Listening
30 minutes
LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert
Written (Listening, Reading, Writing) and Spoken (Speaking) exams in English, aligned to the C1 level of the CEFR*. Exams are delivered through our global network of Test Centres or online.
About LanguageCert International ESOL C1:
- Leads to two separate certificates: Written and Spoken
- Both exams can be taken together or independently of each other
Written exam:
- Paper-based/computer-based at approved Test Centres or Online with remote, live proctoring
- Duration 3 hours 10 minutes
Spoken exam:
- Face-to-face or Online with a live interlocutor
- Duration 15 minutes
At C1 level, candidates can:
- use language fluently and spontaneously
- engage in discussion clearly and effectively
- produce well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects
- understand long, demanding texts and recognise implicit meanings
- communicate in social, academic of professional environments in English speaking countries
Candidates at C1 level possess the language skills that most employers seek for high calibre English-equipped employees.
*Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe, is widely used to describe levels of language proficiency.
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- Exam
- Price in USD
Two exams available at this level: Written and Spoken. Both exams can be taken together or independently.
Test Centre exams
Take an exam at a LanguageCert approved Test Centre.
Exam format
Paper-based 3 hours & 10 minutes
Reading & Writing
2 hours & 40 minutes uninterrupted
Computer-based 3 hours & 10 minutes
Listening
30 minutes
Reading & Writing
2 hours & 40 minutes uninterrupted
Online 3 hours & 10 minutes
Listening
30 minutes
Reading & Writing
2 hours & 40 minutes uninterrupted
Listening
Part 1: 6 multiple choice questions (each with 3 pptions)
Task:
- Listen twice to 6 unfinished conversations between 2 speakers
- Conversations will include idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, register shifts and use of stress and intonation to indicate attitude
- Choose the appropriate option to complete each conversation
Part 2: 6 questions(each with 3 options)
Task:
- Listen twice to 3 conversations and identify: topic, purpose, context, speakers, gist, relationship between speakers, roles, functions, attitudes, feeling and opinions
- Choose the appropriate option for each question
Part 3: 7 questions (write notes on the message pad based on the information in the recording)
Task:
- Listen twice to a dense, factual lecture, radio broadcast, narrative, presentation, etc. to identify specific information
- Jot down answers consisting of 1 to 5 words
Part 4: 7 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task:
- Listen twice to a discussion to identify gist, examples, fact, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause and effect
- Choose the appropriate response for each question
Reading
Part 1: 5 questions (5 sentences identifying true and false statements about the text)
Task:
- Text includes idiomatic language, narrative or academic ideas, arguments and opinions
- Determine whether the statements are true or false
Part 2: 6 questions (8 sentences to choose from to complete 6 gaps in the text. 2 sentences are provided as distractors)
Task:
- A text with 6 sentences removed, e.g. topic sentence, summarising sentence, developing idea, emphasising a point, opinion, contrast, sequence, forward and back reference, transition to new idea
- Choose the appropriate sentence for each gap in the text
Part 3: 7 questions (4 texts provide the answers to 7 questions)
Task: Read 4 short texts, e.g. email, article, advert, etc. and choose which text answers which question
Part 4: 8 questions (requiring short answers of up to 5 words)
Task:
- A continuous text: narrative, descriptive, explanatory, expository, biographical, instructive
- Provide short answers of up to 5 words for each question
Writing
Part 1: 150 - 200 words (respond appropriately to a given text to produce a formal response for an intended public audience)
Task: Write a letter, report, argument or article using a written, graphic or visual input for the intended reader expressing stance, opinion, justification, argumentation as appropriate
Part 2: 250 - 300 words (produce a personal letter, a narrative composition/ story or a descriptive composition)
Task: Write an informal piece for a specified reader in order to persuade, argue or hypothesise, expressing mood, opinion, justification, evaluation etc.
Exam format
Face-to-face
Speaking
15 minutes
Online
Speaking
15 minutes
Speaking
Part 1
Task: • Give and spell name
• State country of origin
• Answer 5 questions
Part 2
Task: • 2 or 3 situations are presented by the interlocutor
• Candidates are expected to respond to questions and initiate interactions
Part 3
Task: • Hold a short discussion to make a plan, arrange or decide something using written text as the prompt
Part 4
Task: • Candidates are given 30 seconds preparation time
• Talk about a topic provided by the interlocutor for 2 minutes
• Answer follow-up questions
Re-sit an exam with Take2
Candidates who sit an Online exam with remote, live invigilation have the option to purchase Take2, a straightforward and affordable solution to re-sit high-stakes language exams and future-proof against potential set-backs.
Take2 can be purchased by candidates individually or through approved Test Centres and are available up to 15 minutes before the exam start time.
Take2 can be purchased by candidates individually or through approved Test Centres and are available up to 15 minutes before the exam start time.
LanguageCert level check
Candidates can quickly identify which LanguageCert International ESOL exam level they need by taking our level check quiz.
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