UCLES

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UCLES, short for University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate. Also informally the Cambridge Syndicate, the Syndicate. A local examining body based on the U. of Cambridge and established in 1858. It is responsible for schools examinations in England (as a member of the Midland Examining Group), for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), and individually for the General Certificate in Education at Advanced Level. The strong involvement of UCLES in overseas examining dates from c.1870 with the School Certificate and examining in English as a foreign language from 1913, with the Certificate of Proficiency in English. See EXAMINING IN ENGLISH.