Changes to First and Advanced from 2015
History Support for Teachers Why? Adapting How?
A little bit of History (I) - 1913: The first Certificate of Proficiency in English is taken by three candidates. - 1939: The Lower Certificate in English extends the reange of Cambridge exams. - 1965: Cambridge English exams is set up as an independent corporation. - 1975: Lower Certificate in English becomes First Certificate in English. - 1980: Preliminary English Test introduces testing for less advanced learners. - 1989: EFL Evaluation Unit, dedicated research team for Cambridge English Exams.
A little bit of History (II) - 1991: ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) is founded. - 2001: Common european Framework of Reference is published by Cambrodge University Press. - 2002: Cambridge ESOL is born as we all know it. - 2009: For Schools exams are introduced. - 2013: CPE Centenary: Cambridge ESOL becomes Cambridge English Language Assessment.
A little bit of History: The first Proficiency Exam - Content
A little bit of History: The first Proficiency Exam - Times
A little bit of History: The first Proficiency Exam Translation
A little bit of History: The first Proficiency Exam Essay
A little bit of History: FIRST - 1939: Lower Certificate in English, three parts 1. ORAL: Dictation, reading aloud and conversation. 2. ENGLISH COMPOSITION AND LANGUAGE: Two hours for a free composition on a choice of topics plus a series of tetss on the correct use of simple English. 3. PRESCRIBED TEXTS (Reading): Two hours on Dickens, Swift, Shaw and or the Oxford English Course. - 1943: A choice between prescribed texts or a translation exercise from an into English was introduced (18 different languages incl. Polish, Swedish ).
A little bit of History: FIRST - 1975: Renamed First Certificate in English and updated to a five-paper exam (similar to present). Writing was a free task though. - Further updates on 1984 and 1996, when it takes a very similar shape to the present format (including the 2:2 Speaking exam). Driven by evolving principles of communicative Language teaching and testing.
A little bit of History: CAE - 1991: Firts time CAE is offered to cover the huge gap between FIRST and Proficiency, according to research in schools. - 1999: First update - 2008: Second update - 2015: Third update Same format as FCE but longer papers.
WHY? - Changes driven by evolving principles of communicative language teaching and testing. HOW? - A 24 to 30 month process of reserach and validation.
Research and Validation Commissioning Pre-editing Editing Pretesting Statistical analysis Pretest review Test construction Pass for print Ready for dispatch The research and validation process guarantees: Same level session after session. Fair and equally representative for learners no matter their age, origin or mother tongue. They cover every single language area, without repeating any. Thus they tend to have a positive impact on the learning process. Live administration
How?
One paper less = Shorter exams
First Before Changes From 2015 Reading Use of English 1 hr 45 min 1 hr 15 min Writing 1 hr 20 min 1 hr 20 min Listening Approx. 40 min Approx. 40 min Speaking 14 min 14 min Overall Timing 3 hr 59 min 3 hr 29 min
Advanced Before Changes From 2015 Reading Use of English 1 hr 15 min 1 hr 1 hr 30 min Writing 1 hr 30 min 1 hr 30 min Listening Approx. 40 min Approx. 40 min Speaking 15 min 15 min Overall Timing 4 hr 40 min 3 hr 55 min
Reading & UoE Number of questions Marks awarded Main changes Part 1 8 1 Shorter text with 4 multiple-choice gaps less Part 2 8 1 Shorter text with 4 open-cloze gaps less Part 3 8 1 2 word-formation gaps less Part 4 6 1-2 2 key-word-transformation items less Part 5 6 2 2 multiple-choice questions less Part 6 6 2 1 gap less Part 7 10 1 5 multiple matching questions less Totals 52 70 30 minutes less
Reading & UoE Number of questions Marks awarded Main changes Part 1 8 1 Shorter text with 4 multiple-choice gaps less Part 2 8 1 Shorter text with 7 open-cloze gaps less Part 3 8 1 2 word-formation gaps less Part 4 6 1 2 2 key-word-transformation items less Part 5 6 2 1 multiple-choice question less Part 6 4 2 Now a cross-text multiple-matching activity Part 7 6 2 - Part 8 10 1 5 multiple matching questions less Totals 56 78 45 minutes less and 1 UoE task less
Reading & Use of English
Writing Before changes From 2015
Writing Main changes at a glance New compulsory task: write an essay focus on academic English. Same extension for both tasks (140 190 words). Extinct task types (not for for Schools version) : book-based task and story.
Writing Main changes at a glance New compulsory task: write an essay focus on academic English. Same extension for both tasks (220 260 words). Smaller range of task types: letter/email, proposal, report or review.
Listening Just one little change Part 1: the 8 context sentences are read out on the recording, but not the 3 possible answers per question.
Part 1 Part 2 Speaking Part 3 Part 4 2 minutes 4 minutes 4 minutes 4 minutes Question removed: What do you like about living (here)? 1-minute long turn 30-second response written stimuli discussion and decision-making tasks: 2 min discussion & 1 min decisionmaking (15 sec allowed to plan) discussion related to the collaborative task
Watch sample
Statement of Result & Certificates Cambridge English Scale score for each of the four skills and the Use of English Cambridge English Scale score for the candidate s performance in the overall exam. Candidate s grade based on their overall score Candidate s level on the CEFR
Adapting
How to reuse old materials?
By shortening
By labelling
Night clubs Sports stadium Green areas Cafes & restaurants Pedestrianised areas / streets
Green areas Night clubs How can these things help people to enjoy life in a city? Cafes & restaurants Sports stadium Pedestrianised areas / streets
Support for Teachers
Have a look at these sites; you may find them helpful www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/cambridge-english-scale/ http://bit.ly/1mj1qi4 (First for Schools Speaking sample) http://bit.ly/11fkcyn (First Speaking sample) http://bit.ly/1vsymyc (Advanced Speaking sample) www.flo-joe.co.uk (not adapted yet) www.englishaula.com (not adapted yet) www.examenglish.com (not adapted yet)
Thank you!!!