ESL Blogs

Comparison of language exams: English

To demonstrate the attained level of competence in English, there are various examinations, each with their own certificate. Although the institutions providing these examinations all do so on a commercial basis, the certificates are widely recognised by institutions (universities and universities of professional education, organisations and employers) in English-speaking countries. The TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is from the USA, the Cambridge Certificates at various levels (e.g. the Certificate of Proficiency in English and the Certificate in Advanced English) are from the UK, whereas IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) have been developed internationally, albeit with a strong British influence.

To provide clarity to those who rely on these tests and need to know how they compare, the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) classified them into five levels of language proficiency. This comparison has been accepted by the institutions that offer the relevant tests.

ALTE  - Association of Language Testers in Europe

IELTS - Test of English for International Communication (points scale 1 - 8)

Cambridge - CPE, CAE, FCE, PET, KET (each level is subdivided into A-F, but a pass mark for the relevant level is only awarded if a score of A, B or C has been achieved)

TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication. (points scale 10-990)

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language (the new, internet-based test uses a points scale from 0-120)