CET-6 College English Test Band 6

National College English Test Band 6. Higher difficulty than CET-4; same structure and scoring scale.

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Overview

CET-6 targets students who have achieved CET-4 or equivalent proficiency and are working toward higher college English levels. Like CET-4, it is administered by NEEA under the Ministry of Education and uses the same 710-point scale and section structure. The written examination is typically held twice annually (June and December). A separate spoken test (CET-SET) may be taken independently. The main difference is difficulty: passages are longer, vocabulary demands are higher, and tasks require greater analytical and synthesising ability. Candidates typically take CET-6 after CET-4, though formal prerequisites may vary by institution.

Structure

The written CET-6 exam is structured across four components with published percentage weightings contributing to the total score: Listening 35%, Reading 35%, Writing & Translation 20%, Cloze / language use 10%. Duration and format match CET-4; content difficulty is higher.

Listening

35% of total. Longer passages and faster delivery than CET-4. Same task types.

Reading

35% of total. More complex texts; higher vocabulary and inference demands.

Writing & translation

20% of total. Higher expectations for argumentation and expression.

Cloze / language use

10% of total. More demanding vocabulary and discourse features.

Scoring & results

Scores are reported on a 710-point scale. While no official pass mark is formally published, many institutions use 425 as a benchmark for progression. Four subscores plus total are reported. CET-6 scores are used by employers and graduate programmes as evidence of higher English proficiency. Check NEEA for score release timelines.

Common candidate weakness patterns

Typical patterns observed in CET-6 (often more pronounced than in CET-4):

  • Listening: difficulty with faster speech and denser content; losing track in longer passages
  • Reading: insufficient vocabulary for academic texts; weak inference and synthesis
  • Cloze: complex collocations and register; failing to integrate paragraph-level context
  • Writing: weak argumentation; limited lexical and grammatical range; underdeveloped ideas
  • Translation: inaccurate or unnatural phrasing; register mismatch
  • Time pressure: exacerbated by higher difficulty; candidates often rush the writing section

Reform notes

CET-6 follows the same reform trajectory as CET-4: 710-point scale; written examination typically held twice annually (June and December); separate spoken test (CET-SET) may be taken independently. Structure has remained stable. Confirm current format and registration with NEEA.

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CET is administered by NEEA under the Ministry of Education. EduZMS is not affiliated with examination bodies. This content is for informational purposes only.