The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, is home to the ESOL department. The department is in charge of administering the Cambridge Proficiency in English exam, which was introduced in 1913. Each year, more than 50,000 students take the exam to test their English language abilities. The CPE is designed for people who will use English for study or professional purposes, according to the University of Cambridge.
The Cambridge ESOL program offers five levels of English examinations, with the CPE considered to be the advanced fifth level. According to the Cambridge ESOL handbook, this advanced level means students will have "fully operational command of the language at a high level in most situations, e.g., can argue a case confidently, justifying and making points persuasively." Students or professionals should take the CPE if they can use the language to advise or talk about complex or sensitive issues, and can understand documents, correspondents and reports.
By passing the CPE, students and professionals can demonstrate to universities or prospective employers they are proficient in the English language. Once the exam is passed, the certificate is valid for life. According to the University of Cambridge, the CPE is recognized and used around the world as proof of proficiency in English. The CPE exam is offered at more than 2,000 testing centers throughout the world every year.
The CPE exam is made up of five parts: reading, writing, use of English, listening and speaking. In the reading section, students will answer multiple-choice questions and fill in a gapped text. For the writing section, students have a choice of writing letters, essays, reviews or reports. The use of English paper will test vocabulary and grammar. Listening consists of multiple-choice, matching and sentence completion. The speaking section involves a conversation with the test administrator and an in-depth discussion. Each paper is worth 20 percent of the final grade. A passing grade consists of an "A", "B" or "C," or at least 60 percent.
Before taking the CPE exam, students should prepare for the exam for at least three to four months. Many universities and language schools offer courses to help students improve their English and prepare for the exam. As with other standardized tests, such as the SATs, there are many books and study aids available for purchase on the Internet or in bookstores. Students can also prepare with the use of study software.