The ELIC examinations were offered between 1990 and 2004, with the lower levels like the Preliminary Certificate being discontinued in 2000. While the examinations were phased out altogether by 2004, the highest level, the Diploma, would have been accredited at Level 6 or university first degree level had it been submitted for approval. The ELIC qualification originally consisted of five parts, from the Preliminary Certificate to the Final Diploma. Candidates had to complete modules to advance through the levels until achieving the Final Diploma. The Final Diploma was recognized as a degree-level qualification by many universities and was accepted for higher degree programs in many countries.

1. 1
To Whom It May Concern,
Re: Examination in Languages for International Communication (ELIC)
Our ELIC examinations were offered by the Institute between 1990 and 2004. The lower levels of
ELIC namely, the Preliminary Certificate, the General Certificate, and the Advanced Certificate were
discontinued in 2000. The Final Diploma was now called Diploma.
As the examinations were phased out altogether in 2004; they were not submitted to the government
regulator, Ofqual, for accreditation. Had this been the case, we are confident that accreditation would
have been granted at Level 6, i.e. University first degree level, in the Qualifications Credit Framework
(QCF) for the highest level, the Diploma.
The ELIC qualification originally consisted of five parts:
 Preliminary Certificate
 General Certificate
 Advanced Certificate
 Intermediate Diploma
 Final Diploma or Diploma since 2000
Candidates completed Modules in order to gain credits to advance through the levels of the
examination until they gained the Final Diploma.
The levels of the ELIC were as follows:
ELIC Grading Level
Preliminary Certificate Basic
General Certificate GCSE
Advanced Certificate ‘A’ Level
Intermediate Diploma 2 years part-time post ‘A’ Level study or one full
year of Undergraduate study
Final Diploma or Diploma University First Degree
Final Diploma or Diploma
The Final Diploma has been recognised as a degree-level qualification by a large number of
universities and has also been accepted as an entry level qualification for courses leading to higher
degrees in this, and other, countries.

2. 2
QCF, SCQF, CEFR, ALTE Levels & IoLET Qualifications
QCF SCQF CEFR ALTE IoLET
8 12
C27 11
6 10 5  Diploma in Translation (DipTrans)
6 9 C1 4  Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)
 Final Diploma in English
 Chinese/International Diploma in Bilingual Communication
(FDEC/IDBC)
 Examinations in Languages for International
Communication (ELIC) Final Diploma or Diploma
5 8  Examinations in Languages for International
Communication (ELIC) Intermediate Diploma
4 7
6
3 5 B2 3  Certificate in Bilingual Skills (CBS)
 Advanced Certificate
2 4 B1 2  Examinations in Languages for International
Communication (ELIC) General Certificate
 Examinations in Languages for International
 Communication (ELIC) Preliminary Certificate
1 3 A2 1
Entry 2
1
A1 Break
through
QCF : Qualifications Credit Framework (Ofqual)
CEFR: Common European Framework (of Reference)-Strasbourg
ALTE: Association of Language Testers in Europe
I hope this helps to clarify the level of the ELIC qualification. Please do not hesitate to contact us
should you require any further clarification.
Yours sincerely,
Christina Sidery-Parkes
Quality Assurance Manager

3. 3