Pearson English International Certificate: format and preparation

What is the Pearson English International Certificate?

The PEIC is a general English exam for learners aged 14 and over. It tests listening, reading, writing and speaking and certifies a level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) from A1 to C2. The certificate is awarded by Edexcel and regulated in England by Ofqual. According to Pearson, the certificate does not expire, so you do not need to renew it after a few years.

For learners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the PEIC is attractive for three reasons in particular:

• Flexibility: the computer-based version can be taken at authorised Pearson VUE test centres or from home with online proctoring (OnVue).
• Fast results: Pearson states that results for the computer-based exam are available within two weeks or less, and up to six weeks for the paper version (Pearson, information for educators).
• Detailed feedback: the score report includes scores for all four skills and recommendations for further learning.

The exam is part of our exam preparation because it is particularly well suited to working professionals who need a recognised certificate but cannot commit to a fixed exam date on a Saturday morning.

PEIC levels: from A1 to C2

The PEIC is available at six levels, one exam per CEFR level: A1 (Foundation), Level 1 for A2, Level 2 for B1, Level 3 for B2, Level 4 for C1 and Level 5 for C2. You choose the level before registering. According to Pearson, each level is mapped to a range on the Global Scale of English.

The names have grown historically and are confusing at first:

The mapping comes from the official test specification for the computer-based exam. The Global Scale of English (GSE) is the backbone: every task is linked to a GSE value and a learning objective. Why this finer scale is so useful for learners and companies is explained in our article the Global Scale of English explained. For an overview of the CEFR levels themselves, see CEFR levels A1 to C2.

My recommendation from practice: do not choose the level based on wishful thinking. A reliable placement test or a conversation with an experienced teacher will save you from having to resit.

The format of the computer-based PEIC exam

At every level, the computer-based exam consists of two parts. According to the specification, it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes at A1 and A2 and about 1 hour 45 minutes from B1 upwards. Because each task is timed individually, the actual duration varies slightly. Here is what to expect in each part.

Part 1: Speaking and Listening

• Read and then speak: read a sentence or short text aloud.
• Describe image: describe a photo or picture.
• Listen and then speak: repeat a sentence you have heard.
• Listen to the conversation: listen to a short conversation and answer a question.
• Listen to the passage: understand a longer recording; at A1 and A2 you choose a picture, from B1 you answer orally.
• Listen and read (Hotspots): find differences between the text you read and the text you hear.
• Listen and then write (Dictation): write down a sentence you have heard.

This is followed by an optional break of no more than ten minutes.

Part 2: Reading and Writing

• Read the text and choose / write the answer: reading comprehension, from B1 with short answers on longer texts.
• Choose the right word or phrase: gap fill.
• Read and write: you read a text of 45 to 75 words, which then disappears, and reproduce its content in your own words.
• Write an essay: at least 100 words in up to 10 minutes; at lower levels, a short picture description.

Most tasks are integrated, meaning they test several skills at once. This sets the PEIC apart from exams with a few long tasks.

PEIC scoring: points, Pass, Merit and Distinction

In the PEIC you receive an overall score from 0 to 100 plus scores for the four skills. From B1 to C1, 50 to 59 points means Pass, 60 to 69 Pass with Merit and 70 or more Pass with Distinction. With 40 to 49 points you receive a certificate at the next CEFR level down, which acts as a safety net.

From B1 to C1, the specification sets out the following bands:

At A1 and C2 the thresholds differ; at C2, for instance, a Pass starts only at 60 points. The safety net is worth noting: if you narrowly miss B2, you can still receive a B1 certificate with 40 to 49 points.

How is it marked?

Closed tasks are marked automatically. According to Pearson, open speaking and writing tasks such as the essay or picture description are assessed by trained human raters; in parallel, an automated scoring system is trained to reflect their standards. In the speaking tasks, features such as speech rate, length of pauses and pronunciation are taken into account. For you, this means that steady, fluent speech matters more than particularly unusual vocabulary.

Resits

You can take at most three scored exams per level within twelve months, and you can book a new exam as soon as the score report for the last one is available.

PEIC preparation: strategies for every task

The most important PEIC strategy is a fixed routine for every task type, including the many short ones. Keep speaking at a natural pace rather than stopping, describe pictures using a fixed framework, answer listening questions in full sentences and learn collocations as word groups. For the essay, one sentence of position, two arguments with an example and a closing sentence are enough.

Many candidates underestimate the short tasks because they look “easy”. In fact, they account for a large share of the result, precisely because there are so many of them.

Read and then speak / Listen and then speak

• Speak at a natural pace, not exaggeratedly slowly. Long pauses and restarts cost marks for fluency.
• If you forget a word while repeating, carry on rather than stopping.
• Pay attention to sentence stress: content words stressed, function words (a, the, to, of) weak.

Describe image

Use a fixed framework: overall impression, people and action, details, speculation.

This picture shows a busy open-plan office. In the foreground, two colleagues are looking at a laptop and seem to be discussing a presentation. In the background, I can see several people on the phone. It looks as if they are under some time pressure, perhaps just before a deadline.

Listen to the passage (spoken answers from B1)

From B1, you answer three questions on a longer recording orally. Many candidates throw away marks here by saying a single word. Answer in a complete, short sentence and pick up the wording of the question. Question: Why did the speaker change jobs? Good answer: She changed jobs because she wanted more responsibility and a shorter commute. While listening, note only key words for people, reasons and numbers, because the questions appear afterwards.

Choose the right word or phrase

Read the whole sentence and the one after it before choosing. Often a collocation (make a decision, not do a decision) or a linking word signalling contrast (however, although) decides the answer. If you learn collocations as word groups rather than single words, you have a clear advantage here; methods are described in our article on learning vocabulary effectively.

Dictation and Read and write

Spelling, word order and linking words count here. Practise five dictation sentences from news podcasts every day. For “Read and write”, it pays to focus on structure while reading (Who? What? When? Why? Result?) rather than memorising words.

Write an essay

Ten minutes leaves no time for lengthy planning. A proven approach: one sentence stating your position, two paragraphs each with one argument and an example, and a one-sentence conclusion. You will find concrete structures in our article on writing an essay in English exams.

Taking the PEIC from home: technology and procedure

If you take the exam online from home, take the technology seriously. The exam runs only on computers, not on tablets or smartphones. Pearson strongly recommends checking the OnVue system requirements in advance and requires an over-ear headset with a boom microphone for good recording quality. You book the exam and access your results via the Test Hub platform.

Checklist for exam day

• Run the system test the day before and on exam day
• A quiet room, a tidy desk and no other people in the room
• A valid ID document to hand
• A stable internet connection, ideally wired
• Notifications and automatic updates on your computer switched off

The microphone recording is decisive in the speaking tasks. Make test recordings beforehand: does your voice sound clear, without hiss or distortion? Position the microphone slightly to the side of your mouth so that breathing noises are not picked up.

Who is the Pearson certificate suitable for?

The PEIC is a particularly good fit if you need a widely recognised certificate for a job application, your employer or further training and need flexibility in scheduling. For study abroad in an English-speaking country or a visa, however, institutions often explicitly require IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson’s academic test, PTE Academic. So always check first what your target institution accepts. You will find a side-by-side comparison in our comparison of English certificates and in the article TOEFL or IELTS.

For companies

For HR departments, the link to the GSE is interesting: progress can be measured more finely than with six CEFR levels. I have described how language data can be translated into measurable business value in two articles for Pearson: GSE and ROI in Business English and language data and business value. If you are planning certification for a team, it makes sense to start with a language audit so that it is clear who starts at which level. Suitable training formats for teams can be found under language courses for companies.

Polish-speaking readers will find a further guide on choices.com.pl: Jak przygotować się do Pearson English International Certificate (in Polish).

PEIC study plan and common mistakes

If you have already largely reached your target level in lessons, PEIC preparation usually takes four to six weeks: first a practice test and a technology check, then short daily routines, then essays under time pressure and finally two complete practice runs. Common mistakes are stopping mid-sentence when speaking, essays that are too short and choosing an exam level that is too high.

The plan at a glance:

1. Week 1: Readiness Test or practice exam, get to know the task types, test the technology.
2. Weeks 2 to 3: short daily routines (10 minutes reading aloud, 5 dictation sentences, 1 recorded picture description).
3. Week 4: essays under time pressure (10 minutes) with feedback.
4. Weeks 5 to 6: two complete practice runs, targeted work on your weakest skill.

Common mistakes

• Stopping and restarting in speaking tasks instead of carrying on.
• Narrowly missing the minimum word count in the essay because of poor time management.
• Dictations with capitalised nouns, a typical slip for German speakers, or a missing plural -s.
• Choosing an exam level that is too high.

In our preparation for the Pearson English International Certificate, the methodology team I lead trains exactly these task types, online and, if you wish, in one-to-one lessons. If you get nervous before exam day, you will find help in our article on overcoming exam anxiety.

Sources

1. pearson.com: PEIC CBT public specification
2. pearson.com: pearson english international certificate
3. pearson.com: pearson english international certificate information for educators
4. pearson.com: gse roi business english measurable advantage 11 25
5. pearson.com: gse roi pt 2 language data and business value 12 25
6. choices.com.pl: jak przygotowac sie do pearson english international certificate

Frequently asked questions

Łukasz Pakuła

Head of Studies at choices®. Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, lecturer at HM Business School Munich and Kempten University of Applied Sciences. Doctoral studies in applied linguistics, publications with Springer and Equinox, among others. More about us