English is the international language of finance and accountancy. So it makes good business sense for anyone who wishes to succeed in the global business arena to be able to demonstrate that they have first-rate English language skills.

ICFE is an ideal qualification for anyone thinking of, or already pursuing, a career in accountancy or finance. For the finance professional who already has an established and successful career, it can be used to validate their English language skills in a finance context.

This examination is also suitable for candidates who wish to embark on a career in accounting and finance and will be a valuable addition to the CV of anyone starting their career in this area.

A prestigious partnership
To meet the demand for helping business professionals to show that they have they have the financial English skills they need, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) have combined their expertise and developed the International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE). This combination has brought together worldwide leaders in English language assessment and in professional accountancy to create unique financial qualification relevant to employers internationally.

Fit for business
ICFE can be used as a valuable recruitment tool to help employers with the selection process and training of their employees. Employers can be confident that employees who have passed ICFE will be capable of working in the area of international finance as they will possess high levels of English language and an understanding of the kind of language used in a demanding, fast-moving profession.

ICFE Examination
ICFE exams are given twice a year in May and November. The examination takes about 3 hours in total and consists of four parts:

• Test of Reading (75 min)
• Test of Writing (75 min)
• Test of Listening (40 min)
• Test of Speaking (16 min)

The Test of Speaking is conducted face-to-face by qualified oral examiners. Successful candidates are expected to be able to use the language in practical situations, to participate in meetings and discussions of a financial nature, express opinions clearly and understand financial documents including financial statements, journal articles, letters, reports and proposals.

Grading and Results
Written papers will be marked in the UK by Cambridge ESOL examiners. Test results are usually reported within six weeks of the test date.

ICFE is linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Modern Languages (CEFR) and the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) frameworks of levels. The exam is set at CEFR levels B2-C1 which correspond to FCE-CAE levels. Examinations at the C1 level may be used as proof of language necessary to work in an international context or to follow a course of study related to finance at university level.

Preparation Courses and Materials
Please visit the official ICFE website for the test papers, audio materials and ICFE Handbook which are available for download even now.

Need more information?
For more information about Cambridge ESOL exams please e-mail us or call our info line (020) 618 410.