The Certificate of Proficiency in English is the highest level that a non-native speaker can achieve in the English language. It is a qualification that enjoys the highest level of recognition worldwide and that few students currently hold in our country, although it is more widely implemented in Europe and Asia.
The most common route to this certificate is after having obtained the CAE or Advanced C1, the level below Proficiency. It is practically impossible to prepare for a C2 if you do not have a B2 or C1 certificate, because passing it is not achieved solely by reaching the level itself, but also by knowing the different exam papers, how they work, and the strategy that must be followed to pass all of them.
Level C2 is synonymous with an extensive and practically absolute command of the language and, in some cases, it is a personal challenge and proof that a non-native English speaker can achieve an incredibly high level of mastery and reach the very top of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. With this level of command, you will be able to deal with complex literary and journalistic texts and fully understand all the ideas.
You will also be able to hold conversations on complex topics and feel comfortable writing and expressing yourself in English on any subject or issue. In a job interview in any country in the world, you will have the highest priority when it comes to English proficiency, as not many people reach this level, sometimes due to lack of effort, and sometimes because they rely on lower qualifications or levels.
If you know that you have a natural aptitude for English and have reached a B2/C1 level without too much difficulty, it is worth making a bit more effort and enjoying the process of preparing for Proficiency. You will learn many things that you have not previously studied in such depth, acquire great vocabulary fluency in many different fields, and achieve a major milestone.
At Novacadèmia we have all the necessary tools. Many of our teachers are Proficiency holders, they have already been through this process, and no one is better suited than they are to help you achieve it as well.
In addition, we receive continuous training on the exam, the changes or modifications it undergoes, and we learn to master the different materials that will help you achieve it.
To pass the CPE C2 level, it is necessary to have very well-balanced English across its different skills, and especially a high technical command of the language. Therefore, certifying this level is proof of the abilities acquired at all levels, but especially at C1 level. These are the five skills that are learned and certified:
- Use of English: It is equivalent to the use of grammar within a context, never as a mechanical exercise. It consists of exam tasks with open-ended and closed-answer questions.
- Reading: It consists of interpreting different types of texts and being able to respond appropriately to the comprehension questions provided. All exam tasks are closed-answer.
- Writing: Through two written productions of between 220 and 260 words each, the student must convince the examiners that they have technical competence in different aspects of the language.
- Listening:The student must listen to and interpret different English accents in a variety of contexts and formats. It consists of exam tasks with open-ended and closed-answer questions.
- Speaking: Through different formats, the examiner will test our English using a range of everyday topics. Grammar, vocabulary, the consistency of what is expressed, and the organisation of information are assessed.
The duration of the exam is approximately 5.5 hours, with different breaks. Obtaining an Advanced English certificate is not difficult if you have an expert teacher by your side who monitors your performance and progress and corrects the aspects that need improvement.
In addition to all the opportunities this certificate can open up for you, one of the aspects our students value most is the fact that they gain maximum autonomy in English communication. Therefore, you should also bear in mind that your effort not only provides you with an official certificate at an advanced level, but also transforms your English in a way you have never experienced before.
From a linguistic point of view, we can say that a student who has achieved a C2 level is a student who has absolute command of the language, has fully internalised it, and is able to mentally access all the resources they have stored in real time, without thinking in their mother tongue. In addition, they are an ambitious person who enjoys learning languages and aspires to be able to choose, with relative ease, the type of job they want to pursue.
Preparation for the C2 exam at NOVACADÈMIA is carried out using exclusively official materials, familiarising students with the usual exam topics and, especially, with the type of questions and answers they will encounter.
This level is usually completed over two academic years from September to June, or over one academic year from September to June followed by an intensive course in July. In most cases, the factor that determines how long a student needs before sitting the C2 exam is related to the student’s own abilities, the extra time they devote to the language outside the classroom, and their initial level of English.
NOVACADÈMIA administers an official placement test and conducts a personal interview before the start of the course, which allows us to group students by level rather than by age in the case of young people and adults. At the end of the course, a comprehensive final level test is carried out, enabling us to analyse and verify your progress and your performance level within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
We also provide a professional advisory service regarding official CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH exams, and we have official materials to practise the different parts and tasks of the CPE C2 exam before you sit it officially.
If you would like more information about this level and the timetables, you can contact us here.
SCHEDULE CALDES
SCHEDULE BARCELONA
