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:
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Leads to two separate certificates: Written and Spoken
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Both exams can be taken together or independently of each other
Written exam:
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Paper-based/computer-based at approved Test Centres or Online with remote, live proctoring
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Duration 3 hours 10 minutes
Spoken exam:
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Face-to-face or Online with a live interlocutor
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Duration 15 minutes
At C1 level, candidates can:
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use language fluently and spontaneously
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engage in discussion clearly and effectively
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produce well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects
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understand long, demanding texts and recognise implicit meanings
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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.
Key features
Exam Level
Exam Format
Pass Mark
Skills
Grade Boundaries
C1
Written (Paper-based, Computer-based or Online with live proctoring)
Spoken (Face-to-face or Online with live interlocutor)
Written: 50% (75/150)
Spoken: 50% (25/50)
Written (Listening, Reading, Writing)
Spoken (Speaking)
Candidate are awarded High Pass, Pass or Fail
High Pass
101-150/150 (Written)
38-50/50 (Spoken)
Pass
75-100/150 (Written)
25-37/50 (Spoken)
Fail
0-74/150 (Written)
0-24/50 (Spoken)
Exam format
Listening: 30 minutes
Reading & Writing: 160 minutes
Speaking: 15 minutes
LISTENING
Part 1: 6 multiple choice questions (each with 3 pptions)
Task:
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Listen twice to 6 unfinished conversations between 2 speakers
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Conversations will include idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, register shifts and use of stress and intonation to indicate attitude
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Choose the appropriate option to complete each conversation
Part 2: 6 questions(each with 3 options)
Task:
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Listen twice to 3 conversations and identify: topic, purpose, context, speakers, gist, relationship between speakers, roles, functions, attitudes, feeling and opinions
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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:
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Listen twice to a dense, factual lecture, radio broadcast, narrative, presentation, etc. to identify specific information
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Jot down answers consisting of 1 to 5 words
Part 4: 7 multiple choice questions (each with 3 options)
Task:
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Listen twice to a discussion to identify gist, examples, fact, opinion, contrast, purpose, key ideas, attitude, cause and effect
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Choose the appropriate response for each question
READING
Part 1: 5 questions (5 sentences identifying true and false statements about the text)
Task:
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Text includes idiomatic language, narrative or academic ideas, arguments and opinions
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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:
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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
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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:
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A continuous text: narrative, descriptive, explanatory, expository, biographical, instructive
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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.
SPEAKING
Part 1:
Task:
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Give and spell name
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State country of origin
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Answer 5 questions
Part 2:
Task:
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2 or 3 situations are presented by the interlocutor
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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:
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Candidates are given 30 seconds preparation time
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Talk about a topic provided by the interlocutor for 2 minute
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Answer follow-up questions