• Before joining ECP, students sit an English placement test and are set according to their current level of English.
• All students who join us in Year 1 have the possibility of progressing to study IB English A.
• Each set studies literacy and language skills, literature and textual analysis and the grammar and vocabulary appropriate to their current level of English.

• Students can be moved to a different set at any time in the school year.
• To decide if a change of set is in the best interests of the student, the class teacher, in consultation with colleagues, will assess the student’s ability across all language skills and evaluate their learning needs.

• In Year 4 all students have the opportunity to sit external English exams.
• 4-1 sit IGCSE English First Language.
• 4-2 sit either IGCSE or CAE (Cambridge Advanced English)
• 4-3 sit CAE
• 4-4 sit either CAE or FCE

IGCSE is the international equivalent of the English 1st language exam that school students take in England and Wales at the age of 16. Cambridge CAE tests students to C1 and C2 levels on the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR).
An A grade at FCE is equivalent to a pass at CAE.

• IB English A courses are English first language and focus on textual analysis.
• IB English B is a second language course and focuses on developing language knowledge and skills.
• Students can not take IB English B after sitting IGCSE English 1st Language. They must continue to IB English A.
• Students usually need C1 level (FCE grade A or CAE pass) to continue to English A.
• For students who are planning to study a technical subject at university, IB English B may be an appropriate option for IB.