ECL

According to information received from the developers of the ECL exam (The ECL Consortium), due to the current situation and logistical difficulties, registration for ECL exams has been indefinitely suspended. Currently, ECL system exams are not conducted in our Center and registration is not available. You can send an application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will contact you as soon as there is any new.

ECL tests are international language proficiency exams administered by the European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages.

The International ECL Language Skills Certificate is recognised in the EU countries. It measures general foreign language proficiency, focusing on testing candidates’ communicative language knowledge. The certificates do not have an expiry date.

ECL examination system

On 22 February 2018, St Petersburg University and the University of Pécs (Hungary) signed an agreement on the opening a registered ECL exam centre in St Petersburg. Within the ECL examination system, St Petersburg University has a right to hold the ECL language tests in:

• English
• Spanish
• Italian
• Hungarian
• French
• Hebrew
• Bulgarian
• Croatian
• Czech
• Polish
• Romanian
• Serbian
• Slovak

Benefits of the ECL language certification

• It is officially recognised by public institutions, universities and language schools in the EU
• Candidates may apply to take either a complex exam or a written / oral partial exam
• It is an accessible international exam
• The ECL Language Skills Certificate is valid for life.

By taking ECL exams, St Petersburg University students and staff can obtain a certificate that:

• confirms their foreign language skills;
• is used by international educational institutions for admission to international internship programmes;
• is required for employment in the EU countries.

Exam format

The ECL exam system is designed to assess the oral and written capacity to use language in everyday communication on practical, professional and personal subjects, at different degrees of complexity.

The ECL language exam can be taken on four levels and it measures primarily the communicative language competences of candidates. The requirements at the different levels are aligned with the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

• A2 — Pre-Intermediate (Waystage)
• B1 — Intermediate (Threshold)
• B2 — Upper-Intermediate (Vantage)
• C1 — Advanced (Effective Operational Proficiency)

The ECL assesses four main language skills:

• Reading comprehension
• Writing communication
• Listening comprehension
• Oral communication

Assessment

The ECL exam system has a maximum of 25 points for each skill, with the maximal total score of 100 points. The complex test is successfully passed if the candidate achieved at least 10 points per skill. The pass mark for the partial test is 30 points total.

It is possible to take a complex exam or a partial exam (either written or oral).

The written test includes the reading comprehension and written communication sections.

The oral test includes the listening comprehension and oral communication sections.

The complex ECL language exam has four parts: reading comprehension; written communication; listening comprehension; and oral communication.

Register for an exam

For detailed information about registration and exam fees, please contact us by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by phone: +7 (812) 325-11-24

Exam dates and registration

The ECL exam dates for 2022 are available here.

The registration for exams closes one month before the exam date.

Exam fees

You may take a complex exam (oral AND written tests) OR a partial exam (either written test or oral test).

Exam preparation materials

St Petersburg University by-laws

• Order No 3382/1 of 18 April 2018 ‘Ob ustanovlenii razmera platy za okazaniye uslug po provedeniyu ekzamenov ECL v 2018/19 uchebnom godu’

• Order No 570/1 of 29 January 2019 ‘Ob ustanovlenii razmera platy za okazaniye uslug po provedeniyu ekzamenov European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages’

• Order No 1493/1 of 3 March 2021 ‘Ob ustanovlenii razmera platy za okazaniye uslug po provedeniyu ekzamenov European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages’