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Certificates

EXTENDED CERTIFICATION

Extended certification was introduced by Cambridge ESOL as a means of recognising candidate performance at the CEFR levels above and below that at which an exam is set.

Candidates who perform exceptionally well and receive a grade A in their exam (or Pass with Merit in a PET exam) will have their performance at the CEFR level above that exam noted on their certificate e.g. a candidate who receives a grade A in the FCE exam will receive a First Certificate in English certificate stating that ability was demonstrated at the C1 Level.

Candidates who do not pass their exam, but perform at the CEFR level below, receive a certificate recognising this e.g. an FCE candidate who receives a score between 45 and 59 will receive a Cambridge English certificate stating that ability was demonstrated at the B1 Level.

First introduced in 2009 for the PET exam, extended certification has been applied to the full suite of exams in 2011. For further information on the scheme and score cut-off points for each exam, please visit the results section of the exam listings on the Cambridge ESOL website 

 

DESPATCH OF CERTIFICATES

Here is an overview of the procedure:

STEP 1 All candidates are issued with an online Statement of Results about six weeks after sitting the exam.

STEP 2 The certificates for successful candidates are received by us approximately six weeks later. We despatch them to schools and individual candidates by registered mail or courier, and ask you to fax/email/post back a sheet to confirm their receipt.

STEP 3 (For schools only) You despatch the certificates to each of your students. Under the agreement on our block entry form, you undertake to do this by secure means (registered mail or courier). Students should confirm to you that they have received their certificate.

IMPORTANT
If a certificate is lost in the post (this needs to be supported by appropriate documentation showing how and when it was despatched) then Cambridge will replace the certificate for a fee. They will only do this after 6 months have passed to allow for a full search to be made, and in case the original is found. However, certificates not received by the candidate will only be replaced up to 12 months after the despatch of the original. After this time, the candidate may apply for a Certifying Statement.

Certificates damaged in transit to the candidate will be replaced for a fee, provided that the original is returned to Cambridge within 6 months of sitting the exam. If your certificate is damaged in transit, please email our office cambridge@cambridgeexams.com.au.

Certificates lost by the candidate will not be replaced. Candidates must apply direct to Cambridge for a Certifying Statement, for which there is a fee. Certificates damaged in fire or floods will be replaced for a fee, providing an incident report/copy of insurance document can be provided. In such cases, the student should apply direct to Cambridge.

PROCEDURES CHECKLIST FOR SCHOOLS

DO
• check with the students the week before the exams that the addresses held on file are correct
• tell your students when they should expect to receive their certificate
• tell your students to let you know if they don’t receive their certificate by this time
• check that you have received the correct number of certificates from us for your successful students and fax/email/post back our letter
• send each certificate by registered mail to the student
• introduce a system for confirming that the student has received the certificate (Australia Post offers a ‘signed for’ service)
• inform your agents of the Cambridge regulations

DON’T
• send the certificates by ordinary mail
• send the certificates to your agents if you are not positive they can fulfill this secure despatch arrangement
• wait for months before contacting us if you know a certificate has been lost
• give the student the option to choose the means of despatch from Australia
• file the certificates away for ‘safe keeping’

Understandably, there is a cost to doing this efficiently, but it is even more costly in the long run if the students do not receive their certificates. Currently an overseas registered C4 envelope is approximately AU$25 which represents a small component of the overall cost of a Cambridge program.

REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES 

Cambridge ESOL will not readily replace certificates. If all criteria are met (proof of despatch available, six months have passed etc) and it is deemed appropriate, Cambridge ESOL will replace a certificate for a fee.
This applies to certificates:
  • lost in transit
  • damaged in transit
  • requiring a name amendment