Despite Adverse Conditions: Performance on Cambridge Exams Exceeded Expectations

This was the second time the Cambridge exam was held under COVID-19 restrictions. This year, preparation was even more heavily influenced by the lockdown and, consequently, online instruction. Despite these challenging conditions, 34 students decided to take the exam, leading to the formation of two classes led by Nicole Hohm and Matthäus Otte.

This was the first time we offered two BEC Cambridge courses. BEC stands for Business English Certificate. The Cambridge Business English Certificate series comprises a total of three certificates, and here at Steinmühle we offer the middle level—
: BEC Vantage, language level B2. With this certificate, students can demonstrate to potential employers that they are capable of working in English in an international environment. The certificate can help them when applying for internships, as well as later on when looking for a job or seeking promotions.

 

High degree of self-organization

While preparing for the exam, the students demonstrated a very high degree of self-organization and motivation. They voluntarily participated in online classes and also independently used digital practice rooms for language exercises. When in-person classes were finally able to resume, they worked very efficiently and with great focus in the classroom—with plenty of fresh air and the windows kept open at all times…
At the end of May, the big day arrived. After the mandatory COVID-19 tests, the exam began at 8:30 a.m.: the Reading, Writing, and Listening sections were administered until approximately 12:45 p.m., and starting at 1:15 p.m., the oral exams followed, taking place every 20 minutes in two exam rooms until 5:45 p.m.—which meant a truly nerve-wracking wait for the last exam pairs.
But the hard work paid off! The students achieved very good results—two candidates were even certified at the next higher language level, C1.

We congratulate all participants on receiving their certificates! Our photo shows the entire group together with their teachers and their certificates, which always arrive at different times.