Key to exam abbreviations used in the recognition section

KET	Key English Test
PET	Preliminary English Test
FCE	First Certificate in English
CAE	Certificate in Advanced English
CPE	Certificate of Proficiency in English
IELTS	International English Language Testing Service
BEC	Business English Certificates
BEC P	Business English Certificate - Preliminary Level
BEC V	Business English Certificate - Vantage Level
BEC H	Business English Certificate - Higher Level

English for Life - An Introduction to Cambridge ESOL Exams
Every year around 1.5 million people take Cambridge exams in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). They take them in order to improve their employment prospects, to seek further education, to prepare themselves to travel or live abroad, or because they want an internationally recognised certificate showing the level they have attained in English.

Cambridge exams are known all over the world and are recognised by universities, employers and national education authorities in many countries. They are run by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) - one of the world's leading providers of exams for learners of English. The exams are linked to an international system of levels for assessing European languages.

Cambridge ESOL exams can be taken by anyone whose first language is not English. They are suitable for learners of all nationalities, whatever their first language and cultural background, and there are exams suitable for learners of almost any age. The range of Cambridge ESOL exams includes specialist exams in Business English and English for University Purposes, as well as tests for young learners and a suite of certificates and diplomas for language teachers.

The exams cover all the four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing. They include a range of tasks which assess candidates' ability to use English, so that in preparing for the exams, candidates develop the skills they need to make practical use of the language in a variety of contexts. Above all, the Cambridge exams assess the candidates' ability to communicate effectively in English.

The recognition of Cambridge ESOL exams
Cambridge ESOL exams are known all over the world and are accepted by universities, employers and national education authorities in many countries as evidence of the required standards in English.

Higher education recognition Universities throughout the world accept Cambridge exams as evidence of an adequate standard of English for admission to courses, or as part of course assessment.

Corporate users
Cambridge ESOL exams provide an independent objective assessment of an employee or potential employee’s ability and are widely used by employers for its company training and assessment as well as for recruitment purposes. The Business English Certificates (BEC) are a suite of exams aimed at individuals who need a certificate to enhance their career. The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is a language assessment service for companies and organisations.