University of Cambridge ESOL
Main suite exams:
PET/KET/FCE - 'First'/CAE/CPE
Business English exams
BEC Preliminary, Vantage, Higher
Young learner exams
Starters. Movers and Flyers

IELTS
International English Language Testing System

New!
National Seminar Programme -
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations for teachers and EFL professionals

University of Cambridge ESOL: Main Suite exams

The British Council's Examination Service endeavours to encourage high standards in English Language Teaching through the administration of the University of Cambridge's Examinations of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The University of Cambridge exams have been available in Portugal for over sixty years and are internationally recognised by employers and institutions. There is information in Portuguese on their site:

KET: Key English Test
PET: Preliminary English Test
FCE: First Certificate in English
CAE: Certificate in Advanced English
CPE: Certificate of Proficiency in English
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These examinations are normally held twice a year in June and December (and also March for FCE) at over twenty venues ranging from the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira to Guimarães and Braga in the North of Portugal and the Algarve in the South. In 2000 over 8000 candidates enrolled for the examinations.

The Business English Certificates are a suite of three examinations - BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage, BEC Higher - designed to test English language ability used in the context of business. They are suitable for adults (aged 16 and over) who are either preparing for a career in business or already in work.

BEC Preliminary
BEC Vantage
BEC Higher
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More information on BEC exams

These are new tests from Cambridge ESOL for young learners of English between seven and twelve years old.

The tests are colourful and fun, and test all the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. All children taking one of the tests receive a certificate award from Cambridge showing how well they did in each part.

More information on these exams
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To cater for schools that have smaller number of candidates who would like to do the test, we will also be running Cambridge Young Learner English Test (CYLET) sessions at British Council Centres. For further information, please contact your local YL Exams Co-ordinator: Simona Demuro in Lisbon, Lucy Bravo in Oporto, or Isabel Alfaiate in Coimbra.

IELTS tests the complete range of English language skills which students need when studying or training in the medium of English. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions. American academic institutions are increasingly accepting IELTS for admissions purposes.

IELTS is jointly managed by The British Council, University of Cambridge's Examinations of English for Speakers of Other Languages (Cambridge ESOL), IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia.

For more information about this test of Academic English, visit the IELTS web site. Or download the IELTS handbook

Between exam enrolment dates and the day of the exam, the British Council runs IELTS Preparation courses. The course builds confidence by familiarising candidates with the technicalities of the exam. For more information on these courses, please phone Registry in Lisbon or Porto:
Lisbon - 21 321 45 92
Porto - 22 207 30 60

IELTS
Cambridge ESOL
Young Learners
All other exams
Isabel.Alfaiate
@pt.britishcouncil.org
Examinations Officer
T (+351) 239 853 700

IELTS
Young Learners
All other exams
Paula.Oliveira
@pt.britishcouncil.org
Assistant Examinations Officer
T (+351) 21 321 45 12

IELTS
Cambridge ESOL and other exams
Rita.Alda
@pt.britishcouncil.org
Examinations Officer
T (+351) 22 207 30 60

Young learners
Lucy.Bravo
@pt.britishcouncil.org
Examinations Marketing Manager

T (+351) 22 207 30 60