Toefl, Toiec, Ielts, Cambridge… Which language tests to certify your level in English?

Study in an English-speaking country or a training course in France, but with an international focus, A good English may be required. Also, companies may ask for proof of your English language level before admitting you. However, it can be difficult to choose the right choice because there are so many choices… The student gets involved.

A wide range of tests

Language certificates – especially in English – aim to demonstrate your level of language proficiency after a standardized test and certify that language will not be a barrier to your academic success. And for English, there are many.

But not all certificates serve the same purpose. Some are clearly aimed at academia. Among the most recognized, Bart Diegers*, a professor at the University of Ghent (Belgium) specializing in language testing, cites: Toefl IBT (Choosing English as a Foreign Language), Ielts Academic (International English Language Testing System), PTE Pedagogy (Pearson Test of English) and Duolingo English Test.

Only four of these were accepted by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Cambridge English qualifications with C1 Advanced or C2 pass.

Many more tests are possible. Toefl has a “more professional” cousin, Toeic, and is owned by ETS. The French government also offers the more common Diploma of English Language Proficiency (DCL), as well as a Higher Education Language Proficiency Certificate, Cles. Others are more local, etc Canadian Academic English Language AssessmentFrom Paragon, accepted by University of Toronto.

And these are just a few examples. “Hundreds of tests are developed by universities “Themselves,” says Bart Deegers.

Different ways to test your English level

These certificates are available Everyone has their own way of testing candidates, underlines the university. However, according to him, “it’s important to choose a test that matches your strengths”:

• Toefl IBT takes place Mostly online and “attempts to faithfully reproduce university-required assignments such as term papers [essays]based on the US environment”. It lasts three hours and can be done at a testing center or at home.
• IELTS “Provides more traditional assessments, usually written on paper and face-to-face oral, always closely related to university subjects.” It lasts about three hours in an exam centre.
• PTE Academic is fast paced (two hours) and very different. It takes place on a computer. “The exercises are short and should predict how you will perform in collegeAs in a research paper [essay]Relies heavily on communication”. It takes place in an exam centre.
• Duolingo English test, “most recent”, “organized like Pearson [dans le PTE]But in a more serious way”, assesses the author. It lasts an hour and is carried out only online.

Expensive and time-limited language tests

It is also a good idea to inquire about the prices of these language exams. “Duolingo is clearly the cheapest” of the four described by Bart Diegers: In France it costs 58.80 dollars including tax, which is about 57 euros.

But The other three are worth more than 200 euros in France. Ielts is charged at 240 euros until the end of 2022 and 245 euros from 2023. Publisher Pearson offers PTE at roughly the same price: 255 dollars or 245 euros. For the Toefl IBT, the minimum cost is 265 dollars, so 255 euros.

Some French universities allow their students to benefit from the reduction. However, it is still an investment. And it’s often time-limited: the four tests mentioned above are valid for two years.

Choosing the right time to take your test

So this is important Choosing the right time to take this type of testPrepare it and decide which certification is the best fit for your project.

Some testers usually post List of institutions (universities, but also institutions) that recognize them. This is especially true for Duolingo, Ielts, PTE and Toefl.

But again, This list of certifications is not exhaustive. The most important thing is to check what the training you are targeting stands for in its eligibility criteria.

*Bart Diegers is also a member of the TOEFL Examiners Committee and the Association of Language Testers in Europe, including Cambridge English, and one of the managers of IELTS.