ESOL exams gives new insights into the performance of English language test-takers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The newly-released figures are based on 1.75 million results from learners of all ages in 135 countries who took one of the range of Cambridge ESOL exams in 2005.
The results below are pass rates for UAE test-takers by comparison with other countries in Europe (and examples from the rest of the world), and are for general English language qualifications, from KET (Key English Test) which is at elementary level, to PET (Preliminary English Test) and FCE (First Certificate in English), which are intermediate level, up to the advanced CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English).
Full tables of results for Cambridge ESOL exams taken in 2005 can be found at www.cambridgeesol.org
|
KET |
PET |
FCE |
CAE |
CPE | |
|
Bahrain, Kingdom of |
92% |
- |
58% |
- |
- |
|
Egypt |
95% |
82% |
41% |
- |
- |
|
France |
78% |
82% |
69% |
72% |
72% |
|
Germany |
94% |
94% |
88% |
77% |
76% |
|
Greece |
79% |
64% |
51% |
43% |
44% |
|
India |
86% |
91% |
61% |
85% |
- |
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of |
68% |
71% |
63% |
46% |
- |
|
Italy |
75% |
82% |
80% |
71% |
65% |
|
Japan |
60% |
57% |
36% |
39% |
- |
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya) |
54% |
51% |
58% |
- |
- |
|
Morocco |
- |
- |
66% |
- |
- |
|
Russian Federation |
89% |
86% |
78% |
72% |
75% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
67% |
72% |
76% |
- |
- |
|
Spain |
81% |
79% |
68% |
60% |
60% |
|
Turkey |
71% |
56% |
36% |
- |
- |
|
United Arab Emirates |
70% |
48% |
- |
- |
- |
Michael Milanovic, Chief Executive of Cambridge ESOL, said: “Standards of English language are rising around the world, and at the same time, so is the demand for higher levels of English in the range of professional careers and in the workplace in general.
“This new environment means greater awareness and scrutiny of the kinds of qualifications being used to prove ability, and the importance of certificates which can act as a ‘gold standard’ for employers and educational institutions throughout the world. Good quality exams also support teaching and act as a means of raising standards in the classroom.
“Cambridge ESOL has an important responsibility in upholding that standard, through its major research and validation operations and ongoing work with international partners.”
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, a not-for-profit organisation, is a department of the University of Cambridge and part of one of the world’s leading educational assessment organisations, the Cambridge Assessment group.
Cambridge ESOL certificates are recognised as a crucial entry requirement by thousands of universities and colleges worldwide. Major international employers - such as Cable & Wireless, GlaxoSmithKline, KPMG, Nestlè, Sony and Siemens - regard Cambridge ESOL examinations as a standard for assessing the English language skills of recruits.
Cambridge ESOL offers qualifications for learners at all levels and in all contexts. The Main Suite of examinations offers general English at a range of levels from the elementary Key English Test to the very advanced Certificate of Proficiency in English. Business English Certificates cover the same range of language skills but with an emphasis on English for business use. Cambridge Young Learners English Tests assess the English of Primary learners aged 7 to 12.
