Cambridge also has an educational exam, the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), which they collectively control with the British Council and IDP:IELTS Australia. IELTS is recognized through universities and colleges, as well as employers, immigration authorities and expert our bodies. The examination has listening, reading, writing and speaking additives. For the reading and writing, students can select among an academic and a widespread option. IELTS is scored on a scale of one-9.
Comparing degrees
One of the most commonplace 帶狗去台灣 questions from college students is how checks inside the one-of-a-kind categories examine to each other. Is the FCE equal to one of the BEC tests? If I have the CAE, what TOEFL rating can I count on? Luckily, we’ve a reference manual to help us here, known as the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” (CEF). The CEF divides language newbies into six levels, and allows us to examine all the ESL exams in keeping with those stages.
The six levels are A1 (Breakthrough), A2 (Waystage), B1 (Threshold), B2 (Vantage), C1 (Effective Operational Proficiency), and C2 (Mastery).
Here’s a quick comparison of checks at the different stages. Bear in thoughts that that is a popular manual handiest — college students’ scores in extraordinary tests will of path depend on many elements, which includes coaching time and motivation!
A1: YLE Movers, Pitman ESOL Basic, IELTS rating 1-2.
A2: KET, YLE Flyers, Pitman ESOL Elementary, TOEIC rating 246-380, TOEFL iBT rating 32-forty two, IELTS score three.
B1: PET, TOEIC rating 381-540, BEC Preliminary, TOEFL iBT score 43-61, IELTS rating three.Five-4.Five.
B2: FCE, Pitman ESOL Intermediate, TOEIC rating 541-700, BEC Vantage, TOEFL iBT score 62-91, IELTS score five-6.
C1: CAE, Pitman ESOL Higher Intermediate, TOEIC score 701-910, BEC Higher, TOEFL iBT rating 92-112, IELTS score 6.Five-7.
C2: CPE, Pitman ESOL Advanced, TOEIC rating 911-990, TOEFL iBT score 113-one hundred twenty, IELTS rating 7.Five-nine.
There is of direction a good deal extra facts approximately these checks on the Cambridge ESOL, TOEIC, TOEFL and Pitman websites — you will discover the links at this ESL checks resource
It’s the stop of some other elegance, and one scholar has stayed at the back of. No hassle, you think, perhaps an easy grammar query, or a comment on how they enjoyed the magnificence (or now not!)… Or perhaps it is a question approximately an ESL examination. “What’s the difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?” “Should I take the FCE?” “Who recognizes IELTS?” So if you don’t know your BEC from your KET, or your CAE from your CELS, here’s a quick guide to the maximum popular ESL assessments.
ESL tests fall widely into 3 foremost classes: General English, Business English and Academic English.
General English
Probably the maximum famous in this class are the Cambridge ESOL checks. One and a half of million human beings in a hundred thirty five nations take Cambridge exams every yr. There are 5 General English checks, from time to time known as the “Cambridge Main Suite.”
The first degrees are the KET (Key English Test) and the PET (Preliminary English Test). The KET and PET have reading and writing, listening, and talking components, and are most customarily used to assess development or to put together for the following exam in the collection. The PET is likewise identified through some employers and universities. KET and PET have two bypass grades, Pass with benefit and Pass.
Next up from the PET is the FCE (First Certificate in English). The FCE has five sections, analyzing, writing, use of English, listening and speaking. It is broadly recognized via employers and academic establishments and so could be very famous with college students who want to observe or work abroad.
Many universities and employers, however, prefer the CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), that’s the subsequent stage up. This examination indicates that a student is capable of following a university path or can feature in a range of commercial enterprise contexts.
After the CAE comes the CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English), the highest stage in the series. Students who pass this exam have the capacity to function efficaciously in almost every English talking context. The CPE is likewise an average requirement for non-native speakers who need to educate as English instructors. Students commonly need three years of look at after passing the FCE to attain this stage (relying, of path, on how often they examine and other factors).
FCE, CAE and CPE have 5 grades, A-E, of which A-C are passes.
Cambridge additionally has a series of General English tests for Young Learners aged between 7 and 12 (YLE). There are 3 exams within the series, Starters, Movers and Flyers. They are taken specifically as a way of measuring progress, and additionally as preparation for the KET and PET. There is not any skip or fail – students are provided up to 5 “shields” for every element (analyzing and writing, listening, talking).
Other General English tests
Cambridge also offers CELS (Certificates in English Language Skills). These are person checks in each of the four abilties (studying, writing, listening, speakme). Students can select which of the tests they need to take, according to their strengths and requirements.
Pitman, a part of the British City and Guilds Group, is any other inspecting body with a chain of General English exams. The International ESOL covers listening, reading and writing, and the International Spoken ESOL is a one to 1 dependent interview. Both have six tiers, from primary to advanced.
Business English
Every yr 4 and a half million humans take the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), run by using the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The TOEIC is a a couple of preference exam in sections, listening and studying, each scored out of 445, giving a total of 990. Many groups and authorities businesses use TOEIC as a criterion for recruiting or selling group of workers, or for sending workforce overseas. Some universities also use TOEIC, requiring their business faculty students to gain a specific rating prior to commencement, for instance.
Cambridge also has a sequence of business checks called the BEC (Business English Certificate). BEC comes in three levels, Preliminary, Vantage and Higher. The kinds of examination project are just like those within the Cambridge Main Suite, however take a look at language potential in a enterprise context. They are recognized by means of many employers international, and college students take them to illustrate language competencies required for worldwide enterprise. There are pass grades for BEC, Pass with advantage and Pass.
Other Business English exams
Cambridge offers BULATS (The Business Language Testing Service). BULATS is designed specifically for agencies and corporations to test the language capacity of personnel who want English in their work, and for college kids and employees on language and enterprise publications.
Pitman has a 3-level collection of assessments known as English for Business Communications, which assessments commercial enterprise writing capacity, and English for Office Skills, a -degree series designed to check the potential to perform workplace-related duties in which accuracy in writing and following instructions is critical.
Academic English
A commonplace query from college students is “What’s the difference among TOEIC and TOEFL?” Well, both are run by using ETS, but while TOEIC evaluates language talents for the place of job, TOEFL evaluates language competencies in an academic context. It is therefore used generally as a prerequisite for admission to universities and faculties. More than 5000 colleges and universities in ninety countries apprehend the exam. During 2005 and 2006, TOEFL is phasing in a brand new net-based totally check (iBT), with a view to update the modern laptop-based totally and paper-based totally assessments. The iBT has 4 sections, analyzing, listening, speakme and writing, each with a score of 30, giving a total score of a hundred and twenty. This is probable to reason a few confusion for some time, as most students and universities are used to running with the paper-based overall of 677, or the computer-primarily based total of 300!