English Certifications – Which One to Choose
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in English certifications offered by various institutions.
In this article, we present the key features of the most popular certifications,
to help you choose the one that best suits your needs and goals.
LRN
LRN offers affordable and friendly exams for all candidates, providing opportunities without traps or peculiarities, and is favorable for students with learning difficulties. The base for all levels is 50%, with a free re-examination option. The exams include multiple-choice questions covering listening (simple and played twice), texts, essays with straightforward topics, and oral exams. The oral exams are prepared two weeks before the actual examination, with candidates receiving five topics for preparation, out of which they choose one to present.
NOCN
Another user-friendly examination with a base of 51%, NOCN offers free re-examination and the option for paper-based or online exams. Candidates are required to answer multiple-choice questions in texts and listening exercises (played twice), write two essays, and undergo oral exams. The themes for oral exams are based on everyday situations.
NYLC (New York Language Center)
A graded test that evaluates the candidate's understanding in written and oral discourse. The exams, whether paper-based or online, are conducted frequently every week, with results available in 15 days. All skills are assessed, including multiple-choice questions, oral exams, one essay, and the auditory section is audiovisual. Candidates watch a video and then answer questions about what they saw and heard. The grading scale for the respective levels is:
55%: B2 (Lower)
60%: C1 (Advanced)
65%: C2 (Proficiency)
MSU (Michigan State University)
All four language skills are tested, mainly through multiple-choice questions. Everyday English is used in the tests, and the oral section is brief and takes the form of a direct dialogue. There is no separate vocabulary section, as it is integrated into the texts, and ample time is given for all test sections. The baseline needed to pass the exams constitutes 60% of the total score.
Εξετάσεις Michigan (ECCE B2 / ECPE Γ2)
Challenging exams due to limited time and a 65% passing baseline. They consist of multiple-choice questions in all sections. It's worth noting that there's a separate examination section for both grammar and vocabulary, and the texts often hide trap questions with not-so-obvious answers. Especially at the C2 level, texts may relate to scientific topics. Additionally, in the essay section, the candidate can choose between 2 suggested topics.
Εξετάσεις Cambridge (FCE B2 / CPE Γ2)
One of the oldest English exams globally, with a 60% passing baseline. Throughout the exam, candidates encounter various exercises to demonstrate their knowledge in all skills. Specifically, they need to find words that fit each blank, complete blanks by forming derivatives, and even rewrite sentences based on a given word, ensuring the meaning of the original sentence remains the same. They are also required to write 2 essays.
All the certifications mentioned above are recognized by the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP).
Anastasia Filippou
Founder & CEO – Vox Online English School
For more information and pricing regarding English certifications (B2, C2 Proficiency and IELTS), through shared lessons or private lessons,click on the link.
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