Dunedin has become the first centre in New Zealand and Australia to offer Cambridge University English-language examinations for children who are speakers of other languages.
In 2006, 2 million people in more than 140 countries took Cambridge examinations for learners and teachers of English for speakers of other languages (Esol).
Cambridge young learners English (YLE) tests for primary-school pupils aged 7 to 12 are available in more than 50 countries but have not been offered in New Zealand or Australia before.
Older pupils have previously been able to take other Cambridge Esol tests in Dunedin.
At a training workshop in the city last week, five people, including three city Esol teachers, became qualified as examiners of the oral YLE tests.
Amilcar Oliveira is the external examination co-ordinator at the University of Otago Language Centre and is the city's acting examination co-ordinator for the YLE tests.
Mr Oliveira said he had been keen to offer the tests and Jan Probert, an Esol teacher at North East Valley Normal School, had been the "propelling force" behind making them available in Dunedin.
The tests provided overseas-born pupils with an internationally recognised acknowledgement of their English-language abilities.
