CaMLA : Who We Are

2. The Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)—A complete language proficiency assessment for advanced-level learners of English — used for academic and professional purposes

3. CaMLA: Who We Are

4. What is the ECPE test? • Advanced level • Targets C2 level of the CEFR What is its purpose? • To measure language proficiency for academic and professional purposes

5. How long is it? • Approximately 2 hrs, 50 mins How often is it available? • Biannually

6. Content • Educational, Occupational, & Public Situations • Range of Topics • Fairness and Bias Review

7. Format • Paper and pencil based • Multiple-choice questions(Listening, Reading) • Constructed response tasks(Speaking, Writing)

8. Format (cont.) Section 1: Speaking, 30-35 minutes Section 2: Writing, 30 minutes Section 3: Listening, 35-40 minutes Section 4: Grammar, Cloze, Vocabulary, Reading (GCVR); 75 minutes

9. Section 1: Speaking • 30 to 35 minutes • Decision-making task • Two speaking examiners with two or three test takers • Multi-stage, and structured

10. Format of the Speaking Test • Stage 1: Introduction • Stage 2: Summarizing + recommending • Stage 3: Consensus reaching • Stage 4: Presenting + convincing • Stage 5: Justifying + defending

11. Skills elicited by the ECPE speaking test: • Ask and answer questions • Provide suggestions or recommendations • Present a decision • Justify a decision • Discuss a topic

12. Sample Speaking Prompt You are a member of a writing club committee, and you need to choose a summer writing program for your members.

13. Evaluation of the speaking test • Rating scale is a five-band measure (A to E), and is used by the examiner to assign a score • Based on test taker’s overall communicative effectiveness; linguistic resources (range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar); and delivery and intelligibility

14. Section 2: Writing • Essay • Two topic choices • 30 minutes

15. Skills measured by the ECPE writing test: • Topic development • Organization of content • Connections between ideas • Grammatical ability • Vocabulary use

16. Format of the Writing Test • The context/situation • A statement of what the test taker has to discuss • Instructions of what is to be achieved

17. Sample Writing Prompt There is no universal definition of the word adult. Different cultures, religions, legal systems, and individuals have varying ideas about when a person becomes an adult. What factors do you think define adulthood? Support your opinion with specific reasons.

18. Composition evaluation by 2 raters: • clarity and overall effectiveness • topic development • organization • range, accuracy, and appropriateness of grammar and vocabulary • five-band rating scale: A through E

19. Section 3: Listening • 50 multiple-choice items; 35-40 minutes Three parts: • Short Dialogues • Questions • Extended Discourse (discussions)

20. Listening Skills: • Understand main idea & purpose • Synthesize ideas • Identify supporting detail • Understand vocabulary • Make inferences • Understand pragmatic implicationsand rhetorical functions

21. Listening Part 1 Short Dialogue: 2 speakers; 2–4 turns Listening Part 1 Response: a. They will practice their presentation before class. b. They will give a presentation in today’s class. c. They have finished writing their presentation.

22. Sample Listening Part 2 Input (Question or Statement) Listening Part 2 Response: a. Yes. That’s what she said, too. b. Yes. It’s on my calendar. c. Yes. She said she liked it.

23. Part 3 Extended Discourse • Extended Talks • 3–4 minutes • Up to 4 speakers

24. Part 3 Extended Discourse Responses The test taker hears and reads the questions.All answer choices are also printed in the test book: • a. They asked building managers to volunteer for the study. • b. They recorded the locations of where birds were dying. • c. They tracked the migratory routes of birds. • a. They fly in circles and collapse. • b. They can’t find enough insects to eat. • c. They forget their migratory route. • the floodlights on the outsides of buildings • the bright lights inside the buildings • the reflection of starlight on building windows • a. changing the migratory paths of birds • b. turning off all building lights • c. cooperation from building managers • a. for decorative purposes • b. to aid conservation efforts • c. as a security measure “To try to solve the problem, what did the conservationists do at first?” “According to the report, in addition to flying into buildings, what may happen to confused birds?” “Which source of lighting from buildings is most dangerous to birds?” “According to the report, what is it unrealistic to expect?” “According to the report, why are many city buildings lit up at night?”

25. Section 4: Reading (GCVR) • Four subsections • Grammar • Cloze • Vocabulary • Reading • Multiple choice • 120 questions in total; 75 minutes

26. Grammar: Subskills Tested • 40 items • Grammatical features of written English

27. Grammar: format of input • 1–2 sentences • Word or phrase • 1 or more grammatical features Format of the response options • Four answer choices; one correct answer

28. Sample Grammar Item We will have to be very efficient during our meeting; I have an appointment this afternoon, so _______ eleven thirty. a. we’ll finish up to b. we’ll have to finish by c. we should finish until d. we could have finished at

29. Cloze • 2 passages; 24 items • Skills Tested: • select the best word to restore intended meaning • identify the correct grammatical form • identify the correct content word

30. Format of the Cloze Input • Self-contained passage • Formal written context • approximately 190 words with 10 blanks

31. Format of the Response Options • Multiple choice • Four options; one correct answer

32. Sample Cloze Options (Handouts)

33. Vocabulary: Skills Tested • Lexical range • Lexical control • Vocabulary knowledge

34. Format of the Vocabulary Input • 1–2 sentences with word or lexicalchunk removed • Educational, occupational, & social settings Format of the Response Options • Multiple choice • Four options; one correct answer

35. Sample Vocabulary Item Plans to build a new elementary school are ________. a. elevated b. interlocking c. fortified d. underway

36. Sample Vocabulary Item You can definitely _______ Sarah to get the job done. a. look at b. count on c. figure out d. regard to

37. Reading • 4 reading passages • 20 multiple-choice items total

38. Reading Skills • Understand main idea; identify purpose • Identify supporting details • Understand vocabulary in context • Draw conclusions

39. Format of the Reading Input • Self-contained passage • Formal written context • 250+ words Format of the Response Options • 5 multiple-choice items • Four options; one correct answer

40. Sample Reading Passage - Handout

41. Sample Reading Items • What is the main purpose of the passage? a. to demonstrate why cacao was a regulated commodity b. to explain how commodities such as cacao could be used as currency c. to explain why the Aztecs conquered the Maya d. to describe the history of the cacao trade 2. How did the Aztecs first acquire cacao? a. They traded for it with the Maya. b. They discovered it in the wild. c. They accepted it as a tribute payment. d. They cultivated it in fields.

42. Scores and Reports ECPE Five Levels of Performance

43. Scores and Reports (cont.) Test results • Official report sent directly from CaMLA • Available within 6 weeks • Results valid for life

44. Quality • Rigorous quality procedures followed during item and test form development • Administered following standardized procedures, including strict security measures • Certified raters of writing and speaking tests

45. Quality • Statistical methods used to ensure that scores are comparable across forms • Consistently high test reliability • Statistical reports online • ECPE-related research and publications available online

46. Recognition • Over 1,000 recognizing organizations around the world • List continuously growing

47. Q&As

48. For dates, prices and enrollments, please go to: http://portal.ibeu.org.br/exames-internacionais/ From May 5th to May 30th