Our organisation
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) is a not-for-profit organisation. It has its headquarters in the historic city of Cambridge, and also has offices in Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, USA and Vietnam.
Cambridge ESOL’s commitment to excellence is supported by 300 permanent staff around the world, plus 10,000 trained examiners.
Cambridge ESOL is part of Cambridge Assessment, Europe’s largest assessment agency. Cambridge Assessment is the trading name of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). UCLES was established in 1858 and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2008.
Cambridge Assessment provides exams and tests covering a huge range of subjects and levels. More than eight million are taken every year, in over 150 countries. All are respected for their quality, fairness and positive educational impact. They are backed by high levels of support for teachers and a world-class programme of research and development.
Read the Cambridge ESOL Customer Charter (PDF 109Kb), which has information on the service we offer to our centres, to teachers and to the end candidate.
ALTE
Cambridge ESOL was a founder member of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). The organisation now has 31 members representing 26 languages.and works closely with testing organisations, schools and academics throughout the world to support the development of language testing in theory and practice.
The Council of Europe
Cambridge ESOL worked closely with the Council of Europe in the developing of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This standard has become an international benchmark for language ability. Cambridge ESOL is now one of the key members of an important new project which will further build on this framework, called English Profile.
Cambridge ESOL’s systems and processes for designing, developing and delivering examinations and assessment services are certified as meeting the internationally recognised ISO 9001:2000 standard for quality management.
