Changes to Cambridge English: First and First for Schools from 2015
Title: Changes to Cambridge English: First and First for Schools from 2015
Date: Monday 24 February 2014
Time: 14.00 – 15.00 UK time
Overview:
This webinar is aimed at teachers who are preparing candidates, or are going to prepare candidates, for the Cambridge English: First (or First for Schools) exam. It will detail the three key changes that will go live in January 2015:
- The exam will consist of four papers instead of five.
- The new exam will be approximately 30 minutes shorter than previously.
- The exam will feature new tasks and testing focuses in the Writing and Speaking papers.
The presenter will explain these changes, and provide ideas on how to prepare students for the new test.
Presenters:
Jill Buggey, Senior Presenter
Jill is a Senior Presenter for Cambridge Assessment English and has presented at various events for Cambridge, including IATEFL.
She is the Professional Support Leader for the Speaking Tests in the UK, which means she is responsible for all the UK Speaking examiners for the whole range of General English and Business Exams.
She is also a Senior Speaking and Writing examiner. Her main interests are in Speaking and Writing assessment and she has participated in various research projects on assessing these skills.
Apart from working as a consultant for Cambridge English, Jill is Director of Studies for a small English language training company in Cambridge.
She has been an English teacher in the UK, Greece and France and has a degree in European Studies and a post-graduate certificate in education.
Hugh Bateman, Cambridge Assessment English
Hugh recently assumed responsibility for Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET) and Cambridge English: First (FCE), and now manages the production, marking, analysis, grading, and regular reviewing and updating of paper-based and computer-based versions of these exams.
In addition, he is responsible for the organisation’s commissioning of assessment services, such as examining and item writing. Hugh taught English for general and specific purposes in a number of countries before joining Cambridge English in 1993.
Over the years his responsibilities have included the Cambridge English: Business (BEC),
ESOL Skills for Life, Cambridge English: Legal and Cambridge English: Financial.
Hugh holds a PGCE in Economics and Business Studies and an MA in Applied Linguistics.