International House placement tests are both quick and accurate when it comes to placing students in the correct level. A group of 5 or 6 students can be accurately tested in an hour, for example. Placement tests are compulsory, to ensure the classes are as homogenous as possible. The tests include a diagnosis of the student’s range and accuracy of grammar and vocabulary, their listening and reading skills and their speaking and writing.
The levels at International House are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), an international standard for describing language ability. It is used around the world to describe learners’ language skills. The six CEFR levels show what a student ‘can do’ in different situations and describe their skill-based communicative proficiency.