languages for everyone

Scheduling external assessments

External assessment dates 2010/11 
 
This table shows the external assessment timetable for Breakthrough, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced Stages of Asset Languages in 2010/11:
 

Session
Deadline for request of Speaking test materials
Final entry deadline (all skills)
Deadline for Speaking tests to be sent to moderator
Testing Window begins (Reading, Writing and Listening)
Testing Window ends
(Reading, Writing and Listening)
Results and certificates issue
(all skills)
Deadline for Post Results Services Requests
Nov 2010
 
  
05/10/10
 
21/10/10
22/11/10
22/11/10
10/12/10
03/02/11
04/03/11
Mar 2011
21/01/11
28/02/11
28/02/11
18/03/11
28/04/11
27/05/11
May 2011
07/03/11
  26/04/11*
26/04/11
13/05/11
23/06/11
22/07/11
June 2011
03/05/11
13/06/11
13/06/11
01/07/11
18/08/11
20/09/11

 *The deadline of 26/04/11 for returning Speaking tests for moderation for the May window is the first day of the summer term for many centres. Centres are advised to send in tests before or during the Easter holidays to meet the deadline.   

When do I get my materials?

Speaking: Speaking test examiner and candidate booklets for the whole year are despatched after receiving centres’ requests by the 05/10/10 deadline above. These materials are normally despatched 4 weeks after receiving a request.  Centres who start using Asset Languages later in the academic year, who wish to make entries for Speaking, should request Speaking test materials as soon as possible.
 
Listening, Reading and Writing: test materials for each series are normally despatched, on the basis of final entries, 7 to 10 days before a testing window begins.
 
The 2010/11 timetable is also available below as a pdf document for you to print out:
 
  
 
 
External assessment duration times
 
The following table shows the duration times of each Asset Languages external assessment by skill and stage:
 

Stage

Skill

Breakthrough

Preliminary

Intermediate

Advanced

Proficiency

Mastery

Listening

Primary:
Approx 20 mins

 

Secondary/Post-16:
Approx 25 mins (including transfer time)

Approx 30 mins (including transfer time)

Approx 30 mins (including transfer time)

Approx 40 mins (including transfer time)

Approx 60 mins (including transfer time)

Approx 60 mins (including transfer time)

Speaking*

Part 1: 3 mins

Part 2: 1 min

Part 1: 4 mins

Part 2: 2 mins

Part 1: 5 mins

Part 2: 3 mins

Part 1: 6 mins

Part 2: 7 mins

Part 1: 7 mins

Part 2: 8 mins

Part 1: 7 mins

Part 2: 8 mins

Reading

30 mins

40 mins

40 mins

50 mins

1 hr 30 mins

1 hr 45 mins

Writing

20 mins

25 mins

40 mins

60 mins

1 hr 30 mins

1 hr 30 mins

 
 
*Parts 1 and 2 of the speaking test for Breakthrough, Preliminary and Intermediate Stages can be conducted separately as only Part 1 should be recorded. The Advanced speaking test should be conducted in one sitting as both parts must be recorded.
 
For details of which languages are available at each stage, see the Availability page.