On Thursday I took my CPEs (speaking, listening, reading and use of English). I got my result for the speaking part immediately after the test: an A! This is the highest possible mark. Our group of first years was joined by a woman who was taking her CPEs for the umpteenth time. She only needed to pass those tests to be able to get her diploma. When we were taking our reading exams the instructor had checked her listening exam and she had passed. When he told her this news she went into hysterics while everyone was busy doing their CPE reading. So, how can someone pass all the other courses, but be unable to pass their CPEs? Her language skills can’t be that bad, if she managed to pass all the other subjects. Isn’t the CPE a good measure to determine someone’s language skills, or are the language skills required to pass the regular courses of an insufficient level?
Right before I took the CPE in speaking, my instructor told me that he was present at the CPE speaking of third years of the bachelor’s degree and that there was one guy who kept pronouncing the “ed” after every verb in the past tense: walked, talked, and increased. This says something about the programme as much as it says about the person making these mistakes.
Even if I don’t think much of the CPE, I still wonder whether my results will be up to par. It might be because the significance of grades is deeply ingrained into my system. Although, I must admit I’m more curious about the grade I’ll get for my literature essay. Only time will tell.
