ETECT (English Teaching Competency Test)

English Language Teachers

Language:

English

The ETECT (English Teaching Competency Test) is a standardized examination for novice and more experienced Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Successful ETECT candidates are awarded a certificate accredited through the Hellenic Accreditation System (ΕΣΥΔ).

ΕΣΥΔ, the Greek national accreditation agency, is authorized to accredit certification and control agencies and is a member of the European Cooperation for Accreditation. ΕΣΥΔ has approved the Hellenic American Union to serve as a Persons Certification Body in the voluntary area.

Developed by Hellenic American University, the ETECT is the first teaching certificate to be accredited in Greece.

Who is the ETECT for?

The ETECT is useful for both novice and more experienced English language teachers.

Novice Teachers

If you are a novice teacher with little teaching experience or you have not yet been formally hired you will find that taking several methodology courses, attending training workshops and team-teaching a course in a language school will help develop your career. An accredited certificate in TESOL like ETECT is a way for you to demonstrate the skills and competence you have acquired.

Experienced Teachers

If you are a more experienced teacher you can also benefit from accredited certification. You may have logged hundreds of teaching hours and completed numerous training programs and seminars in continuing professional education but you may lack formal qualification at an advanced level. The ETECT provides an accredited qualification of your competence that is recognized throughout Europe.

Description of the ETECT

The ETECT can be taken at level 5 or level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Adopted by the European Parliament in 2008 as part of the continuing effort to promote workers’ and learners’ mobility in Europe, the EQF is a framework of 8 qualification levels defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence. This framework enables professional and vocational qualifications earned in one country to be related to those earned in another.

Level 5

At level 5 the ETECT assesses the candidate’s ability to apply sound principles and effective practices in TESOL. It also examines language awareness, the knowledge of how English functions, and the ability to convey that knowledge to students in a way that facilitates learning.

Certification at level 5 is appropriate for entry-level professionals. It signifies the acquisition of knowledge and skills that would be taught in a post-secondary teacher-training program of at least 120 hours that includes a Practicum.

Level 7

The Level 7 ETECT assesses the candidate’s specialized knowledge of contemporary theories of language acquisition and principles of language teaching. The test also certifies the candidate’s knowledge of the English language at an advanced level. Candidates must show that they can articulate links between research and practice in a coherent text supported by academic references.

Certification at Level 7 is for professionals with a recommended three years of teaching experience who wish to develop a critical awareness of knowledge issues in the field or begin graduate studies in TESOL. It signifies the acquisition of knowledge and skills that would be taught in a post-secondary teacher-training program of at least 200 hours that includes a Practicum.

LEVEL 5

LEVEL 7

The ETECT – Level 7 consists of three papers, two 2-hour papers, one on Methodology and the other on Language Awareness, and a 1.5-hour paper of Essays.

Paper 1: Methodology [2 hours]

This Paper is comprised of multiple-choice questions and/or open-ended, short-answer questions and is divided into the following 5 sections:

Section 1: Reflecting on Classroom Scenarios
Section 2: Spoken Error Correction
Section 3: Lesson Planning
Section 4: Recognizing Strengths and Weaknesses in Students’ Writing
Section 5: Methods and Techniques in TESOL

In the open-ended questions, candidates are asked to apply their knowledge and skills to particular teaching situations. The scenarios and lesson extracts for these situations include factors such as the age and level of the learners, and the skill(s) being focused on. Candidates are also required to give reasons for the course of action they take.

The Methodology Paper examines the candidate’s competencies in areas such as classroom management; presentation and practice; lesson planning; knowledge of learner characteristics and needs; assessment of learning; and teaching reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Paper 2: Language Awareness [2 hours]

This Paper is comprised of multiple-choice questions and/or open-ended, short-answer questions and is divided into the following 6 sections:

Section 1: Verbs: Form and Use
Section 2: General Errors
Section 3: Pragmatic Competence
Section 4: Semantic Differences
Section 5: Grammatical Terminology
Section 6: Reading Comprehension

Paper 3: Essays [1 hour and 30 minutes]

Candidates are asked to write 3 essays: one essay in the section on Language Awareness and Language Acquisition, and two essays in the section on Teaching Skills and Grammar. They are given a total of 90 minutes to write the 3 essays.

Section 1: Language Awareness and Language Acquisition

Candidates select one of two essay topics in this section and write a 200- to 250-word essay on the question they have selected.

One of the two essay questions in this section deals with a topic in linguistics such as morphology, phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, language variation, and pragmatics. The other question concerns first or second language acquisition.

Section 2: Teaching Skills and Grammar

Candidates select two of the four essay questions in this section. For each of the two questions they have selected, they are expected to write a 200- to 250-word essay. The questions are related to teaching listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.

ETECT Level 7 Syllabus v.1.0

ETECT Level 7 Sample Test

ETECT Paper 1 Methodology Sample (January 2015)
ETECT Paper 2 Language Awareness Sample (January 2015)
ETECT Paper 3 Essays Sample (January 2015)

Fees, Dates and Test Venues

The ETECT is administered by the Center for Examinations and Certifications once a year. The test is administered at centers throughout Greece by the Hellenic American Union Center for Examinations and Certifications.

Examination Schedule 2025

Examination	Date	Exam fees	Registration Period
ETECT Level 5	June 22, 2025	150 €	06/01/2025 - 08/05/2025
ETECT Level 7	June 22, 2025	225 €	06/01/2025 - 08/05/2025

Administrations upon request

The ETECT Level 5, ETECT Level 7 examinations are also administered for groups of candidates, upon request, at designated test centers in Greece as follows:

The specific administrations are offered only upon request. (A minimum number of candidates applies.)
The schedule of the specific administrations is subject to modifications, depending on the needs of examination stakeholders. (Please visit this webpage for updates.)
The specific administrations are identical in format, allotted time, and procedures to the regular administrations. They are organized in their entirety by the Hellenic American Union Center for Examinations and Certifications, which is responsible for selecting the venues, registering candidates, providing non-standard test accommodations, and selecting and training examinations personnel.

In order to participate in the ETECT, you must hold at least a high school diploma (apolytirio Lykeiou) and a C2-level English language certification or an equivalent or higher qualification.

Register online for your ETECT exam through ORFEAS, our online registration system. Find an examination center close to home from a choice of 100 locations throughout Greece and abroad, and complete your application online with your debit, pre-paid or credit card.

You will receive all the details for your upcoming exam via email in a single document that you can save, print and take with you on the day of your test. You will also be sent updates on the status of your application and useful support materials. Expect invitations to webinars for tips and strategies that will help you prepare effectively for the exam.

The ORFEAS registration system does away with print application forms and visits to the bank. Start and complete your registration online in a few simple steps. Use your home computer, tablet or smartphone to apply for your exam.

Nonstandard Test Accommodations

Results

Rescoring

Language Schools recognizing ETECT as an employment qualification

Following ETECT’ s accreditation by the Hellenic Accreditation System (ΕΣΥΔ), see below for a list of Language Schools that accept the ETECT as evidence of an applicant’s knowledge of English and TESOL principles and practices.

Institution	City
Arvaniti Zafiroula	Agrinio
Aslani Elfi	Ioannina
Big Ben - Samantha Louise Neal	Chania
CosmoDialogos Language Studies - Ch. Tsolakos - M. Kostinos	Thessaloniki
Educational Dynamics - E. Papaioannou & C. Kanellopoulou - Kyriakopoulou	Syros
English Language Centre - Spiridakou Rania	Patra
English School - Rigas Antoniou & Eleni Dimaki	Volos
Epikoinonia - G. Kalogirou Boutza - V. Letsiou Kosma	Ioannina
Foreign Language Centers Lambraki - Irene Lambraki	Iraklio
Galinaki-Barnia - Afoi Barnia O.E	Iraklio
Glossomatheia - Sachpatzidis Aristeidis	Ptolemaida
Ionian-Katsimpoki Vasiliki	Preveza
Kalogirou-Boutza Georgia	Ioannina
Kokkali Spyridoula	Kerkyra
Kouniakis Dimitrios	Patra
Kouros Antonios	Agrinio
M.C.S (man-centered studies) - Katsardis Ioannis	Peristeri
My English family - Antonopoulou Anthoula - Gakopoulou Peggy	Trikala
Ntavou M. & SIA O.E.	Pallini
Planet Language Centre - Skodra Maria & SIA O.E.	Ptolemaida
Polychronaki-Kapaidonaki Evgenia	Rethymno
Sigouna Anna	Preveza
Siolios - Kougioumtzoglou - AXON Kozani	Kozani
Siolios Dimitrios - AXON Ptolemaida	Ptolemaida
Tzikou Evangelia & SIA E.E.	Mesolongi
Tzouvara Maria	Arta
Vitalaki Charikleia	Rethymno

Please note the following:

If your school or institution uses the ETECT for employment purposes but is not on this list, please contact the Center for Examinations & Certifications.
We have made every effort to ensure that this list was accurate at the time of its publication. However, changes may have occurred following its publication that may render some of this information inaccurate.