The Examination for the Certificate in Proficiency in English (ECPE) is an advanced level English language qualification that focuses on Level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It is developed by CaMLA, a not-for-profit collaboration between the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

and the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. The exam has been in use since 1953, but is regularly updated to ensure it reflects current research in language teaching and assessment. The ECPE is taken by school-aged and adult learners living in countries where the common language is not English. It is used as official documentary evidence of English language proficiency. Results (issued in the last two years) are accepted by universities, governments and employers around the world. The exam has four test sections, which test the four key language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Test format

The ECPE is a paper-and pencil test, with the following test sections: The texts and tasks in the exam reflect a range of personal, public, occupational and educational situations that they might encounter in real-life. The topics are designed to be accessible to all ages and test takers do not require specialized knowledge or experience to complete the test. A new test form is developed each time the exam is administered.

Scoring

Test takers receive a CaMLA score report, which has the following information: * A score for each section (0–1,000), with a brief description of the test taker’s performance * An overall result (Honors/Pass/Fail), which is calculated by averaging the scores received for each section. The following scores are needed to achieve a Honors/Pass/Fail result: Test takers who achieve an overall score of 650 or higher are awarded the ECPE Certificate. Test takers who achieve a score of 840 or higher in all four sections are awarded a Certificate of Proficiency with Honors. The ECPE Certificate is recognized at the C2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Test takers are given a numeric score for each section of the test so they can see the areas in which they have done well and the areas in which they need to improve. An ECPE qualification is valid for life. It is accepted by many universities as proof of proficiency in English, provided it has been received within the last two years prior to the commencement of one's studies. However, as language abilities may diminish over time, educational institutions are advised to consider a test taker’s competence in English since they took the test, along with their test scores.

Usage

The ECPE is used as official documentary evidence of English language proficiency. It is accepted by universities, governments and employers in many countries around the world, including: * Albania (e.g. Ministry of Education and Science) * Argentina (e.g. Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA)) * Bolivia (e.g. Centro Boliviano Americano Fundación Cultural y Educativa) * Brazil (e.g.

Banco do Brasil Banco do Brasil S.A. ( en, Bank of Brazil) is a Brazilian financial services company headquartered in Brasília, Brazil. The oldest bank in Brazil, and among the oldest banks in continuous operation in the world, it was founded by John VI, King ...

) * Chile (e.g. Universidad Tecnológica de Chile (INACAP)) * Colombia (e.g. Ministry of National Education) * Costa Rica (e.g. Intensa) * Denmark (e.g.

Aarhus University Aarhus University ( da, Aarhus Universitet, abbreviated AU) is a public research university with its main campus located in Aarhus, Denmark. It is the second largest and second oldest university in Denmark. The university is part of the Coimbra Gr ...

) * Finland (e.g.

University of Helsinki The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the R ...

Erasmus Exchange) * Greece (e.g.

Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection The Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection ( el, Ανώτατο Συμβούλιο Επιλογής Προσωπικού, Α.Σ.Ε.Π., ''Anótato Symvoúlio Epilogís Prosopikoú, ASEP''), is an independent commission in Greece that selects ...

) * Iran (e.g
Soroor Language Institute
* Italy (e.g. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano) * Jordan (e.g. Princess Sumaya University for Technology) * Malaysia (e.g. Lincoln University College) * Mexico (e.g. Mexican Ministry of Education)) * Netherlands (e.g. Marnix Academie) * Peru (e.g.

University of Lima The University of Lima ( es, Universidad de Lima) is a private nonprofit university in Lima, Peru. It was founded in 1962 and it is considered one of the most prestigious and remembered universities in Peru. The decision to create the Universi ...

) * Romania (e.g. Ministry of Education and Scientific Research) * Spain (e.g.

Universitat de Barcelona The University of Barcelona ( ca, Universitat de Barcelona, UB; ; es, link=no, Universidad de Barcelona) is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia, in Spain. With 63,000 students, it is one of the biggest universities i ...

) * UK (e.g.

University of Manchester The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The university owns and operates majo ...

Manchester Business School Alliance Manchester Business School (Alliance MBS) is the business school of the University of Manchester in Manchester, England. One of the most prestigious business schools in the United Kingdom, it is also the second oldest in the UK, and pro ...

) * United States (e.g.

University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a public land-grant research university near Davis, California. Named a Public Ivy, it is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The inst ...

) * Uruguay (e.g. Instituto de Profesores Artigas (IPA)). In 2014, the ECPE was used by test takers with 33 different first language backgrounds (the largest being Albanian,

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

, Portuguese and

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

). It is mainly used by test takers at school, university or in the early stages of their careers:ECPE 2014 Report, https://www.cambridgemichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ECPE-2014-Report.pdf, Accessed 26 September 2015 Most test takers said they took the ECPE for employment purposes (33%), educational purposes (31%) or for personal interest (27%).

Preparation

Free practice tests, answer keys and student instructions are available on th
official website
along with links to other practice materials.

External links

Official website

References