Guide to English language examinations

There are so many English language exams: how do you know which one to take?

Your decision will depend on your level of English, and your eventual aims. For example, you may need to attain a score to support an application to university, or to apply for a job. Or you might take an exam purely for your own sense of satisfaction.

This guide aims to help you decide which is the most suitable English language examination for you.

In this section >>>

• FCE
• CAE
• CPE
• IELTS
• TOEFL
• TOEIC
• Which exam should I take?

Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) examinations

The Cambridge examinations are recognised worldwide as proof of your English language ability. They can be used in applications for jobs, and, in some cases, for universities. But they are also a satisfying measure of personal achievement.

Since they are offered at a variety of levels, Cambridge exams are a good choice if you wish to demonstrate your progress, or gain a qualification in a short space of time. One natural path is to progress from FCE (which is approximately Upper Intermediate level), through CAE (Advanced) to CPE (Proficient).

The CPE is the highest English language accreditation available in the world. Passing the CPE is proof that your English has reached the maximum recognised level.

FCE (First Certificate in English)

What is the FCE?

The FCE is administered by the University of Cambridge. It is an Upper- Intermediate level test of your English ability.

Equivalents

FCE	IELTS	TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	TOEIC
Pass	5.5 – 6.5	520 - 580	69 - 91	650 - 800

Passing the FCE shows that you have a wide vocabulary and are able to express an opinion persuasively and effectively. You should have no trouble adapting to a variety of social, work and personal situations.

The Cambridge ESOL board state that the FCE proves your competence in the following areas:

Listening/speaking: You can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics.
Reading: You can scan texts for relevant information, and understand detailed instructions or advice.
Writing: You can make notes while someone is talking, or write a letter including non-standard requests.

Why should I take the FCE?

1) Employers worldwide recognise the FCE. You can use English for small work-related tasks and even undertake an internship.
2) You can use the result to support an application to some degree and diploma courses.
3) If you'd like to take the CAE, passing the FCE is perfect preparation.

How is the FCE assessed?

There are 5 papers, each worth 20% of the final mark: Reading, Writing, Use of English, Speaking (normally taken in pairs), and Listening.

The following information has been taken from the Cambridge ESOL website.

Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to be able to understand information in fiction and non -fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes
You will have to show you can produce a number of different items such as a short story, a letter, an article, a report or a composition, each of about 120-180 words.

Use of English: 1 hour 15 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 40 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.

Speaking: 14 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.

You'll receive a statement of results detailing your performance in each section. Each component of the exam carries 20% of the total marks.

An overall grade of A, B or C is a pass. A grade of D, E or F is a fail. The percentages required to achieve these grades are not fixed. However, a grade C usually represents an overall mark of 60%.

Where will I take the exam?

There is an examination centre located near each Embassy school that offers an FCE preparatory course. Your teacher will take you there, ensure you register and then wish you good luck!

When can I take the examination?

March, June, or December.

Your chosen school will enrol you and provide the exact date.

Where can I find out more information?

Find out more about the FCE exam on the official Cambridge ESOL website.

How can I prepare for the FCE?

We offer FCE exam preparation courses in several of our schools. See our Cambridge Examination Preparation course page.

CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)

What is the CAE?

The CAE is administered by the University of Cambridge.It is an Advanced level test of your English ability.

Equivalents

CAE	IELTS	TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	TOEIC
Pass	6.5 – 7.5	580 - 620	91 - 113	800 - 900

A pass will prove that you have a good command of English vocabulary and grammar. You can apply English confidently in education, social and professional settings. It will also show that you can use your English language skills in a range of culturally appropriate ways.

The Cambridge ESOL board state that the CAE proves your competence in the following areas:

Listening/speaking: You can contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within your own area of work, or keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping with abstract expressions.
Reading: You can read quickly enough to cope with an academic course, to get information from the media, or to understand non-standard correspondence.
Writing: You can prepare/draft professional correspondence, take reasonably accurate notes in meetings, or write an essay which shows an ability to communicate.

Why should I take the CAE?

1) You can use the result to support an application to many university degree and diploma courses.
2) Employers worldwide recognise the CAE, and take it as an indication that you are able to apply English in most professional settings.
3) If you'd like to take the CPE, passing the CAE is perfect preparation.

How is the CAE assessed?

There are 5 papers, each worth 20% of the final mark: Reading, Writing, Use of English, Speaking (normally taken in pairs), and Listening.

The following information has been taken from the Cambridge ESOL website:

Reading: 1 hour 15 minutes
You will need to understand texts from publications such as fiction and non-fiction books, journals, newspapers and magazines.

Writing: 2 hours
You will have to show you can process information from different types of input to produce a number of different types of writing such as letters, articles, reports and reviews. The pieces of writing will be aimed at specific types of readers, each of about 250 words.

Use of English Paper: 1 hour 30 minutes
Your use of English will be tested by tasks which show how well you can control your grammar and vocabulary.

Listening: 45 minutes
You need to show you can understand the meaning of a range of spoken material, including lectures, news programmes and public announcements.

Speaking: 15 minutes
You will take the Speaking test with another candidate or in groups of three, and you will be tested on your ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidates and by yourself.

Where will I take the exam?

Each Embassy school that offers a CAE preparatory course is situated close to an examination centre. Your teacher will accompany you to the centre and will be on hand to help you register and calm those pre-exam nerves!

When can I take the examination?

March, June, or December.
Your chosen school will enrol you and provide the exact date.

Where can I find out more information?

Visit the official Cambridge ESOL website.

How can I prepare for the CAE?

We offer CAE exam preparation courses in several of our schools. See our Cambridge Examination Preparation course page.

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)

What is the CPE?

The CPE is administered by the University of Cambridge. It is a higher Advanced level test of your English ability.

Equivalents

CPE	IELTS	TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	TOEIC
Pass	7.5+	620+	113+	900+

Passing the exam will demonstrate that your standard of English is approaching that of an educated native speaker. It will also show that you can use English with ease and fluency in almost any situation.

The Cambridge ESOL board state that the CPE proves your competence in the following areas:

Listening/speaking: You can advise on or talk about complex or sensitive issues, understand colloquial references and deal confidently with hostile questions.

Reading: You can understand documents, correspondence and reports, including the finer points of complex texts.

Writing: You can write letters on any subject and full notes of meetings or seminars with good expression and accuracy.

Why should I take the CPE?

1. You are now at a level of proficiency where your result can support an application to graduate and postgraduate degrees at even the most prestigious institutions.

2. There is no higher English language accreditation than the CPE. Employers worldwide will recognise that you can use English expertly in a professional setting.

How is the CPE assessed?

There are five papers, each worth 20% of the final mark: Reading, Writing, Use of English, Speaking (normally taken in pairs), and Listening.

An overall grade of A (80% +), B (75% - 79%) or C (60% - 74%) represents a pass. A grade of D (55% - 59%) or E (54% and below) is a fail.

Where will I take the exam?

All Embassy schools that run the CPE preparation course are located close to official examination facilities. As well as giving you the skills you need to succeed, your teacher will go along with you to the centre to ensure that register.

When can I take the examination?

June or December.

Your chosen school will enrol you and provide the exact date.

Where can I find out more information?

Visit the official Cambridge ESOL website.

How can I prepare for the CPE?

We offer CPE exam preparation courses in several of our schools. See our Cambridge Examination Preparation course page.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

What is IELTS?

The IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Australia. The exam measures your ability in all aspects of the English language. Depending on your reason for taking the IELTS, you can choose either the academic or general training route:

- For academic study or professional registration, you should choose the 'Academic Module' .
- For non-academic training, work experience or for immigration purposes, select the 'General Training Module'.

Why should I take IELTS?

You will need an IELTS score to apply to universities in the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Many professional bodies, governments and immigration authorities across the world also require IELTS scores.

How is IELTS assessed?

You will take four equally weighted exams: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. All candidates take the same listening and speaking exams. However, for the reading and writing tests, you can choose between the 'Academic Module' and the 'General Training Module'. You’ll receive one score for each exam and an overall score in the form of a whole or a half band (e.g. 5.0, 5.5).

What does my IELTS band mean?

There are nine bands and they each describe your English language ability at that level. The highest is 9 (expert user) and the lowest is 0 (no English language ability).

Equivalents

IELTS	Cambridge ESOL	TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	TOEIC
7.5 +	CPE	620 +	113 +	900 +
6.5 – 7.5	CAE	575 - 620	90 - 113	690 - 785
5.5 – 6.5	FCE	525 - 550	69 - 90	605 - 690
4.5 - 5.5		475 - 525	49 - 69	505 - 605
3.5 – 4.5		425 - 475	29 - 49	400 - 505

These are rough equivalents; please note that the different exam systems do not precisely correspond to one another.

Where will I take the exam?

There is an examination centre located near each Embassy school that offers an IELTS preparatory course. As part of the service, your tutor will take you to the centre, help you register and wish you all the best!

When can I take the exam?

They are held regularly throughout the year, but you have to book well in advance. We will help you with this, and provide you with the full details.

Where can I find out more information?

Visit the official IELTS website.

How can I prepare for the IELTS?

We offer IELTS exam preparation courses in several of our schools. See our IELTS Preparation course page.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

What is TOEFL?

The TOEFL is administered by ETS, the Educational Testing Service, in the USA.
It measures your ability to apply and understand North American English in an academic environment, for example in a classroom or on a university campus.

Equivalents

TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	TOEIC	IELTS	Cambridge ESOL
620 +	113 +	900 +	7.5 +	CPE
575 - 620	90 - 113	690 - 785	6.5 – 7.5	CAE
525 - 550	69 - 90	605 - 690	5.5 – 6.5	FCE
475 - 525	49 - 69	505 - 605	4.5 - 5.5
425 - 475	29 - 49	400 - 505	3.5 – 4.5

These are rough equivalents; please note that the different exam systems do not precisely correspond to one another.

Why should I take TOEFL?

If you want to apply to study at a college or university in the USA, you will need to attain their required TOEFL score. Government agencies, scholarship programmes and professional bodies in the USA also ask for a certain level of TOEFL score.

How is TOEFL assessed?

Depending on where you take the test, you will take either the Paper-Based Test (PBT) or the Internet-Based Test (iBT). In our schools, you will prepare for entrance to the iBT.

• The PBT has four sections and takes about two and a half hours.

Section	Time Limit	No. of Questions
Listening Comprehension	30-40 minutes	50
Structure and Written Expression	25 minutes	40
Reading Comprehension	55 minutes	50
Writing (Test of Written English)	30 minutes	1 topic

• The IBT has four sections: reading, listening, speaking and writing. It takes about four and a half hours.

Section	Time Limit	No. of Questions
Reading	60 - 100 minutes	36 - 70
Listening	60 - 90 minutes	34 - 51
Break	10 minutes	-
Speaking	20 minutes	6 tasks
Writing	50 minutes	2 tasks

Note that the test is taken with a 'QWERTY' keyboard, the most common English-language keyboard. It takes its name from the first 6 letters at the top. You should practice on a QWERTY keyboard before taking the TOEFL iBT.

There is no 'pass' or 'fail' with TOEFL; you will receive a score which shows where you are on a spectrum of ability.

Where will I take the exam?

Some of our schools are TOEFL exam test centres, which means you can take the exam there. Otherwise, you will be booked in to a nearby local test centre, and given all the details ahead of time.

When can the test be taken?

You can see test dates on the official TOEFL site - scroll down to 'United States' to see the dates for each city. Your chosen Embassy school will enrol you.

Where can I find out more information?

Find out more about TOEFL at the ETS website.

How can I prepare for the TOEFL?

We offer TOEFL exam preparation courses in several of our schools. See our TOEFL Preparation course page.

TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)

What is TOEIC?

The TOEIC, like the TOEFL, is administered by ETS, the Educational Testing Service, in the USA.

The TOEIC is a measure of how well you are able to apply and understand English in an international business or industrial environment. Questions are based on everyday work-related situations.

Equivalents

TOEIC	TOEFL PBT	TOEFL iBT	IELTS	Cambridge ESOL
900 +	620 +	113 +	7.5 +	CPE
690 - 785	575 - 620	90 - 113	6.5 – 7.5	CAE
605 - 690	525 - 550	69 - 90	5.5 – 6.5	FCE
505 - 605	475 - 525	49 - 69	4.5 - 5.5
400 - 505	425 - 475	29 - 49	3.5 – 4.5

These are rough equivalents; please note that the different exam systems do not precisely correspond to one another.

Why should I take TOEIC?

A good result proves your ability to use English effectively in an international business setting. It can impress potential employers, or improve your prospects for promotion in the workplace.

How is the TOEIC assessed?

The exam contains a total of 200 multiple choice questions. It lasts for two hours and is divided into two sections:

- Listening (100 questions)
- Reading (100 questions)

You will receive a mark of between 5 and 495 points for each section. The results are added together to give you a total score out of 990 points.

Where will I take the exam?

Embassy Brisbane (and, in addition, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland) are authorised TOEIC test centres, so you can take the exam in the school.

When can I take the test?

The test is held monthly. Your chosen Embassy school will provide you with the date. They will also enrol you.

Where can I find out more information?

Find out more about TOEIC at the ETS website. This site will open in a new window.

How can I prepare for the TOEIC?

We offer TOEIC exam preparation courses in Brisbane. See our TOEIC Preparation course page.

Which exam should I take?