HSE Has Become an Accredited Cambridge English Language Assessment Centre

HSE signed an agreement with Cambridge University and is an authorized center to sit international KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC, TKT and ILEC exams.

Cambridge exams have existed for over 100 years. The first test – CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) was developed back in 1913. Today, Cambridge exams cover a wider array of subjects – general English, English for economists, English for lawyers, academic English among others. Unlike, for example, IELTS, Cambridge Exams confirm rather than decide a level, and are for life.  People get an international certificate that is accepted in most academic and professional institutions, including HSE. Some HSE faculties, such as the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs require students to pass the BEC (Business English Certificate) in years 3-4. Now HSE students will be able to sit this exam at HSE.

In February we announced that we would be offering English language tests for staff and students to establish their level of proficiency. A total of 200 people came forward on the first day. ‘Many asked if they would get certificates, if the test would count as a ‘real’ exam. Now it can,’ said Aida Rodomanchenko, of the School of Foreign Languages.

There are six accredited Cambridge English exam centers in Moscow. Three of them – BKC, LanguageLink, English First are open and three (at the University of People’s Friendship, the Moscow Institute of Foreign Languages, and now at HSE) are closed to the general public and instead focus on people associated with the university.

The HSE Exam Centre has two areas of activity. First – hiring English-language teaching staff, who will become accredited examiners. Cambridge Exams have two parts – the first, written, part is marked by British people, while the oral is marked by specially certified Russian examiners. Then, second, the center selects candidates to sit the exam. Any member of staff, student, HSE graduate or high-school student on HSE university preparation courses can register to sit an exam at HSE: KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC, TKT, or ILEC.

The Center’s site contains further information about these exams, the documents those wishing to sit an exam need to provide, guidance about exam preparation, and practice tests to establish your level of English proficiency.