Exam Preparation
Preparing for Cambridge English exams helps students develop the skills they'll need to use English practically in study, work and leisure. Cambridge English exams cover and accurately assess all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing. This means students develop the wide range of skills needed to use English effectively.
The exams are based on typical real-life communication situations familiar to candidates at that level. They encourage candidates to learn and correctly use "living" English, rather than simply improving grammar and building vocabulary.
There are various ways to prepare for Cambridge English exams.
- International schools, colleges and universities in English-speaking countries offer dedicated exam-preparation courses. In the "Language courses for young people and adults - English in the UK" section you can view some offers and book online or at our information centres.
- Your institution may already include Cambridge exam preparation in its curriculum. If not, we recommend contacting your nearest language centre, which may offer such a programme. For example, in Latvia, exam-preparation programmes are offered by the education agency MERIDIAN GROUP's study centre, as well as Pygmalion, IH Satva, Valodu Mācību Centrs, ILS and others.
- Self-study preparation.
The Cambridge ESOL website http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/ has detailed information on each exam, including an exam description, sample tests, and exam-result statistics. Online, by filling in an electronic form, you can purchase past exam papers and video materials to help you prepare. This site also has detailed information for teachers preparing students for exams.
In addition, independent publishers in the UK and elsewhere publish many textbooks, practice tests and other supporting materials. Several hundred textbooks are devoted specifically to preparing for particular exams. You can buy them at your nearest specialist foreign-language bookshop.
Choose the preparation route that suits you and pre-register to sit Cambridge exams at our information centre in Riga at: 33/35 Gertrudes Street, tel. 67317627, e-mail: exams@balticcouncil.org
Residents of Estonia and Lithuania wishing to sit exams in Latvia can register at Baltic Council for International Education information centres at the following addresses:
in Tallinn: Narva mnt. 7, tel.: 6998300, 6998301, tallinn@balticcouncil.org.
in Vilnius: Jogailos g. 4, tel. 5 269 00 56, mob.: 645 72232, lietuva@balticcouncil.org