Which English level exam should I take?

Maybe one of your 2021 resolutions is to take an official English exam to certify your level of English. People take these exams for different reasons – work, study, or personal goals – but perhaps the most important thing is to know which one you really need. 

TOEFL

This exam is perfect if you want to study in an English-speaking country, especially the USA, Canada, and Australia. It measures the 4 academic English skills the way they are really used in a classroom, with material that is taken from textbooks, lectures, and campus life. It is accepted by more than 11,000 universities and institutions in over 150 countries. The English used is American English.

IELTS

This is an English language proficiency test, covering the 4 language skills, that is useful if you want to study or work in countries where English is used for communication. It has two formats: Academic IELTS, which focuses more on academic English, and is for applying to higher education (university or postgraduate) or professions, and General IELTS, which covers broad real-life and work language and situations. The English used is British English.

Cambridge Exams

These are the best to take if you want to have a diploma which indicates your level of English, for work or in your CV. The exam is graded according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 to C2, and tests the 4 language skills, with a strong focus on grammar. Each of the exams (Key, Preliminary, First, Advanced, and Proficiency) is focused on a specific level of the language, and this is reflected in the type of vocabulary and grammatical structures used in the exam. Not only do you have to know the language, but you also have to practice doing each of the sections, and preparation usually takes several months.

Both TOEFL and IELTS are valid for 2 years. IELTS is more common in the UK, and TOEFL in the USA, although there are exceptions and many higher learning institutions will accept both. Cambridge exam certifications are valid for life.

Other exams

TOEIC is a test of English for communication and it’s usually used for business, especially in Asia, to prove employees’ English is good enough to work with and understand English-speaking clients and colleagues. TOEIC scores are usually considered valid for two years.

The Trinity ISE is an exam which helps develop communicative and transferable skills required for academic study and employability. It is divided into 5 CEFR levels. The Trinity GESE exams are used to develop you speaking proficiency and complements your general English courses. These exams are one-to-one, face-to-face assessments of English language speaking and listening skills with an examiner.