Cambridge English Exams - The First Hundred Years - A History of English Language Assessment from the University of Cambridge, 1913-2013 - Studies in Language Testing 38

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Adam

A comprehensive history traces the development of English language assessment by the University of Cambridge from 1913 to 2013, marking the centenary of the first examinations for foreign students, the Certificate of Proficiency in English. The narrative follows how standards evolved in scale and substance despite disruptions from two world wars, and how the assessment system expanded beyond specialized purposes to support broader educational and university needs across decades.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages384

Reading Time16 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

About the authors

Foreword

Authors’ note and acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Cambridge University before UCLES

Chapter 2

The first three decades of UCLES

Chapter 3

Reconstruction and development in 51

Chapter 4

Revolution and evolution in 91

Chapter 5

The new millennium

Chapter 6

The way things are

Chapter 7

onwards

Acronyms

References

Photo credits

Subject index

Index of names

Cambridge English Exams– the first hundred years A history of English language assessment from the University of Cambridge, 1913–2013 5RJHU +DZNH\ DQG 0LFKDHO 0LODQRYLF This book is dedicated to all those who have made Cambridge English Language Assessment what it is today. &RS\ULJKW CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Mexico City Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK [www.cambridge.org](www.cambridge.org) Information on this [title: www.cambridge.org/9781107634732](title: www.cambridge.org/9781107634732)[ ](title: www.cambridge.org/9781107634732)© UCLES 2013 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2013. Printed by Canon UK Limited. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Hawkey, Roger. Cambridge English exams : the ﬁrst hundred years : a history of English language assessment from the University of Cambridge, 1913-2013. -- (Studies in language testing ; 38) 1. English language--Examinations--History. 2. English language--Study and teaching--History. I . Title II . Series III . Milanovic, Michael. 428.2’4’071’0904-dc23 ISBN-13: 9781107634732 ISBN 978-1-107-63473-2 paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Information regarding prices, travel timetables and other factual information given in this work is correct atthe time of ﬁrst printing but Cambridge University Press does not guarantee the accuracy of such information thereafter. &RQWHQWV About the authors iv Foreword v Authors’ note and acknowledgements vii Chapter 1 􀀔􀀕􀀓􀀜 ² 􀀔􀀜􀀔􀀕􀀝 &DPEULGJH 8QLYHUVLW\ EHIRUH 8&/(6􀀞 1 8&/(6 EHIRUH &3( Chapter 2 􀀔􀀜􀀔􀀖 ² 􀀔􀀜􀀗􀀘􀀝 7KH ILUVW WKUHH GHFDGHV RI 8&/(6 ()/ 13 Chapter 3 􀀔􀀜􀀗􀀙 ² 􀀔􀀜􀀛􀀙􀀝 5HFRQVWUXFWLRQ DQG GHYHORSPHQW 51 Chapter 4 􀀔􀀜􀀛􀀚 ² 􀀔􀀜􀀜􀀜􀀝 5HYROXWLRQ DQG HYROXWLRQ 91 Chapter 5 􀀕􀀓􀀓􀀓 ² 􀀕􀀓􀀓􀀚􀀝 7KH QHZ PLOOHQQLXP 167 Chapter 6 􀀕􀀓􀀓􀀛 ² 􀀕􀀓􀀔􀀖􀀝 7KH ZD\ WKLQJV DUH 249 Chapter 7 􀀕􀀓􀀔􀀖 onwards 329 Acronyms 348 References 353 Photo credits 364 Subject index 365 Index of names 370 $ERXW WKH DXWKRUV MICHAEL MILANOVIC Chief Executive of Cambridge English Language Assessment Michael Milanovic joined the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate in 1989, following a career in English language teaching and testing in the UK, France and Hong Kong. He has worked with the British Council and the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and was a senior lecturer at the City Polytechnic in Hong Kong. He has been involved in language education since 1977 and hasan MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Reading and a PhD in performance-based language testing from the Institute of Education, University of London. In May 2003 he was appointed as Chief Executive of Cambridge ESOL. Michael Milanovic (right) with Nicola Videtta who designed and typeset this book In addition to his role as Chief Executive of Cambridge English Language Assessment, he is the Manager of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and co-editor of Studies in Language Testing published by Cambridge University Press. ROGER HAWKEY Roger Hawkey has a BA in modern languages from Cambridge University, a PGCE (EFL) and a PhD (in language learner factors) from the Institute of Education, London, and an MA (Linguistics) from Reading University. Roger has enjoyed a long career in applied linguistics, English language teaching, teacher education, curriculum development an

FAQs

What timeframe does this book cover for Cambridge English language assessment?

It covers the period from 1913 to 2013, presenting a century-long development of Cambridge English examinations and assessment practices.

Which landmark examination is highlighted as the starting point for the 100-year story?

The book marks the 100th anniversary of the first examinations for foreign students: the Certificate of Proficiency in English.

How did world wars affect the examination numbers and development described?

The text notes that the numbers involved in the first half-century were interrupted by two world wars, with figures rising from fewer than 700 in 1939 to about 8,000 by 1960.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Adam