At Pimlico Academy we teach a broad and diverse spectrum of ESOL learning programmes.It has never been more essential to learn the world’s most important language and there has never been a better time than now to learn it at Pimlico Academy. English is not just another language. It is the language of international business and commerce, science and technology, air travel and much more besides. A recognized English language qualification can significantly enhance your employment prospects. At Pimlico Academy you will gain that all-important recognized English language qualification. The success of our teaching is founded on a tried and trusted mixture of up-to-the-minute methodology and traditional educational values.

KET is an elementary level exam, testing your ability to deal with basic written and spoken communications. It uses language from real life situations and covers the four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. It provides an assessment of practical skills, and encourages the development of abilities that can be used while travelling, as well as in study and working situations. Although the KET exam is at a basic level, it helps you to find out your strengths and weaknesses. You can then plan further study and go on to take PET (Preliminary English Test) and the other Cambridge ESOL exams. If you are successful, you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you have performed in each of the three papers

PET is an intermediate level exam, testing your ability to cope with everyday written and spoken communications. It is the second level Cambridge ESOL exam. It is an intermediate level exam, at Level B1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you can deal with everyday written and spoken communications (e.g. read simple textbooks and articles, write simple personal letters, make notes during a meeting), then this is the exam for you.

Studying for PET is a popular way to improve your language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. PET covers the four main language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking, using material from real life situations. It provides evidence of practical skills, and indicates sufficient ability to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs, and in many industries, such as tourism, where contact with English speakers is required.

If you are successful, you will receive a certificate from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The certificate is recognised by employers in many countries, and recognised by universities in some countries as an initial qualification in English.

You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you have performed in each of the three papers.

FCE is an upper intermediate level exam - ideal if you can deal confidently with a range of written and spoken communications. It is an intermediate level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level B2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Choose FCE if your knowledge of English is adequate for many practical everyday purposes, including business and study.

To be successful, you will have a wide grasp of vocabulary, and be able to construct an argument and use appropriate communication styles for a variety of situations. You also need to show an awareness of register and of the conventions of politeness and degrees of formality as they are expressed through language. FCE is ideal if you want to work or study abroad or to develop a career that requires language skills (e.g. business, medicine, engineering). FCE indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs in many industries, in particular tourism, where contact with English speakers is required. Successful candidates have the ability to deal with routine letters and telephone enquiries, and to cope with some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles.

FCE is also useful preparation if you are working towards higher-level exams, such as CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English).

On passing the exam you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, which is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world.

You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each of the five papers.

CAE is an advanced exam - if you can communicate with confidence in English for work or study purposes, this is the exam for you. It is the second highest level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Choose CAE if you are reaching a standard of English that is adequate for most purposes, including social and professional situations, and in higher education.

Although the level of language skills required is not as high as for CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English), CAE recognises the ability to communicate with confidence in English and deal with most aspects of everyday life.

Studying for CAE helps you to improve your language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. The exams are based on realistic tasks, and indicate the ability to use the language in practical situations. If you are successful, you will be able to participate in meetings and discussions, expressing opinions clearly, and be able to understand and produce texts of various types, including business letters and reports. You will also be more than capable of following university courses taught in English.

On passing the exam, you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Your CAE certificate is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world.

You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each of the five papers.

CPE is a very advanced level exam - perfect if you have achieved a high level of language skills and are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context. It is the highest level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level C2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context and are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker, then this is the exam for you.

While studying for CPE you will be improving your language skills and learning to use them in a wide range of contexts. Because many aspects of the exams are based on realistic tasks, a CPE certificate shows that you have progressed beyond a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and can actually use the language in real contexts.

CPE is ideal if you want to work or study abroad, or to develop a career that requires language skills (e.g. business, medicine, engineering). On passing the exam, you'll receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Your CPE certificate is recognised by thousands of universities and employers throughout the world.

You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each paper.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an internationally owned and globally recognised direct English language assessment of the highest quality and integrity readily available throughout the world.

IELTS is a highly dependable, practical and valid English language assessment primarily used by those seeking international education, professional recognition, benchmarking to international standards and global mobility.

IELTS is owned, developed and delivered through the partnership of the British Council, IDP, IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

IELTS is specified as fulfilling English language requirements for entry to academic courses by the majority of institutions of Further and Higher Education in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom and currently by over 380 universities and colleges in the USA. It is also used by a number of professional bodies and governments world-wide, including the Ministry of Defence and the General Medical Council in the UK, the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, the Medical Council of Ireland, the New Zealand Immigration Service, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools in the USA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

IELTS has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in the UK as part of the UK National Qualifications Framework.

Cambridge ESOL exams are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment, published by the Council of Europe. In fact they are the only certificated exams referred to in the Framework document as specifically linked to it by a long-term research project.

Qualifications are plotted against six clearly defined levels. This makes it easy for anyone involved in language teaching and testing (learners, teachers, teacher trainers etc.) to see the level of different qualifications. It also means that employers and educational institutions can easily compare qualifications and see how they relate to exams they already know in their own country.

Cambridge ESOL is a member of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe), a group of leading language testing organisations in Europe. In order to make the Common European Framework easy to understand, ALTE members have developed a series of 'Can Do' statements for each of the levels. These statements describe what language users can typically do with the language at different levels and in different contexts (social & tourist, work, study).

Increasing number of students are opting to take the IELTS, rather than the more traditional Cambridge Main Suite ESOL examinations. However, many students are confused about how an IELTS score relates to the Cambridge Main Suite ESOL examinations. By using the table below a student can first relate his/her band score to the Common European Framework, and then go the first table and relate it to the various Cambridge Suite ESOL examinations.

The chart below illustrates how the IELTS band scores map onto the Common European Framework (CEF) levels.

This mapping is based upon a growing body of research, combined with long established experience of test use within education and society, as well as feedback from a range of test stakeholders regarding the uses of test results for particular purposes. Please note that the IELTS band scores referred to in both tables are the overall scores and not the individual module scores.

The table below indicates the IELTS band scores we would expect to be achieved at a particular CEF level.