All over the world, the Alliance offers a variety of cultural activities and courses at all levels for people of all ages and occupations. The Alliance Fran aise offers seven different diplomas in language, civilization, literature, business French and commercial translation. All these examinations may be taken at any one of 200 centres in seventy countries. They are set and marked in Paris. Dates of the examinations may vary and students should check details at their local Alliance centre.
Results are usually available through local institutes one month after the examination.
Each team member selects texts from a number of different sources, including novels and short stories, news items , letters and radio programmes. 1.2 Test item writing Team members write their own items , which are then checked by a commission chaired by the Director of the Paris school or the teacher training adviser and sent back for modifications wherever necessary. At present there is no special training for item writers, but they are invited to attend all working groups concerned with examinations. The CEFP commission produces twenty-eight to thirty tests a year. The approved tests are then left with the examinations department.