The most important official tests of English (an outline):
www.examenglish.com: all tests of English:
1) The TOEFL® examTest Of English as Foreign Language. The essential exam for entry to universities in the United States. Academic language. Try the free practice material on this site:
iBT Reading test iBT Listening testStructure Tests (Paper-based format)
Vocabulary test
Who is it for?The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) measures the ability of nonnative speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings. Most people who take the TOEFL test are planning to study at colleges and universities where instruction is in English. In addition, many government agencies, scholarship programs, and licensing/certification agencies use TOEFL scores to evaluate English proficiency.
Versions of the TOEFL® testYou can do the test on paper or on a computer, depending where you live. The test comes in two formats:
1. paper-based test (PBT)
2. next generation computer-based test (iBT)
The iBT is not yet available at every test center. If it is available at your local center then you will have to do it. If not you will do the PBT.
What is the TOEFL® test like?
The next generation TOEFL® iBT test has four sections:
1
Reading
3-5 passages, 12-14 questions each
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60-100 mins
2
Listening
4-6 lectures, 6 questions each 2-3 conversations, 5 questions each
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60-90 mins
3
Speaking
6 tasks, 2 independent and 2 integrated
20 mins
4
Writing
1 integrated task1 independent task
50 mins
An integrated task is one where you have to use more than one skill. For example, you read about something, listen to a lecture, and then write about what you have heard and read.
The Paper-based test has the following format:
Time Limit
No. of Questions
Listening Comprehension
30-40 minutes
50
Structure and Written Expression
Free practice tests
25 minutes
40
Reading Comprehension
55 minutes
50
Writing (Test of Written English)
30 minutes
1 topic
Where do I take the test?At a test center in your country. The test is organised by the Educational Testing Service. You can register for the TOEFL® iBT online.Click
here to register
How much does the TOEFL test cost to take?Prices vary in each country, in the USA the test costs $150. In the UK the TOEFL ibt is $185 while the paper-based TOEFL is $150.
What materials do I need?
You can buy TOEFL materials here
2) The TOEIC examFree Reading tests:
part 5 :incomplete sentences part 6: error recognition
Test of English for International Communication
TOEIC test questions are based on real-life work settings in an international environment (meetings, travel, telephone conversations, etc). Who is it for?The Test is used by organisations to determine whether an employee is suitable for a particular task. If you work or want to work for a large organisation, particularily in Asia, then the TOEIC test will be useful to you.
What is the TOEIC test like?The test takes 2.5 hours and has two sections:
1. Listening - 100 questions
2. Structure - 100 questions
These break down as follows.
Listening
Part 1 photos 20 questions
Part 2: Question – Response: 30 questions
Part 3: Short conversation: 30 questions
Part 4: Short talks: 20 questions
Reading
Part 5: Incomplete sentences: 40 questions
Part 6: Error recognition: 20 questions
Part 7: Reading comprehension: 40 questions
The TOEIC exam is under review with some changes being introduced to the new TOEIC. The main change is that you will also be able to take a Writing and Speaking exam alomg with the Reading and Listening.
What about scores?
The TOEIC gives a score between 10 and 990:
905 - 990 International Proficiency
785 – 900 Working Proficiency Plus
605 – 780 Limited Working Proficiency
405 – 600 Elementary Proficiency Plus
255 – 400 Elementary Proficiency
185 – 250 Memorised Proficiency
10 – 180 No Useful Proficiency
How much does it cost to take TOEIC?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around $65 USD.
3) Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) :
About CPE
Grammar Test Vocabulary Test Dictionary Test
Difficulty level: ALTE 5/C2/advancedThe Cambridge Proficiency exam is the hardest of the Cambridge exams.
Who is it for?Do this test if you really love English. If you pass this test your English is good enough for you to teach English to others. Your English will be good enough to study at any British university. Over 45,000 people in more than 80 countries take the CPE exam each year.
What is the CPE test like?The test has five sections:
1. Reading - 60 minutes
2. Composition - 2 tasks, 2 hours
3. Use of English - 90 minutes
4. Listening - 3 or 4 recordings, 40 minutes
5. Interview - normally with another candidate, 15 minutes
ScoreA, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
LevelC2. Super advanced.
Click here to see a table comparing CPE with other exams.
Where do I take the test?At a test centre.
When can I take the test?Arrange with your
closest test centre. The test can only be taken twice a year, in June and December.How much does it cost to take CPE?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €150 euros.
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Free practice tests
Grammar Test Vocabulary Test
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4)Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Free Practice Tests About CAE
Listening English In Use 1 English in Use 2 Use of English in Use 4
Difficulty level: C1 / Alte 4 / advanced Who is it for?If you can communicate with confidence in English for work or study purposes, this is the exam for you. CAE is taken by more than 60,000 people each year in more than 60 countries.
What is the CAE test like?The test has five sections:
1. Reading - 75 minutes
2. Writing - 2 or 3 tasks , 120 minutes
3. English in Use - 6 tasks with 80 questions - 90 minutes -
free Use of English tests
4. Listening - 45 minutes -
Click here for a free listening practice test
5. Speaking - interview, normally with another candidate, 15 minutes
ScoreA, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)FCE A grade pass is accepted for entry to some universities
LevelAdvanced.
Click here to see a comparison of CAE scores with other exams.
Where do I take the test?At a test centre.
When can I take the test?Arrange with your
closest test centre. The test can only be taken three times a year, in March, June and December.
How much does it cost to take CAE?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €150 euros.
5) First Certificate in English (FCE)
Reading test Use of English test Listening test Writing test Writing test 2
Difficulty level: B2 / Alte 3 /upper intermediateThe First Certificate in English is the most important of the Cambridge exams.
Who is it for?Pass this test and everybody knows you have an acceptable level of English. You can operate effectively in a business or social context.
What is the FCE test like?The test has five sections:
1. Reading - 75 minutes-
free practice test !New
2. Writing - 2 essays, 90 minutes -
free practice test
3. Use of English - 90 minutes -
free practice test
4. Listening - 40 minutes -
free listening practice test
5. Speaking - interview, normally with another candidate, 15 minutes
ScoreA, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)FCE A grade pass is accepted for entry to some universities
LevelUpper intermediate.
Click here to see a comparison of FCE scores with other exams.
Where do I take the test?At a test centre.
When can I take the test?Arrange with your
closest test centre. The test can only be taken twice a year, in June and December.
How much does it cost to take FCE?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €140 euros.
6)Preliminary English Test (PET)
Reading Test Writing part 1 Writing part 3
Difficulty level: B1 / Alte 2 / low intermediateThe Preliminary English Test is one of the
Cambridge ESOL exams.
Who is it for?Do this test if you want to know that you have an intermediate level of English. With this level of English you will enjoy holidays in English speaking countries. You should probably continue studying once you have passed the PET exam.
What is the PET test like?The test has three sections:
1.
Reading and
Writing - 90 minutes
2. Listening - 30 minutes
3. Speaking - an interview, 10 minutes
Score‘pass’, ‘pass with merit’, ‘narrow fail’, or ‘fail’
LevelB1 / Alte 2 / low intermediate.
Click here to see how it compares with other exams.
Where do I take the test?At a test centre.
When can I take the test?Arrange with your
closest test centre. The test can only be taken 6 times a year.How much does it cost to take PET?Fees are set by test centers. Expect to pay around €80 euros
7) Key English Test (KET)
Grammar Test Vocabulary Test
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Difficulty level: 1 elementary The Key English Test is the easiest of the Cambridge exams.
Who is it for?Do this test if you want to know your studies have started well and you have a basic knowledge of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
What is the KET test like?The test has three sections:
1. Reading & Writing - 70 minutes
2. Listening - 25 minutes
3. Speaking - 8-10 minutes
ScoreA, B, C (pass), D, E or U (fail)
Level
Click here to see a comparison of KET scores with other exams.
Where do I take the test?At a test centre.
When can I take the test?Arrange with your
closest test centre. The test can only be taken twice a year, in June and December.
How much does it cost to take KET?Fees are set by test centres. Expect to pay around €75 euros.
Free Practice tests:
Grammar Test Vocabulary Test
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8) Business Language Testing Service ( BULATS)
Free Reading Practice Test
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What they say about itThe Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) is a language assessment service specifically for the use of companies and organisations. BULATS is for organisations which need a reliable way of assessing the language ability of groups of employees or trainees. The service is designed to test the language of employees who need to use a foreign language in their work, and for students and employees on language courses or on professional/business courses where foreign language ability is an important element of the course.Who is it for?The BULATS Test is designed for companies and organisations. It is used to test the following four languages:
1. English
2. French
3. German
4. Spanish
What is the BULATS test like?The test has four sections. Each can be done separately.
1. Computer test - about 60 minutes
2. Standard test - on paper, 110 minutes
3. Speaking - interview and presentation , 12 minutes
4. Writing - two pieces of business writing, such as a letter or report, 45 minutes
9) The Michigan ECCE exam
Free Grammar Test
The Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) is a high-intermediate-level (B2) general EFL exam. The language used in the test is American-English.Who is it for?The ECCE emphasizes communicative use of English rather than a formalistic knowledge of English, and it is aimed at students who are able to function and perform communicative transactions in all four skill areas of the language (speaking, listening, reading, writing). The language tested is 'general', rather than 'academic'.
What is the Michigan ECCE test like?The test takes 3 hours and has these sections:
1. Listening - 2 sections, 50 questions
2. Grammar - 50 questions
3. Vocabulary - 35 questions
4. Reading - 3 sections, 30 questions
5. Writing - 1 task
6. Speaking - interview with examiner
How does the ECCE compare to other exams?Those receiving an ECCE Certificate would be expected to have language skills comparable to those receiving a Cambridge First Certificate (FCE). ECCE Certificate holders are at the B2 level.The skill level needed to achieve an ECCE Certificate would be expected to result in a TOEFL score ranging from 450 to 525, or a TOEFL CBT score between 133 and 195.
Click to see a table comparing Michigan ECCE with other international exams.
How is the ECCE scored?The ECCE is scored using a method called aggregate scoring. Aggregate scoring allows students who are weak in one area to compensate by being strong in another area. This means you can fail one of the four sections (Speaking, Listening, Grammar-Vocabulary-Reading, Writing) and still pass the ECCE exam if your scores on other sections are significantly higher than the minimum pass level. Students who fail two or more sections will not pass the exam. Students who fail the exam will be told which sections they did not pass, so that they will know in which areas they need to improve.Generally, examinees must answer about 65% of the multiple-choice Listening and Grammar-Vocabulary-Reading items correctly in order to pass those sections.
Where do I take the test?At a test center in your country.
Click here to find a test center.
How much does it cost?The test fees are set by each center. About $40USD.
For further details, please contact:
The University of Michigan English language Institute
10) The Michigan ECPE exam
Free Grammar Test
The Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) is an advanced (C2) academic EFL exam. The language used in the test is American-English.Who is it for?The ECPE is a test of advanced English language proficiency, reflecting skills and content typically used in university or professional contexts.
What is the Michigan ECPE test like?The test takes 3 hours and has these sections:
1. Listening - 2 sections, 50 questions
2. Cloze test - 1 passage, 20 questions
3. Grammar - 40 questions
4. Vocabulary - 40 questions
5. Reading - 4 sections, 20 questions
6. Writing - 1 task
7. Speaking - interview with examiner
How does the ECPE compare to other exams?Those receiving an ECCE Certificate would be expected to have language skills comparable to those receiving a Cambridge Proficiency of English (CPE). ECPE Certificate holders are at the C2 level.
CEF level
Cambridge
IELTS level
TOEFL iBT
TOEIC
Michigan
LTE
C2
CPE
7.5 +
ECPE
level 5
7.0
100
C1
CAE
6.5
90
880
level 4
6.0
80
B2
FCE
5.5
70
ECCE
level 3
5.0
60
B1
PET
4
550
level 2
A2
KET
3
level 1
How is the ECPE scored?Those who obtain passing scores on all four sections of the ECPE are awarded a Certificate of Proficiency. Those with high scores on all four sections are awarded a Certificate of Proficiency with Honors.
Where do I take the test?At a test center in your country.
Click here to find a test center.
How much does it cost?The test fees are set by each center. About $40USD.
For further details, please contact:
The University of Michigan English language Institute
11) London Tests of English
About LTE exams level 3 listening level 5 listening
The London Tests of English are designed to reward positive achievement in English language learning.
The London Tests of English consist of two parts: a written paper and an interview.
There are six levels:
Writing
Interview
A1
Level A1
75 mins
10 mins
A2
Level 1
90 mins
10 mins
B1
Level 2
95 mins
10 mins
B2
Level 3
120 mins
12 mins
C1
Level 4
150 mins
15 mins
C2
Level 5
175 mins
15 mins
Click here for a free listening practice level 3 test.Click here for a free listening practice level 5 test.
The writing paper tests listening, reading comprehension and writing skills. Each exam is based on a theme, such as cities, quality of life, on holiday.
RecognitionLevels 4 and 5 are recognised for admission to UK universities and by many international companies.
How do the LTE tests compare to other exams?
Click here to see a comparison table.
Where do I take the test?At a test center in your country.
When can I take a LTE test?May, June, August, November, December.
Click here for a timetable.
How much does it cost?The test fees are set by each center.These tests are reasonably priced. The higher level tests are more expensive than the lower level ones. Expect to pay £50 for level A1 and £100 for level 5.
For further details, please contact:
Pearson Language Assessments
12) THE International English Language Testing System(IELTS)
