containing, apart from the global assessment, in a graphic form, indications about the single tests. The Cambridge certificate will be issued to the candidate who has passed the test, two months after the date of the exam.

For more information visit the Web site.

The FCE is made of five tests:

• Reading
• Writing
• Use of English
• Listening
• Speaking

Reading (Test 1)

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 15 minutes

The reading test evaluates the candidates' capacity of reading and comprehending texts from narrative and not narrative books, newspapers, journals and magazines. The candidates must be able to catch not only the highlights of the text, but also the details, the meaning and the structure.

Writing (Test 2)

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 30 minutes

The writing test verifies the candidates' capacity of writing, about given topics, unspecific texts of 120-180 words, such as letters, articles, reports, compositions and reviews, assuming to be addressing to a given kind of reader.

Use of ENglish (Test 3)

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 15 minutes

In the use of English test, the candidates must show their knowledge and mastery of the language system completing single sentences – but also texts – with the missing parts, transforming words and sentences, identifying the errors of the text.

Listening (Test 4)

Duration of the test: about 40 minutes

The listening test evaluates the candidates' capacity of comprehending the spoken English language catching the relevant points and the meaning of unwritten texts taken from different contexts: interviews, discussions, readings and conversations. Each written test is sent to Cambridge for its correction and assessment.

Speaking (Test 5)

Duration of the test: about 14 minutes

The speaking test is lead directly at the authorized centres by two qualified examiners from University of Cambridge. This test evaluates the capacity of the candidates to interact in conversations made in English in various situations. The test is composed by four parts: sections of interviews, individual stories about one minute long, a task of collaboration, a discussion. The candidates are stimulated by submitting them support material, such as photographs and drawings.

For more informatio visit the Web site.

The BEC is available at three levels – BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher. Therefore each candidate will be able to choose the exam considered the most appropriate according to his own language skills and professional needs. It is an exam for who, over 16, wishes to enrich his own curriculum vitae in order to find a job or to advance in his career.

The three levels of BEC are connected to the Common European Framework of Reference; they are also recognized by the QCA – the British governmental authority for the supervision of the exams – as an integral part of the national qualification structure.

These levels refer to the "Can Do" assessments, which describe in detail the real language skills the holder of the certificate is able to demonstrate at each level.

The University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations will release, to each candidate who passes the exam, a certificate attesting the level of language knowledge achieved.

Furthermore, the candidate will receive a detailed report about the results obtained, extremely useful for the following studies.

The BEC preliminary/vantage/higher is a complete test, since it covers all four language skills.

BEC Preliminary

• Reading and Writing (duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes)
• Listening (about 40 minutes)
• Speaking (about 12 minutes, the oral exam is made by two candidates at a time and it is conducted by two external examiners).

PAPER 1 – Reading and Writing

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 30 minutes

In the Reading test the candidates must develop 7 tasks to demonstrate that they are able to read and comprehend texts of different kinds. This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

The Writing is made of two tasks, both mandatory. The candidates have to write a communication to a company (30-40 words) and a business communication (60-80 words) based on a reading.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 2 – Listening

Duration of the test: about 40 minutes

In the Listening test there are 4 tasks: multiple choice, fill-in, monologues, dialogues including interviews, discussions, telephone conversations and messages.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 3 – Speaking

Duration of the test: about 12 minutes

The candidates are evaluated in couples by two external examiners and must be able to participate actively to interactive situations, to comprehend questions and tasks assigned and to react properly.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

Results

At the end of the exams all the papers are sent to Cambridge for their correction and assessment. The BEC exam has 2 kinds of final assessment:

• Pass with merit
• Pass

Each candidate will be provided with a "Statement of results" which will report for each candidate the results of the single tests. (Reading and Writing will be evaluated separately).

The grading system is composed as follows:

• Exceptional
• Good
• Borderline
• Weak

BEC Vantage

• Reading (1 hour)
• Writing (45 minutes)
• Listening (about 40 minutes)
• Speaking (about 14 minutes for each couple of candidates)

PAPER 1 – Reading

Duration of the test: 1 hour

In the Reading test the candidates must develop 5 tasks: multiple choice, matching, fill-in and error detecting. This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 2 – Writing

Duration of the test: 45 minutes

The Writing test is made of two tasks, both mandatory. The candidates have to write a communication to a company (40-50 words) and a short report, a proposal or a business letter (120-140 words).

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 3 – Listening

Duration of the test: about 40 minutes

In the Listening test there are 3 tasks: multiple choice and fill-in. The texts used are monologues, dialogues including interviews, discussions, telephone conversations and messages.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 4 – Speaking

Duration of the test: about 14 minutes

The candidates are evaluated in couples by two external examiners. There are 3 tasks: each candidate must answer to questions, make a short presentation of about a minute and be able to actively participate in interactive situations.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

Results

At the end of the exams all the papers are sent to Cambridge for their correction and assessment. The BEC exam has 3 kinds of final assessment:

• A
• B
• C

Each candidate will be provided with a "Statement of results" which will report for each candidate the results of the single tests.

The grading system is composed as follows:

• Exceptional
• Good
• Borderline
• Weak

BEC Higher

• Reading (1 hour)
• Writing (1 hour and 10 minutes)
• Listening (about 40 minutes)
• Speaking (about 16 minutes for each couple of candidates)

PAPER 1 – Reading

Duration of the test: 1 hour

In the Reading test the candidates must develop 6 tasks: multiple choice, matching, fill-in and error detecting. This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 2 – Writing

Duration of the test: 1 hour and 10 minutes

The Writing test is made of 2 tasks, both mandatory. In the first part the candidates have to write a short report (based on a chart, 120-140 words) while in the second part the candidates hat to choose to either write a short report, a proposal or a business letter (200-250 words).

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 3 – Listening

Duration of the test: about 40 minutes

In the Listening test there are 3 tasks: multiple choice, matching and fill-in. The texts used are monologues, dialogues including interviews, discussions, telephone conversations and messages.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

PAPER 4 – Speaking

Duration of the test: about 16 minutes

The candidates are evaluated in couples by two external examiners. In the speaking test there are 3 tasks: each candidate must answer to questions, make a short presentation of about a minute and be able to actively participate in interactive situations.

This test contributes for 25% to the final assessment.

Results

At the end of the exams all the papers are sent to Cambridge for their correction and assessment. The BEC exam has 3 kinds of final assessment:

• A
• B
• C

Each candidate will be provided with a "Statement of results" which will report for each candidate the results of the single tests.

The grading system is composed as follows:

• Exceptional
• Good
• Borderline
• Weak

For more information visit the Web site.

Il Cambridge English: Advanced (noto come Certificate in Advanced English - CAE) è una valutazione seria ed affidabile della conoscenza linguistica.

E’ costituito da cinque prove: Lettura, Scrittura, Use of English, Ascolto e Produzione orale.  Per risultare ancora più veritiero e realistico la prova orale si svolge con altri due candidati e davanti a due esaminatori orali.

Come si svolge l’esame?

ll Cambridge English: Advanced valuta tutte le abilità linguistiche.

E’ costituito da 5 papers ognuno dei quali vale il 20% del punteggio totale:

• Lettura – composto da 34 domande suddivise in 4 sezioni. La prova di lettura ha una durata di 1 ora e 15 minuti.
• Scrittura – composto da 2 attività che richiedono ai candidati di essere in grado di scrivere una grande varietà di testi diversi, come saggi, recensioni ecc. La prova di scrittura ha la durata di 1 ora e 30 minuti.
• Use of English – composto da 50 domande suddivise in 5 sezioni. Il test ha la durata di 1 ora.
• Ascolto – costituito da 30 domande suddivise in 4 sezioni. Il test ha la durata di 40 minuti.
• Produzione orale – due candidati vengono valutati da 2 esaminatori Cambridge ESOL in modalità face-to-face. La prova orale ha una durata di 15 minuti.

Per avere informazioni più dettagliate sull’esame, visita il sito.

IELTS (International Language Testing System) is the test that certifies the level of knowledge of the English language.

Thanks to its high reliability, globally recognized, the test is taken by over one million and a half of candidates every year, with a growing trend, resulting to be the most popular in the world. The final result is an extremely reliable indicator of the ability of the candidate to communicate in English in real life situations.

IELTS was developed by the British Council in partnership with IETS Australia and University of Cambridge ESOL, on the basis of over forty years of advanced research in the language field.

WHY SHOULD YOU GET IELTS?

The IELTS test evaluates in a very accurate way the capacity of communicating in English considering situations which take place in the real life.

The IELTS certification opens its doors to prestigious university and working paths in national and international field. Furthermore, the candidates who obtain high results are particularly requested by universities and companies in English-speaking countries.

HOW DOES THE TEST TAKE PLACE?

At the moment of the registration, it is possible to choose between two modules, equivalent in terms of validity: Academic and General Training.

The Academic module is generally chosen by those who are orientated towards the university world (degree courses, master's degrees, doctoral degrees) or to professional careers in Italy and abroad, while the second one is for those who wish to work abroad with an education level lower than the degree qualification or need a certificate of English knowledge for immigration matters in English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom). In Italy, generally, 8 students on a total of 10 choose the Academic level.

For both the modules there are four tests corresponding to the basic language skills – listening, reading, writing and conversation – according to the following scheme:

The Speaking test is always carried out with a highly qualified examiner, qualified for this role on the basis of a specific training, assessment and supervising.

The final certificate is always achieved with a results for each of the four tests and a general one, required as an admission requisite on behalf of the Universities or for other purposes. In case of the not achievement of the level wished, it is always possible to re-enrol and repeat the test in any session wanted (the test must always be done entirely, it is not possible to do single tests).

GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Over 8.000 institutions in the world, among which 2.000 American universities (including the Ivy league college), acknowledge IELTS as an essential requisite for admission.

The IELTS certificate is also acknowledged by many Italian universities for the conversion in credits (CFU) for the degree courses, for the total or partial exoneration in qualifications and for the English exams present in the list of courses, requisite for the admission in International exchange programs (e.g. Erasmus, Leonardo, etc.).

IELTS is also required for immigration matters in English-speaking countries (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom). Even the Immigration Office of the United Kingdom announced that qualified extra-EU workers can present IELTS in order to achieve useful points for the new British immigration system.

RESULTS

The results of the test are available after only 13 days, they can be read online, sent directly to the candidate by Priority Mail, and can be picked up at the British Council offices and possibly sent free of charge to the Universities or other Institutions indicated by the candidates at their enrolment.

IELTS AND THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK (CEFR)

IELTS is one of the few certificates of language knowledge recognized by the European Council.

The Common European Framework of Reference provides a basis for the mutual acknowledgment of the language certificates, facilitating the mobility for studies and work.

As it is shown in the Table, to each CEFR level corresponds a range of IELTS results.

Generally, the access to undergraduate courses requires a B1 and B2 level, while for postgraduate courses the minimum required is B2 or C1. Anyhow, we suggest to verify the required level at the enrolment offices of each University where the admission request will be done.

For more information visit the Web site.

Cambridge Esol: it is part of the framework of the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) certificates, it has a long tradition and it is often specifically requested for the access to foreign universities.

University of Cambridge is one of the institutions which have subscribed the Agreement with the Ministry of Education, whose certificates are considered work credits needed as marks for the qualifying exams, and in university and working fields.

For its usefulness and univocal readability, it is also expendable in all the European countries.

The CAMBRIDGE exams include the verification of the four language skills: reading, writing, listening (listening comprehension) and speaking. They are graduated in the five following levels, which evaluate the knowledge achieved in the general English, from the beginner's level to the advanced level:

Level 1: KET Key English Test (Elementary level) A2;

Level 2: PET Preliminary English Test (Lower intermediate level) B1;

Level 3: FCE First Certificate in English (Upper intermediate level) B2;

Level 4: CAE Certificate of Advanced English (Lower advanced level) C1;

Level 5: CPE Certificate of Proficiency in English (Upper advanced level) C2.

1. Each exam is autonomous and complete, as a matter of fact in order to take the tests of one level, it is not necessary to have passed the exam of the lower level;
2. The Cambridge certificates are acknowledged all over the world both by Universities and by employers, they do not request particular educational qualifications and are addressed not only to students but to whoever wants to have an official acknowledgment of his English knowledge;
3. This type of certificate has no expiration date.

Il Centro Linguistico di Ateneo organizza esercitazioni di Lingua Inglese, finalizzate al raggiungimento degli esami di certificazione di livello B1 (PET) e B2 (FCE).

Le esercitazioni sono destinate a utenti esterni ed interni all'Ateneo (studenti, dottorandi, assegnisti di ricerca, ricercatori, contrattisti, personale dell'Ateneo) e/o a tutti coloro che intendano potenziare le loro competenze, già raggiunte attraverso i corsi istituzionali.

Le esercitazioni avranno una durata complessiva di 60 ore, saranno suddivise per livelli e sono a spese dell'utente.

Una volta effettuata l'iscrizione l'utente si assumerà l'impegno di frequenza e partecipazione sia alle esercitazioni che agli esami di certificazione. In caso di impossibilità a seguire oppure ad effettuare l'esame, la tassa di iscrizione non potrà essere rimborsata ne potrà essere usata come iscrizione all'esercitazione per l'esame successivo.

• Costi
• Modulo di preiscrizione

CB PET 2013

Tutti gli esami si svolgeranno con strumenti informatici e saranno articolati su 2 turni:

• Primo turno dalle 8:00 alle 12:00.
• Secondo turno dalle 12:00 alle 17:00.

Nota bene: Nel mese di giugno, oltre alla sessione ordinaria CB PET del 7 giugno, sarà attivata anche una sessione straordinaria in data 22 giugno (termine prenotazione 6 giugno).

Gli studenti di Ingegneria possono scaricare il modulo di iscrizione qui

Solo certificazione:

• € 76,00 PET (interni Unical)
• € 128,00 PET (esterni Unical)
• € 130,00 FCE (interni Unical)
• € 181,00 FCE (esterni Unical)

I prezzi sopra indicati sono in vigore da settembre 2011 a settembre 2012. Da settembre 2012 i costi possono subire una leggera variazione.

Esercitazioni:

Per i costi delle esercitazioni è possibile contattare il Centro Linguistico nei seguenti orari:

• Martedì ore 10:00-12:00 al numero 0984/496224
• Giovedì ore 9:00-13:00 al numero 0984/496222

Non sai quale esame Cambridge English sia più adatto a te?

Fai qui il test gratuito della cambridge per verificare il tuo livello di conoscenza della lingua inglese.

Cambridge Exam Manager
Dott.ssa Marina Vitelli

Cambridge Administrator
Dott.ssa Teresa Filippelli

Tel. 0984/496224
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Office hours

Thursdays, 3:30pm - 5:30pm