ENGLISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATIONS

In recent years, there has been a flood of certifications from various institutions. Here is a brief overview of the key features of the most popular certifications.

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.

LTE

LTE is an online examination in the English language that assesses the candidate's cognitive level in reading and listening skills. It focuses solely on texts and listening. It is a graded test with 72 questions. Each candidate receives a certificate based on the final score. The grading scale is as follows: Note: This certificate will be valid only till 30/6/2024.

60-74%: B2 (Lower)

75-89%: C1 (Advanced)

90-100%: C2 (Proficiency)

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)

TOEIC

The TOEIC Listening and Reading test is a graded multiple-choice exam consisting solely of texts and listening exercises. Exams are conducted every week. The candidate's score indicates how well they can communicate with others in everyday work and social environments. The difficulty lies in the demanding vocabulary and its high baseline, especially at levels C1 and C2. Note: This certificate will be valid only till 30/6/2024

50.5% - 78%: B2 (Lower)

78.5% - 90%: C1 (Advanced)

90.5% - 100%: C2 (Proficiency)

MSU (Exams 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.

Michigan Exams (ECCE B2 / ECPE C2)

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.

Michigan Cambridge (FCE Β2 / CPE C2)

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 of Vox Online English School