Language tests developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment (CELA)

Abstract

This article presents a survey on International English Language Tests which are being used in the Kazakhstani education market. It also discusses types of language tests designed by CELA. If these tests are previously required for getting admission to foreign universities, but nowadays they are required for getting a job in international companies in Kazakhstan, as well as for admission to master's and doctorate programmes in higher educations of the country. In this article we will consider only the examination tests by Cambridge English Language Assessment among all other foreign language tests. Thus, the bulk of examinations conducted in Kazakhstan are the products of the Cambridge English Language Assessment. The author tries to find an answer to the question why these tests have been reliably spreading within the educational market of Kazakhstan. Also, the article presents a historiclal review on the background of CELA and development of language test tasks on the basis of existing theories in linguistics, sociolinguistics and other related diciplines.