The ICFE is the Cambridge International Certificate in Financial English, although it should probably be called the Cambridge International Certificate in English for Accountants given its topics and links to the ACCA. It is set at the levels of B2 and C1 (approx FCE and CAE) in the CEFR, and interestingly those levels are exactly what gets mentioned on your certificate if you pass (C1 Pass with Merit, C1 Pass or B2 Pass, in place of the usual “grade A” etc).

The exam has four papers for the four skills, but half of the “reading” one is actually more like FCE or CAE Use of English. The speaking exam is taken in pairs or threes like Cambridge General English exams and unlike IELTS and BULATS – can’t really imagine top finance professionals taking to that! Also unlike IELTS or BULATS, you really do need to know an awful lot about the topic of accounting to have any chance of passing the exam, or even of finding anything at all to say during the speaking (despite Cambridge’s claims to the contrary).

Don’t worry, I didn’t know any of that either two months ago when I volunteered to write a review of a new book from Delta preparing for the exam. I honestly believe that people who know nothing about a subject are perfect reviewers (being in the same position as most teachers), but still felt the need to swot up before I got down to write the review. Here were some of my sources:

Site

http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/financial/

Relevant bits on paper

Absolute Financial English (Delta Publishing) – The one I am reviewing – blog post by the author on ICFE Reading Part 5 is also available here

Cambridge ICFE Workbook (BPP Learning Media)