The speaking section of the TECS aims to assess the extent to which the test taker can understand and provide a response to different topics at a variety of levels according to the Common European Framework for Language Reference (CEFR). The questions range from very basic A1 levels questions, where the candidate can understand and express simple sentences related to their close reality, to more complex C1 type of questions, where interpretation and opinions are needed to express more comprehensively their view of cultural issues and thoughts.

This is the first section of the exam. Once the remaining online sections are finished, the TECS certificate may be issued without delay.

The Context-Based Listening section assesses the test taker’s understanding of spoken English with real samples from TV news, radio shows, and conferences, as opposed to isolated samples or scripted recordings that can result in misleading the English proficiency results, as it is not related to real life communication. Tests takers in this section must perform a variety of tasks according to different item types. They may listen to a news sample and answer a specific question. Listen to a real conversation to be continued by the test taker. Listen to audios that involve the recognition of the speaker viewpoint or attitudes towards a topic, assessing listening proficiency of higher levels, specifically B2 and C1 according to the CEFR.

Understanding written information is key for effective communication in the digital era for social, academic or job interactions. The TECS assesses reading proficiency by using different indicators that determine the extent to which a text taker understands a written passage. In addition to regular texts, individuals are exposed to everyday language through icons, signs and other short reading samples that need to be understood to interact in today’s society. Therefore, this section also includes iconographic interpretation questions that require following instruction, as well as events or graphic information. specific and interdisciplinary vocabulary.

Understanding the grammar rules of a language is an imperative component for effective communication. Accuracy does not always need to be present for someone to comprehend the meaning of a statement; however if the amount of language errors increases, the possibility that the information is understood correctly will decrease. Grammatical mathematics is a concept that has been reassessed by most modern linguistics, and since the aim of the TECS is mostly communicative, the items in these sections are focused on how the language is used more than the assessment of the memorization of grammar rules. The items range from simple tasks that aim to assess a limited control of a few simple grammatical structures and sentence patterns in a learned repertoire, to increased complexity tasks that appraise the way the individual communicates with reasonable accuracy in different contexts with generally good control of the structure.