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Testing FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the Standardized English Proficiency Test (SEPT) and Oral SEPT.

  1. The Standardized English Proficiency Test (SEPT) is a test that is based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which is an international benchmark used to describe language ability. SEPT is designed to measure the communicative language ability of individuals for whom English is a second or foreign language. The scores obtained from SEPT are used for placement decisions of learners into the different levels of the School of Continuing Education (SCE) CEFR-aligned English Language program, Graduate School of Education and School of Business Executive Education programs. The scores can also be used for additional purposes such as occupational appointments, promotion, travel abroad and scholarships.

    Three language skills are covered by this test, namely listening, reading and writing. These skills address four main contexts of language use as defined by the CEFR – namely personal, social, occupational and educational. For further information about SEPT, click here.

  2. Oral SEPT is designed to measure the speaking proficiency of individuals for whom English is a second or foreign language. The scores obtained from Oral SEPT are used for placement decisions of learners into the different levels of the SCE Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) aligned English language conversation program or other oral communication programs. The scores can also be used for additional purposes such as occupational appointments, promotion, travel abroad and scholarships. For further information about the oral SEPT, click here.

  3. SEPT and oral SEPT are designed in alignment with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), so any CEFR-aligned materials would be useful for preparation or visit our website.

    You can as well receive a hard copy of the SEPT and/or oral SEPT format from the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) office unit at the following locations:

    •  AUC Tahrir Square campus: 24 El Falaki Street, Bab El Louk, Cairo, Egypt
    • AUC New Cairo campus: Campus Development building, entrance gate 4, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Egypt

    Working hours are from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm and 8:30 am - 2:00 pm during Ramadan.

  4. Yes, you can.

  5. You must be at least 15 years old.

  6. To access the schedules online, please follow the below instructions:

    1.  Visit the SCE home page
    2. Scroll down the page to the bottom and click on the course schedule
    3. Select the needed term
    4. From the class schedule search, select the desired test or course
    5. Click on class search

    You can also visit the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) office information
    desk at the following locations to review the schedules and register for the tests.

    • AUC Tahrir Square campus: 24 El Falaki Street, Bab El Louk, Cairo, Egypt
    • AUC New Cairo campus: Campus Development building, entrance gate 4, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Egypt

    Working hours from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, and 8:30 am - 2:00 pm during Ramadan.

  7. You can choose from two payment options offered by SCE;  online payment, or credit/debit cards.

    For more details about SCE payment methods and steps, click here.

  8. Test fees are refundable only if you officially notify the SEM office of the withdrawal at least one working day prior to the exam date. For more information on SCE refund policy, click here.

  9. In some cases, applicants are exempted from SEPT and/or Oral SEPT as follows:

    • Graduate or undergraduate learners of AUC or any other English medium university abroad
    • AUC full-time or part-time faculty 
    • SCE English language faculty members. The language department should provide ETAD with the documentation demonstrating the faculty members’ proficiency in English
    • Holders of a valid International English language test score; such as IELTS and/or TOEFL

  10. You should bring your valid photo ID (a national ID, a passport, or a driving license). Test takers will not get admitted to the test without an official ID. For SEPT, you can also bring two soft lead pencils (hb) and an eraser.

  11. No; however, in SEPT, you can go to the restroom at any time after the listening part of SEPT has been completed but this time is deducted from your test time (this time is part of the test and no extra time is given to you in turn). 

  12. No, you are not allowed to take notes during SEPT and/or Oral SEPT.

  13. No, you are not allowed to start any part until its start time is announced by the test administrator.

  14. You can leave the testing location early only during the first 30 minutes of the writing part.

  15. Yes, the Evaluation Testing and Assessment Department (ETAD) is committed to serving test takers with disabilities. You must inform ETAD at any of its locations (AUC Tahrir Square Campus, room G04A, Falaki building or New Cairo campus, AUC New Cairo campus, Campus Development building) to arrange for suitable accommodations for your test administration.

  16. SCE offers The Online English Placement Test (OEPT). It is designed to assess individuals’ communicative language abilities to place them into the different programs offered by the School of Continuing Education, the Graduate School of Education, and the School of Business of the American University in Cairo. OEPT is a 130-minute long. It consists of three sections: Listening (40 minutes), Reading (43 minutes), and Writing (47 minutes). The results will be issued the next day.

    Also, SCE offers the Online Arabic Admission Test (OAAT) which is an online test. It measures the individual’s degree of proficiency in contemporary standard Arabic. Passing this test is an indication that the applicant has the minimum language skills required to start studying one of the SCE translation programs or the career certificate in teaching Arabic as a foreign language (CCTAFL). The results will be issued the next day.

  17. You will need to register for a new test session and pay the test fees again by visiting the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) office to select a new test date at the following locations:

    • AUC Tahrir Square campus: 24 El Falaki Street, Bab El Louk, Cairo, Egypt
    • AUC New Cairo campus: Campus Development building entrance gate 4, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Egypt

    Working Hours from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm and from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm during Ramadan.

  18. Yes, this can be done by a prior arrangement through the ETAD office in Tahrir Square campus (room G04A, Falaki building) or New Cairo Campus (campus development building) after paying extra fees for the special test arrangement. For more information, you can send an email to ETAD.

  19. They are valid for one year starting from the date of the test.

  20. You can repeat or re-take the test after a minimum period of one month from the last test date.

  21. Learners who were registered in any AUC continuing education certificate and did not attend any classes for a six month period or more, calculated from the end date of the last term they attended, and wish to resume their studies must apply for re-admission and take all entrance exams once again in the first term following the six-month or calculated period. However, learners who completed a foundation certificate or AUC continuing education certificate are required to sit for the SEPT if they dropped out for a period of one year or more from the date of completing the certificate.

  22. Yes, you can fill a request form from the ETAD’s front desk, room G04A, Falaki building, Tahrir Square campus or campus development building entrance gate 4 New Cairo campus; also you can send an email to ETAD.

  23. The date and time of test results are announced in testing rooms by test administrators. As soon as your test results are available on the system, you will receive an automated email at the SCE email created for you when you registered for the test. To access your results, you will need to activate your SCE email. You can also test receive your test result from the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Office at the following locations:

    • AUC Tahrir Square campus: 24 El Falaki Street, Bab El Louk, Cairo, Egypt
    • AUC New Cairo campus: campus development building entrance gate 4, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Egypt

    Working hours from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, and from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm during Ramadan.

    For more information:

    • Send an email to SCE
    • Contact the SCE hotline on 16723

  24. Yes, ETAD offers a “To whom it may concern” letter with the test taker name, SID, English level stage and CEFR level along with the description of the stage in which the applicant has been placed. Issuing the letter takes five (5) working days from receiving a test taker’s request through the ETAD’s front desk, room G04A, Falaki building, Tahrir Square campus or campus development building, New Cairo campus. The letter does not show your SEPT score. This letter is free of charge only in the first time. In the event that you want an additional letter(s), you have to pay extra fees for each extra copy of this letter. If you do NOT receive the Test Result Letter in 2 months, from the issuing date, another request form must be filled and the fees must be paid

  25. It depends on the country so please contact the embassy of the country to which you are interested to immigrate.

  26. Yes, prior to conducting any test for an organization, there must be a testing agreement signed by ETAD and the organization. Additionally, ETAD can conduct its exams at your organization. 

    Contact Information:
    t: +2.02.2797.6419/6883 or +2.02.2615.1474 
    Email: etad@aucegypt.edu