ECPE:

(Please note the content of this page is taken from the official web page for ECPE : http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/ecpe.htm)

The Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) was established in 1953. The examination is given annually at approximately 125 test centers in 20 countries. Examinees who perform satisfactorily on all sections receive an official certificate. Those who perform exceptionally well on all sections receive a Certificate of Proficiency with Honors. The certificate is recognized in several countries as official documentary evidence of advanced proficiency in the English language for education, employment, career advancement, and business purposes. 

The ECPE is an advanced-level general proficiency test. Its content and difficulty reflect the English language skills required of a university-level adult. Since it is an advanced-level proficiency examination, emphasis is on both range and accuracy. It is not a language achievement test based on a particular syllabus or course of study, nor is the Certificate of Proficiency in English a diploma awarded in recognition of academic studies or a certification of pedagogical (teaching) ability or training. The level of the ECPE is approximately the same as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or TOEFL scores ranging from 567 to 677 or TOEFL CBT 229 to 300.

The ECPE is developed and produced at ELI-UM and administered at ELI-approved test centers. The test is given once annually at each center between October and June. The exact date is announced locally.  The ECPE is administered once a year at various sites abroad, but is not available in the U.S. or Canada.

The ECPE is not primarily for students who wish to study in the US; however, for a two year period following the ECPE examination, ECPE scores can be converted to Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) scores. Honors level ECPE scores generally convert to a MELAB range of 90 - 100, and Pass level scores generally convert to a MELAB range of 80 - 89.

A short version of the Final examination, termed the Preliminary Test, is available for initial screening purposes. This Preliminary Test will help candidates estimate their performance on the Final. It is required at some test centers and optional at others. The brief Preliminary Test contains only 35 cloze, grammar, vocabulary and reading items. It does not contain listening, writing or speaking sections.

The ECPE is designed to evaluate both oracy (listening-speaking) and literacy (reading-writing) skills. The examination consists of the following parts:

• a 10-15 minute speaking test, in the form of a one-on-one oral interview, containing both short interchanges and longer discourse,

• a 30 minute impromptu essay written on one of two assigned topics,

• a 25-30 minute 40 item multiple-choice listening comprehension test,

• a 25 minute 40 item multiple-choice cloze reading test,

• a 60 minute 100 item multiple-choice grammar, vocabulary, and reading test.
  

ELI does not release Certificate Program test results directly to the candidates. ELI reports results to the exam centers, which in turn report the results to the candidates. Candidates should contact their local exam center for ECPE &/or ECCE test results.

Results of the March 3, 2001 ECPE administration in Greece will be available on July 16, 2001. Results will be available from the examining bodies, Anatolia College and the Hellenic American Union.

Download and print the 2001-2002 ECPE Order Form

ECPE Scoring Rubrics for Writing Section

Download and print the ECPE/ECCE Certificate Examinations Bulletin (MS Word)