|
The Skills for Life Certificates are:
- available at five levels — Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and
Level 2
- wholly externally assessed, by trained and experienced examiners
- available on demand to suit the learner and the learning provider
- accredited by the QCA and funded by the Learning and Skills Council
- available every day of the year, except UK public holidays
Recognising
that the individual's language skills can vary quite significantly in
their development, the new certificates allow learners to enter for
different modes at different levels, to accommodate 'spiky profiles'.
At
each level, learners who achieve a Pass will be awarded certificates at
mode level from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.
Who
are they for?
The
Skills for Life tests are designed for adult (16+) speakers whose home
language is not English, who are living or trying to settle in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland. These ESOL learners may include refugees or
asylum seekers, migrant workers, people from settled communities, and
partners or spouses of people who are settled in this country for a number
of years.
It
is expected that the learners' educational and employment backgrounds will
be diverse, as well as their aspirations, literacy levels and language
learning skills. This diversity will be reflected in the range of material
selected for use in these tests and in the task types which candidates will
need to complete.
Candidates
will encounter topics in the tests which are both familiar and relevant to
them as learners of English. Topics may include:
Why choose Cambridge ESOL?
Reliability
The Cambridge ESOL certificates provide a completely external assessment,
with all questions and tasks set and marked by Cambridge ESOL, and with all
exams conducted under specified and supervised conditions. Cambridge ESOL has a
strong reputation for its research and validation work. Ongoing validation work
ensures fairness to candidates and standardisation of results over time.
Convenience
The certificates are available on demand, enabling colleges and other
learning providers to offer them at a time that suits both them and their
students.
Freedom to teach
The Cambridge ESOL certificates do not require continuous assessment so
classroom tutors can focus on the development of the skills, knowledge and
understanding of their learners.
Value for money
The certificates are competitively priced, offering high quality assessment
at a reasonable cost. They can be eligible for Learning and Skills Council
funding and can qualify for the Basic Skills uplift.
Supporting you
As with all Cambridge ESOL qualifications, there is a comprehensive support
package, including online teaching resources, sample papers, seminars for
teachers and, in due course, examination reports.
Cambridge ESOL is also working with publishers as they develop suitable
learning and teaching materials. |