ICFE Discontinued: CAE and Linguaskill Replacements
The International Certificate in Financial English (ICFE) was an English language proficiency exam designed specifically for professionals in the financial sector. The exam was developed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and was widely recognised as a measure of proficiency in English for the financial industry. However, in the end of 2016, the exam was discontinued, and the recommended replacements were the Cambridge English Advanced (CAE) and the Business English Certificate Higher (BEC Higher).
The discontinuation of the ICFE exam was due to a review of Cambridge ESOL's exams portfolio. The review found that the exam was no longer meeting the needs of its target audience and that there was a need for a more comprehensive exam that covered a broader range of skills. As a result, Cambridge ESOL discontinued the ICFE exam and recommended the CAE and BEC Higher exams as replacements.
However, since then, Cambridge ESOL has introduced a new exam called Linguaskill, which has become a popular alternative to the CAE exam. Linguaskill is an online adaptive test that assesses English language proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It provides a more flexible and efficient testing solution for financial professionals, who can take the exam at their convenience, without the need to travel to a test centre.
The recommended replacements for the ICFE exam are now CAE and Linguaskill. These exams provide a more comprehensive assessment of English language proficiency and are designed to meet the needs of financial professionals who require a good level of English language proficiency in their work.
In conclusion, the discontinuation of the ICFE exam was due to the need for a more comprehensive exam that covered a broader range of skills. The recommended replacements at the time were the CAE and BEC Higher exams, but now, the recommendations are the CAE and Linguaskill exams. These exams provide a more flexible and efficient testing solution for financial professionals who require a good level of English language proficiency in their work.