TOEFL, Cambridge, TOEIC… These names will surely ring a bell if you’re studying English and want to get an official title, in fact, there are many official exams that are recognised internationally and very useful for many situations.
At Glorick, as a company specialised in online business-English courses, we’ve talked about the best tips for learning a language in a previous post but in this article we’d like to talk about the different official-exams currently available and which type of exam is suitable for each situation.
How many official English exams are there?
As we mentioned previously, there are many different English exams that are recognised internationally. Each one of them has a series of characteristics that are important to understand in order to take the exam that best fits your needs.
In the following article, we’ll mention the most important official-exams and what their main characteristics are.
The Cambridge exams
The official Cambridge exams are maybe one of the most popular exams out there given that they score both the level and knowledge that you have of the language.
There are different levels available depending on your knowledge, this allows for more accurate scoring of each person’s English level. These are the different levels available: Preliminary, First, Advanced and Proficiency.
This type of exam is considered the most appropriate for those people who want to get a certificate that confirms their English level. Furthermore, it’s important to point out that the Cambridge English exams don’t have an expiry date.
International English Language Testing System
Another one of the exams that we would like to mention in this article is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). This one is also managed by Cambridge University and is made up of reading, writing, speaking and listening exams.
It’s important to know that, currently, there are different versions known as Academic and General Training. The first of these is focused on academic English whilst the second is orientated to professional English.
IELTS has become the best exam for those people that want to work or study in England, Australia or New Zealand, given that it’s often asked for in order to be admitted to university or higher-education institutions. As a result of that, in the last few years IELTS has become one of the most recognised exams by universities all over the world.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, better known as TOEFL, is the exam you’ll have to take if you want to study in the United States or Canada. This exam evaluates fluency and knowledge of what we call American English.
As we’ve already mentioned, it’s the most appropriate exam for those people that want to study at a university or apply for a work or study grant in the United States.
We think it’s important to point out that, unlike the previously mentioned Cambridge exams, the score you get in the TOEFL exam is only valid for 2 years and for that reason you should correctly choose the date that you take the exam on.
Test of English for International Communication
To end this article, we would like to highlight the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). This is the most appropriate exam for those people that want to work abroad or in an international company, given that it evaluates your level of English in a work environment. The TOEIC is considered the exam that is orientated exclusively to business and professional English.
As a result of that, the Test of English for International Communication has become one of the most recognised exams by international corporations.
Finally, it’s important to point out that there are two models of exams based on reading and listening or speaking and writing. Furthermore, just like the TOEFL, the TOEIC is also valid for two years.
Comments