The ECCE (Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English) is a standardized test that allows language learners to obtain an English proficiency certificate of advanced intermediate level. It is very popular among top educational institutions in Latin America and Europe, where B2 level proficiency is required to follow most degree programs. It has a network of Authorized Test Centers, and has been in operation for over three decades. ECCE was instituted by the University of Michigan in the United States, and is also recognized by the Cambridge English network, as an alternative to their B2 certification.
The ECCE test has four sections, corresponding to the main skills tested by other standardized English proficiency tests: Writing, Listening, Reading, and Speaking. It is an offline paper-based test that is offered two times a year; it takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete. The score is reported on a scale from 0 to 1,000, with a score of 840 being awarded a Certificate of Competency with Honors.
| Exam Name | ECCE (Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English) |
| Governing Organization | University of Michigan and Cambridge Assessment English |
| Official Website | https://michiganassessment.org/michigan-tests/ecce/ |
| Registration Date | (for exam date May 20, 2024) February 29, 2024 |
| Registration Fee | 178 Euros (in Europe) |
| Mode of Exam | Pen and paper |
| Accepted in | Multiple Universities across the world |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year (in May and December) |
| Exam Duration | 165 minutes |
| Total Questions | 110 MCQs + 5 Tasks |
The method of registration for the ECCE varies according to the local organization which administers the test.
Any individual may register for and attempt the ECCE, regardless of religion, gender, or nationality. There is also no explicit age limit defined; however, children below the age of 13 will need to provide a certificate of consent from their legal guardians. The age of most test takers is within two years of twenty, as it is mainly used by university applicants and job seekers.
The ECCE examination has four sections, one each corresponding to the four main skills required to master English at a high-intermediate level. Two of the sections (Reading and Listening) have only multiple choice questions, whereas the remaining two have a series of tasks to be completed. The Writing and Speaking sections are judged as a whole.
| Sections | Time (Minutes) | Questions/Tasks |
| Writing | 30 | 1 |
| Listening | 45 | 45 |
| Reading | 75 | 65 |
| Speaking | 15 | 4 |
| Total | 165 | 115 |
The Speaking section may also be scheduled before the Writing section; candidates will only know the order on the day of the test.
The four sections of the ECCE test have their passages drawn from real life situations, similar to those in a newspaper or magazine article.
There is one half-hour task in the ECCE Writing Section. Candidates may either choose to write an email/letter, or a descriptive essay. In both cases, a topic is given to test takers, and they must be able to take a stand and support it with logical arguments. Candidates must read the outline given to them, to ensure that they cover all points. Missing out any aspect of the question will lead to a lower score.
There are three skills tested during the ECCE Listening Paper. The first is the ability to understand the overall theme of the audio recording. The second is the skill of remembering and reproducing facts stated during the speech. Finally, the ability to make logical deductions based on material covered in the passage is an important aspect of overall success. There are two kinds of audio passages: short conversations and medium-length speeches. A total of 45 multiple choice questions are to be answered in 45 minutes. While practicing, test takers should use sample passages to improve their note taking and listening capabilities.
There are four sections within the ECCE Reading Paper, two of which are similar to Reading Comprehension assignments in the TOEFL or IELTS, with additional Grammar and Vocabulary sections. All questions are multiple choice, and the passages are usually drawn from daily life, and are based on general items of topical interest. To prepare for this section, candidates must improve their reading speed and knowledge of common grammatical errors. They can also download and memorize B2 word lists from the Cambridge English website.
There are four verbal assignments that make up the ECCE Speaking Section. Each lasts approximately 3-4 minutes, and the conversation prompts become more complex as the test progresses. They are similar to real life situations, and candidates may have to present their sides of an argument, make recommendations to a friend, or talk about a topic at length. While preparing, test takers should focus on speaking slowly and confidently, and improve their real time planning skills. Only one examiner is present during this phase, and candidates are given a few moments to think of key points to cover before each of the four stages of the test.
The ECCE exam is held two times every year, in May and December. The registration closes approximately 80 days before the test date. Therefore, candidates must submit their applications well in advance so that they do not miss the deadline, as any delay will mean that they must wait six months for the next test date. For this reason, most test takers prefer to take the test in the pre-final year of their school or undergraduate studies, so that they have ample time to receive and submit their scores.
| ECCE Test Date | Last Date for Registration | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration |
| December 20, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2023 |
| May 20, 2024 | February 29, 2024 | February 29, 2024 |
There are 225 ECCE test centers in more than 25 countries. However, there is no test center in India. Indian citizens who wish to obtain the ECCE certificate of B2 Level Proficiency usually prefer to travel to the nearest exam venue, in the United Arab Emirates.
The ECCE exam fees vary from country to country. This is because of the fluctuating value of local currencies and the associated administrative costs. In Europe, where the exam is very popular, the test fee is approximately 180 Euros in most countries.
| Service | ECCE Exam Fees (sample; for Greece) |
| Registration Fee | 178 Euros |
The University of Michigan website has full length ECCE sample papers that can be downloaded and attempted. The Reading and Listening sections also have answer keys; these can be used to check the overall score in those sections. The Writing and Speaking sections have only questions and sample answers; candidates will need to have a mentor or coach evaluate their submissions for these sample sections. The University also publishes “Preparing Students” online guide books to help educators who train students for success in the ECCE.
The ECCE Writing and Speaking sections have helpful resources on the ECCE website. Sample essays and speeches are accompanied by detailed notes and commentary; candidates can use these to gain insights into common errors, and identify simple interventions that can improve their overall score.
Three of the four ECCE sections are administered together: Writing, Listening, and Reading. This block takes 2.5 hours to complete, and candidates must fill up the OMR sheet given to them, or write down the essays in the case of the Writing section. The Speaking section is held separately from the other three. It is usually scheduled either just before or after the Writing test.
Students who take the ECCE can expect to be given a score ranging from 0 to 1,000, depending on their performance. If the score is less than 650, no certificate will be awarded. If the score is between 650 and 840, the candidate will achieve a Certificate of Competence. Any score above 840 will be rewarded with a Certificate of Competence with Honors. Therefore, the minimum passing mark to achieve a certificate is 650 out of 1,000. There is no direct conversion of number of correct answers to the final score; it is a scaled conversion that reflects the percentile performance.
The ECCE test gives a certification of B2 level proficiency in English, which means that the candidate has an upper intermediate standard of fluency. Therefore, the test taker can understand the key themes in a complex text passage or narrative speech, and can write reasonably error-free paragraphs. This corresponds to a score of 160-179 in the CAE or Cambridge C1 test, in which case the candidate will be given a similar B2 level certificate. Therefore, the ECCE is much easier, overall, than both the CAE and CPE.
Most of the 225 ECCE test centers are located in Latin America or Europe, reflecting the popularity of B2 English proficiency requirements in the top universities in those areas. However, Asia has five test centers as well, with one each in Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. Most Indian ECCE test takers end up choosing one of these, with a few choosing to attempt the exam in one of the two US test centers in Miami and Orlando.
The B2 level of English proficiency, as defined by the European CEFR, implies that the candidate has a high-intermediate level of language knowledge. This means that the test taker can understand all the primary ideas within a complex passage. He/she can easily interact with native English speakers without any problems. The candidate can also write reasonably clearly, and ensure that the main themes of a piece of writing are clearly communicated to the other party. Therefore, he/she has all the skills required to complete a course taught in English in any country where native fluency is not required. All the tasks in the test are created to simulate real life situations.
There are two kinds of audio files played during the Listening Section of the ECCE: short conversations and topical speeches. The short audios are played only once each, and candidates must listen carefully so as not to miss any detail. The longer speeches are played twice. Most test takers choose to take notes during one of the occasions, and listen carefully to understand overarching themes during the second playthrough. Candidates must hone their Listening skills by using the practice tests given by the University of Michigan.
