Exams: Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Cambridge ESOL?

University of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Examinations is part of Cambridge Assessment, a department of University of Cambridge and Europe’s largest educational assessment organization. Cambridge ESOL examinations are taken by over two million people a year in more than 130 countries.

How to register (How, When, Where)?

Candidates who wish to take Cambridge ESOL Exams (YLE KET PET FCE CAE ILEC etc.) in Istanbul should check the dates and relevant exam fees below:

Exam venue details and speaking parts

Candidates will receive a confirmation e-mail within 3 days after they make their application. 10 days prior to the exam day, candidates will receive the venue details with their official “Statement of Entry” from the University of Cambridge.

Note that your exam will take place in Istanbul.

The dates stated in the dates and fees table in the previous question are Reading, Writing, Use of English (where applicable) and Listening components of your exams. Speaking part of your exam may be a few days before or after that date. But we try, as much as possible, to have written and speaking components on the same day.

How to get ready for the exam

Please see below for learner resources. You can find sample papers and audio files that will help you prepare for the exams or have a general overview before you apply.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/resources/learner/index.html

Or alternatively:
Visit the Candidate Support site, the website for students who are preparing to take a Cambridge ESOL exam. You'll find all the information and help you need to start studying!
Also British Side offers you a wide range of English courses. If you want to get ready for YLE KET PET and ILEC or improve your General English Skills or only want to focus on Speaking Skills, please check ‘Courses’ section on our website or call us on 0212 3272701.
If you are a parent interested in YLE exams for your child who is between the ages of 7-12, please read the following:

On the day of the exam

(Main Suite Exams)
You must…

• Provide a valid photographic proof of your ID (for example: national identity card, passport, college ID or driving license) and your Statement of Entry at every part of the examination, paper or mode.
• Only have on your desk what you need to complete the examination (pens, pencils and erasers).
• Switch off your mobile phone and any other electronic device and place them with your personal belongings where the supervisor indicates.
• Stop writing immediately when told to do so.

You must not…

• Cheat, copy, give anything to another candidate, take anything from another candidate, or break any the rules during the examination.
• Have with you any electronic device. This includes mobile phones.
• Use, or attempt to use, a dictionary.
• Use correction fluid on computer answer sheets
• Talk to or disturb other candidates during the examination
• Smoke or eat in the examination room, but you are allowed to drink plain, still water only from a plastic bottle with a secure lid

!!!Make sure you are on time: know the date, time and place of your examination and arrive well before the scheduled starting time, or as advised.

Regulations for candidates:
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/assets/pdf/resources/summary_regulations.pdf

(YLE Exams)
On the day of the test

• Please allow plenty of time to get the child to the test venue – you should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the test is due to begin.
• Do not give the child food or drinks to take into the test room.
• The Listening and Reading/Writing tests will be administered to a group of candidates.
• The Speaking test will be conducted separately (one examiner/one candidate).
• Reassure the child that the test will be fun so there’s nothing to worry about.

Results and certificates

Please see the table below (Table B) for approximate time periods to receive your results and certificates:



For instance; when the candidate takes FCE on 12th of June, s/he’ll receive the results on 30th July and the certificate will be available after 20th August.

Online Results
On the day of your exam, you’ll be informed about how to check your results online. You’ll get an Online Results Letter on the day of your exam. (Note that Online Results Letters are not available for YLE candidates)

How will you collect your certificates?
By providing an ID, you can collect your certificates from Examinations Office located in Besiktas.
Please note that your certificate will not be delivered by a courier.

Recognition of Cambridge ESOL Exams

Passing a Cambridge ESOL exam is not the end of the story — when you receive your certificate you open the door to a world of opportunities.

A certificate from Cambridge ESOL tells people a great deal about you and what you can do. It is recognized as proof of your language abilities by thousands of employers, universities and government organizations around the world.

Whatever you want to use your language skills for, the recognition which comes with our certificates will help you to turn your ambitions into reality. University of Cambridge ESOL exams are internationally-recognised English qualifications recognized by the following institutions:

• University of Oxford
• University of London
• Metropolitan University, London
• ODTÜ
• University of The Sorbonne, Paris, France
• Harvard Business School, USA
• Yale School of Management, USA
• Ministries of Education: Britain, Turkey, USA; Australia, etc.
• TÜBİTAK
• Universitat de Girona, Switzerland
• State University of New York (SUNY), USA
• Art Institute of Phoenix, USA
• And so on ...

Corporate Recognition

• American Express
• BMW
• The Coca-Cola Company
• DHL International
• Eczacibasi Holding
• Ford Motor Company
• IGM
• HSBC
• Kodak
• Microsoft
• Nestle
• Nike
• Novartis
• Philips
• Roche
• Siemens

For a full list of educational institutions and corporate companies please see below:
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/updates/index.html
Or
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/downloads.html

If you are interested in a specific exam in a particular country (e.g. CAE in the UK) please check:
http://www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/search.php