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 Frequently asked questions |
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 Who are the teg examinations for? Why is teg certification important? Do candidates have to sit the A1 exam in advance of sitting the A2 exam?Where are the examinations held? When are the examination results available?How many hours of study are required to enable one to undertake the different examinations? Do I have to pass each part of the examination in order to gain an overall pass?Can I do different parts of the examination at different times? Is the use of dictionaries allowed in the examinations?Will candidates lose marks if they misspell words in the aural exam?What can candidates do if they don’t understand the directions given at the beginning of the examination or during the oral examination?Are there any restrictions regarding the age of candidates? Do I have to attend an Irish language course in order to do any of the examinations?How often are the examinations held? How can I register for one of the examinations?What is the cost of the examinations? What are the payment methods? Who are the teg (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge/European Certificate in Irish) examinations for? Anyone can sit a teg examination. It is not necessary to attend a particular course, nor are there any age restrictions for candidates. Back to top Why is teg certification important? teg is the first and only system of certification for adult learners of Irish. Similar systems have already been developed for the majority of other European languages. The different levels in teg are based on the Common European Framework for Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (Council of Europe, 2001). This system helps learners to plan their study and to get recognition for the progress that they have made. A further advantage of the system is that it gives employers specific information about the language ability of candidates for the purpose of employment or promotion, the importance of which has increased with the implementation of the provisions of the Official Languages Act (2003). Ionad na dTeangacha in NUI Maynooth is a member of ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) which monitors the content and standard of the teg examinations. Back to top Do candidates have to sit the A1 exam in advance of sitting the A2 exam? No. Each exam is independent and it is up to the candidate to choose whatever examination is most suitable for him/her. Back to top Where are the examinations held? The examinations are held once a year, in April or May (A1, A2, B1, B2) and December (C1). Details of venues are here. Usually, the written exam is held in the morning. See the information on the application form to check times for the oral exams. Examinations are held in various locations in Ireland and abroad, depending on demand. Look at the News section for further information. Back to top When are the examination results available? Results will be posted to candidates 6-8 weeks after they sit the exam. Certificates will be sent to successful candidates shortly after that. Back to top How many hours of study are required to enable one to undertake the different examinations? The table below provides a rough guide based on the Common European Framework for Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (Council of Europe, 2001). Of course, a lot depends on the individual learners and on the support available to them.
In the case of B2, each section of the exam (speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing) is worth 25% of the marks. At this level, the percentage of marks awarded to the candidate in each section will be indicated on the certificate. In the case of C1, each section of the exam (speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and Use of Irish) is worth 20% of the marks. At this level, the percentage of marks awarded to the candidate in each section will be indicated on the certificate. At the other levels, candidates will not lose marks for spelling mistakes provided that what they write is clear and intelligible to the examiners.
Back to top What are the payment methods? Payment can be made by cheque or postal order. Back to top If I have any further questions? If you have any further questions please contact Ionad na dTeangacha:
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