The University of Cambridge formed the ‘Local Examinations Syndicate’, now known as Cambridge Assessment, over 150 years ago. Its aim was to raise standards in education by administering exams for people who were not members of the University and inspecting schools. For the first time in 1858, 370 school candidates in 7 English cities sat exams set by the University of Cambridge. Today this has risen to more than 8 million candidates a year in 160 countries. The Syndicate began examining internationally in 1864, and this aspect of its work grew quickly. In 1998 the Syndicate created a new structure, leading to the establishment of three exam boards: Cambridge Assessment International Education – the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for 5 to 19 year olds. Cambridge Assessment English – provider of the world’s leading range of certificates for learners of English. OCR – a leading UK exam board, dedicated to recognising achievement in learners of all ages. The Syndicate adopted the brand name ‘Cambridge Assessment’ in 2005. Cambridge Assessment operates the University’s three exam boards and carries out leading-edge and operational research in assessment in education. It is a not-for-profit organisation.

Oxford University Press has a rich history which can be traced back to the earliest days of printing. The first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, just two years after Caxton set up the first printing press in England. The University was involved with several printers in Oxford over the next century, although there was no formal university press.  In 1586 the University of Oxford's right to print books was recognized in a decree from the Star Chamber. This was enhanced in the Great Charter secured by Archbishop Laud from King Charles I, which entitled the University to print 'all manner of books'. Delegates were first appointed by the University to oversee this process in 1633. Minutes of their deliberations are recorded dating back to 1668. The structure of Oxford University Press (OUP) as it exists today began to develop in a recognizable form from that time. The University also established its right to print the King James Authorized Version of the Bible in the seventeenth century. This Bible Privilege formed the basis of OUP's publishing activities throughout the next two centuries. From the late 1800s OUP began to expand significantly, opening the first overseas OUP office in New York in 1896. Other international branches followed, including Canada (1904), Australia (1908), India (1912), Southern Africa (1914). Today OUP has offices in 50 countries, and is the largest university press in the world.

Learn English with the British Council and you’ll be learning with the world’s English experts. We’ve been teaching English for more than 75 years, reach more than 100 million people in 100 different countries and support our learners with the world’s most comprehensive online learning resource.  We also offer internationally accredited qualifications for all learners to provide an official record of achievement, whatever your level.

The story of Pearson becoming the UK's largest awarding organisation didn’t start with the formation of Edexcel in 1996. It began as long ago as 1836, when a royal charter gave the University of London its first powers to conduct exams and confer degrees on its students.

The junior version of DELF is perfectly fit to teenagers between 12 and 18 years old in middle and high-school. The DELF junior version has the same basic structure as the standard DELF. Only the topics are different: the materials take into account the interests of young people. The diploma's value is the exact same as the standard DELF. Indeed, just as the other types of DELF, the DELF junior version is based on the principles and levels defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR). There is no specific mention on the diploma. Just like the standard DELF, it is a diploma of French language which is issued. Thus it is impossible to tell the difference between a DELF junior version diploma and a standard DELF diploma.