Many business schools offer or even encourage students to take several certifications, including the Voltaire Certificate which will enhance your mastery of the French language, a dimension highly appreciated by recruiters in all sectors. In fact, it is estimated that 82% of recruiters are sensitive to it. Focus on this certification and how to obtain it!
We tend to imagine that this certification only concerns writing professions. But think again! Having a good level of spelling is a real asset to stand out among other candidates for a manager, sales, engineer or even lawyer position as well as for a department director position.
The Voltaire Certificate
Created in 2010 by the Woonoz company, this certificate, intended for and accessible to all, aims to guarantee a candidate’s spelling level. Subsequently, he will mention his score on his CV in order to certify your level of knowledge of the French language to recruiters. Note that the score varies between 0 and 1,000 points.
The Voltaire Certificate is the only real recognized title unlike other certifications offered on certain websites intended. Indeed, there is nothing to prove that it was indeed you who took the test which takes place online, the majority of the time.
It was in 2019 that the Voltaire Expression Project sees the light of day. Unlike the Voltaire Orthography Projectthis one is for anyone who wants to improve their communication beyond good spelling. You will then find two new modules which are none other than “Vocabulary” and “Syntax & punctuation”. Thanks to these new features, you will be able to improve the quality of your prose, develop an effective argument, expand your vocabulary and better express your thoughts.
Finally, if you wish to take the famous Voltaire Spelling Certificate, it will cost you €59.90 including tax or €69.90 including tax by credit card or Paypal.
Namely:
• “The Voltaire Certificate is valid for four years from the date the exam is taken. »
• The Voltaire Certificate is not a diploma, it simply attests to a certified and measured level, there is no notion of failure or success.
• Companies and schools have formed partnerships with the Voltaire Project such as the Adecco Group Or Montpellier Business School.
The Voltaire Certificate exam
The course of the exam
First of all, the Voltaire Certificate takes place in one of the 1,800 approved examination centers (including 270 public) in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, Luxembourg, etc. The exam begins with a dictation, of approximately two lines, then a MCQ of 195 questions for a total duration of 3 hours.
The MCQ is made up of almost a third of grammatical rules, then 15% of lexical rules, 15% of semantic rules and finally 5% of syntactic rules. In this part of the exam, you will have to indicate and target the mistakes among the 195 sentences proposed in everyday style up to the most literary.
Interpreting your Voltaire Certificate score
15 days after passing the exam, you now hold the certificate in your hands either after consulting the official website using your validation code, or after opening your mailbox. Here’s what your score means according to the official website:
• “Level 300 : spelling TECHNICAL – skills for writing simple texts. Recommended for professions in which simple technical instructions are exchanged.
• Level 500 : spelling PROFESSIONAL – skills for writing elaborate texts. Recommended for managers, salespeople, engineers, senior technicians, assistants, secretaries, etc.
• Level 700 : spelling BUSINESS – skills for writing texts that have a strategic or legal scope, as well as for linking collaborators’ texts. Recommended for key account managers, executive assistants, department directors, lawyers, notaries, etc.
• Level 900 : EXPERT – recommended for professions related to letters: proofreaders – proofreaders, rewriters, translators, trainers, coaches… “
Namely:
• It is possible to retake the exam several times.
• It is not possible to obtain a refund.
• It is impossible to cancel a session, you can only postpone it with or without administration fees (from the moment the exam subject has not been sent to the exam center, i.e. say a few days before the session).
Why take the Voltaire Certificate?
Whether you master the French language or need to improve, Voltaire Certification will allow you to improve and, above all, guarantee your level with recruiters. After all, what could be better than the Voltaire Certificate to prove your level of French language proficiency?
Recruiters are unanimous, in fact, 52% of recruiters believe that the level of spelling is a criterion for selecting an application. Then it is obvious that for jobs where you will have to write or those which bring you into contact with customers, recruiters will be more demanding about your level of spelling.
How to prepare for the Voltaire Certificate?
Two options are available to you if you want to train for the big day. You can train from books such as:
• Optimize your Voltaire certificate score by Marie-France Claerebout
• The Great Book of Spelling – Voltaire Certificate : the reference for achieving the score you are aiming for by Dominique Dumas
• Master spelling with the Voltaire Certificate by Bruno Dewaele (approved professor of modern literature and reigning world spelling champion) and Agnès Colomb
• The official Voltaire Certificate by Julien Sulie
However, you can always help yourself with the famous Bled or that good old Beschrelle that you had to buy in college. However, nothing stops you from practicing online thanks to the site Voltaire Project.
Thanks to this site, designed and managed by experts in French and pedagogy, it offers training adapted to your level (primary school pupils / middle school pupils / adults, high school pupils, students).
Several formulas are offered to students such as:
• Campus fundamentals which allows you to aim for the minimum score of 300 points
• The upper module intended for those who want to achieve a score of 700 points
• The excellence modulecoupled with the upper module, it is aimed at candidates who wish to achieve a score of 990 points
• Vocabulary, syntax and punctuation expression for all people who aim for 9/9 in the expression test of the Voltaire Certificate
This option, more fun thanks to these videos, will suit the more visual among you. It also allows you to exchange your mnemonic tips with more than 5 million users.
Also discover our tips for standing out with your CV!
