ABOUT EXAMS FROM ENGLISH

There are various certificates from English language. Briefly, we will try to give you a better idea about them. We can help you with the preparation, registration and further information.

Cambridge English Language Assessment

is the world leader in providing English language certificates. Every year, these examinations are taken by 1.5 million of people from 135 countries around the world and they are widely recognised for studying and professional purposes. They are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages approved by the Council of Europe. These examinations are held three times a year (in March, June and December). Generally, it can be stated that: the higher the level of the examination, the more valuable and recognised it is. The most important thing is to choose such a language examination that corresponds with one´s knowledge. If you choose an exam that is too difficult, you will not be successful and with an exam that is too easy, the certificate will not correspond with your actual knowledge. You can choose from the following:

KET – A2 – elementary

PET – B1 – intermediate

FCE – B2 – upper-intermediate

CAE – C1 – advanced

CPE – C2 – expert

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)- is an international language system for assessing the level of English

It is also an examination by the British Council, but it differs from the others as it has limited validity and it is not divided into different levels. Candidates take the test and receive a result on the scale from 1 to 9 according to their skills. For more information visit http://www.ielts.org/. Students usually need to achieve a certain result in order to get accepted to foreign secondary schools or universities.

TOEFL  (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

It is very similar to IELTS, but it is an examination administered by the organization ETS (Educational Testing Service), which is a non-profit educational organization headquartered in Princeton, USA. TOEFL is the most popular English language examination. Since 1964, the test has been taken by more than 20 million people. The test is administered into 180 countries around the world. It is the most widely recognised examination. There are over 5 thousand colleges, universities and work agencies in 80 countries that accept the TOEFL results.

State Language Proficiency Examination

Elementary State Language Proficiency Examination

The Elementary State Language Proficiency Examination verifies the candidate´s language skills and knowledge of the main aspects of living in the language specific area.
The contents of the Elementary State Language Proficiency Examination focus on common daily life situations, main aspects of political, economic and cultural situation in the language specific area and their comparison with Slovakia.

General State Language Proficiency Examination

The General State Language Proficiency Examination verifies the candidate´s practical and theoretical language skills and knowledge of the main aspects of political, economic, social and cultural situation in the language specific area and in Slovakia and whether they can actively use them in oral and written expression.

Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination

The Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination verifies the candidate´s abilities to appropriately handle chosen communication situations of professional and social life in which it is needed to use specialized language. Candidates who have passed the Elementary State Examination in English Language Proficiency can apply for the Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination.

Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination for Translators/Interpreters

The Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination for Translators verifies the candidate´s ability to translate complicated general texts from various functional styles from the English language into Slovak and from Slovak into English. Only candidates who have passed the General State Examination in English Language Proficiency can apply for the Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination for Translators.

The Specialized State Language Proficiency Examination for Interpreters verifies the candidate´s ability to interpret complicated and slightly specialized texts from the English language into Slovak and from Slovak into English, at first consecutively, then simultaneously.