INTERNAL ACCREDITATION SYSTEM (SAI - SISTEMA ACREDITACIÓN INTERNA)

THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE B2 ENGLISH TEST, ON THURSDAY 5^th DECEMBER 2019, FOR UPM STUDENTS WHO HAVE PRE-REGISTERED, WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE (1ST CALL OF THE 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR).

THE PRE-REGISTRATION PERIOD STARTS ON THE 1^st OCTOBER AT 09:00 AND ENDS ON NOVEMBER 20^th AT 23:59.

Courtesy of Capman, we offer the following FREE Material from TOEIC:

• Exam information
• Previous exam papers
• Audio examples
• Worksheets Etc...

Click on the TOEIC LEARNING PACK link: https://toeiclearningpack.es/

Department of Applied Linguistics, UPM

3) UPM resources for students who lack the required level.

The UPM has the following resources available to students:

3-1) PUNTO DE INICIO Platform, English Classroom. 

This platform contains audiovisual material for studying the English language, as well as self-diagnosis level tests. Although passing this test does not serve as proof of achieving a B2 level, its use is recommended because of the following:

• It helps the user establish their current level of English proficiency.
• It is mandatory for students to take this test before they can enroll in English language support classes, in order to demonstrate their current level.
• The information gained from the tests is used to tailor the English language support classes that are taught in the second semester, for deciding how many classes may be needed at each level, and to identify any specific teaching needs.

For students who are diagnosed with a level close to B2 or above, two mid-semester internal accreditation tests are organized to space them out from the general exam times. These tests are carried out by teachers of the Department of Linguistics Applied to Science and Technology and through this internal test, a level equivalent to B2 can be granted. It should be noted that this recognition serves internally to allow enrolment in the subjects of oral and written English but has no official validity outside the UPM. This internal accreditation pathway has no cost to the student, but as stated above, it is only provided to those who have previously performed the diagnostic test and achieved a level close to B2 or above. 

3-2) PUESTA A PUNTO  Platform

Another way (this time with official certification and without the need for a pre-diagnostic test), is the platform PUESTA A PUNTO. This contains materials to help students to prepare for the level tests and accreditation tests are carried out four times a year, twice for students and twice for UPM staff. The UPM acts as an "intermediary" for an approved accreditations body from outside the UPM who design and evaluate the tests. Because of this, these certifications do have official validity inside and outside the UPM, but they also have a cost (though it is a discounted price for the UPM).

The materials include: 

• Explanation of the TOEIC exam: including composition, structure and organizational details. 
• Example tests.
• Set of links to external resources developed to help students with the exam.
• Self-study multimedia material.
• Materials from different publishing houses to help with exam preparation. 
• Recordings of the courses taught by UPM teachers will also be included here shortly.

Through the platform PUESTA A PUNTO the TOEIC certification test is convened twice a year, one per semester and costs 67 EUROS. The certification authority is “ETS (Capman)” and we currently offer the possibility of certifying in the two most in-demand languages (English and French) the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) and the TFI (Test de Français Internacional). Both provide results with reference to the levels set out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. TOEIC evaluates and certifies oral and reading comprehension, as well as the mastery of grammar, in an international professional context, from intermediate to advanced level. 

The reasons for choosing TOIEC are as follows:

• It is the criterion used worldwide to measure the ability to communicate in English at work.
• It is taken by more than 5 million people a year.
• It is accepted by more than 5000 international companies around the world.
• It is used by more than 2000 European international companies and large groups.

3-3) Support courses for students below B2 are carried out in the second quarter, so as not to interfere with the entry of new students in their respective degrees. These classes are not organized by Centre, but by Campus, so students will be grouped by faculties that are geographically nearby. The classes for this academic year are not yet scheduled.

3-4) In some centers, the above measures are complemented by English-language teaching activities carried out by internal or external teachers.