Articles about Assessment

Good communication skills are essential to patient safety, wellbeing and the overall efficiency of busy healthcare organisations. At Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment this is something we’re very interested in as we jointly own the Occupational English Test (OET), a widely used international English language test for healthcare professionals. Earlier this year we commissioned a piece of research that looked into the challenges of communicating clearly to patients, with the leading healthcare accreditation body Joint Commission International (JCI).

There is a big difference between the Cambridge English Qualifications – which focus on a particular level of language ability – and multi-level tests. Dr Evelina Galaczi explains why the Cambridge English approach to level-based testing supports more effective language learning.

Is it really a good idea to ask children to take international English tests? Does it encourage them to learn English, or is it just unnecessary stress? Dr Amy Devine and Dr Maggie Dunlop review the extensive evidence that shows that the Cambridge English Qualifications specifically designed for children have a positive effect on their learning and motivation.

Why do the Cambridge English Qualifications test all four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – rather than allowing candidates to focus on one or two skills? Dr Evelina Galaczi explains why four-skills testing is important for language learners, teachers and employers.