The Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) is a 4-skill test of English competency at the high-intermediate (B2 CEFR) level. It is a secure exam administered by Authorized Test Centers worldwide. The ECCE is used for educational and professional purposes by educational institutions, government agencies, and businesses. An ECCE certificate is valid for life.
Test Takers
Secondary – adult
Level
High intermediate (CEFR B2)
Skills Tested
Writing, listening, reading, and speaking
Test Duration
2 hours 45 minutes
Format
Paper
Test Dates
May and December
ECCE Test Format
The test is divided into four sections:
The writing, listening, and reading sections are administered together in a single sitting in the order listed. Writing requires a response to one of two options. Listening and reading questions are multiple-choice and have one correct answer. The speaking section is given separately and may be scheduled either before or after the written test.
Writing
The ECCE Writing Section offers test takers a choice of two options: an email/letter or an essay. Test takers write one response presenting and supporting their opinion.
For the email/letter, a situation and a formal purpose for writing are briefly described, followed by instructions on what to write. For the essay, a proposal or statement is provided, followed by instructions on what to write.
1 task
30 minutes
Listening
Note-taking is allowed during the listening section but not required.
The ECCE Listening Section reflects language used in real-life situations. The content covers a variety of listening skills:
- Global skills that test comprehension of the entire stimulus, such as the main idea
- Local skills that test a part of the stimulus, such as a detail mentioned by the speaker
- Inferential skills that test comprehension of something that is not explicitly stated in the stimulus, such as drawing a conclusion
The listening section is scored automatically by computer.
Part 1
Short conversations are each followed by a question. The three answer choices are shown as pictures. Each conversation is played once.
25 questions
Part 2
Single speakers deliver four short talks on different topics, followed by five questions each. Each talk is played twice.
20 questions
Total questions: 45
Time: 45 minutes
Reading
The ECCE Reading Section includes grammar, vocabulary, and reading parts.
ECCE grammar and vocabulary items reflect language used in real-life situations. Grammar items consist of one or two sentences containing a blank. From four words or phrases, test takers select the one that is grammatically correct. Vocabulary items consist of one sentence containing a blank. From four words or phrases, test takers select the one that has the correct meaning, collocation, or syntactic rules for the sentence.
The ECCE Reading Section covers a variety of global, local, and inferential reading skills. Part 1 features two informational reading passages of academic or general interest, each followed by multiple-choice questions. Part 2 includes two sets of four thematically related passages based on texts found in real life, such as advertisements, emails, letters, and magazine articles. Each set in Part 2 is followed by twelve multiple-choice questions.
Grammar
An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of four words or phrases to complete it.
15 questions
Vocabulary
An incomplete sentence is followed by a choice of four words or phrases to complete it.
14 questions
Total questions: 65
Time: 75 minutes
Reading Part 1
Two reading passages are each followed by six comprehension questions.
12 questions (2 sets)
Reading Part 2
Two sets of four thematically related passages are each followed by twelve questions.
24 questions (2 sets)
Speaking
The ECCE Speaking Section lets test takers demonstrate their ability to ask and answer questions, provide suggestions or recommendations, present and justify a decision, and discuss a topic in detail. The four stages of the test build on each other; as the test progresses, the linguistic and interactional demands become increasingly more challenging.
The test taker participates in a structured, multistage task with one examiner.
4 stages
15 minutes
Test Scoring and Results
Test Scoring, Score Report, and Certificate
- Michigan Language Assessment uses scoring models to ensure that test scores are comparable across different administrations and fair to all test takers.
- The listening and reading sections of the ECCE are scored by computer at Michigan Language Assessment. Each correct answer adds to the final score for its section; points are not deducted for wrong answers.
- The speaking and writing sections are rated using scoring criteria established by Michigan Language Assessment. (See the ECCE Speaking and ECCE Writing rating scales.) The speaking section is conducted and assessed by a certified speaking examiner, and the writing section is assessed by at least two certified raters.
- A scaled score, ranging from 0 to 1,000, is reported for each section of the test and also averaged to produce an overall score. ECCE test takers who achieve an overall score of 650 or higher are awarded a Certificate of Competency, and those who achieve an overall score of 840 or higher on all sections of the test are awarded a Certificate of Competency with Honors.
Interpreting and Using Test Results
The ECCE is aimed at the high intermediate (B2) level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Language users at this competency level can:
- Understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization
- Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party
- Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options (Council of Europe, 2001: 24)
The ECCE estimates the test taker’s true competency by approximating the kinds of tasks that may be encountered in real life. Temporary factors, such as fatigue, anxiety, or illness, may affect exam results.
More Information
Practice for the Exam
Download the full-length sample test to practice all four sections of the exam.
Prepare for the Writing Section
Download our resource packet designed for students studying independently and teachers creating lesson plans.
ECCE Success Stories
How can the ECCE change your life? Read about our test takers and how they’ve benefited from their international certification.