There are hundreds of English language proficiency tests around the world for students ready to put an accreditation behind all their hard, language-learning work. Many are administered for specific countries or universities, while others are recognized globally. (Want to know the easiest way for kids to learn Chinese. Read more child education articles here>>https://blog.lingobus.com/tag/learn-mandarin)
Unsurprisingly, not all English language proficiency tests are created equal.
Some ain’t hard.
Some require a working level of language proficiency.
And some, as an elementary requisite, postulate a foremost aptitude in English speech and grammar.
This article lists the 4 hardest English-language proficiency tests. Which do you think you would pass?
- The IELTS English Proficiency Test
The IELTS is the most widely recognized English proficiency test in the world. In 2017, 3 million tests were administered in over 140 countries.
Unlike some other tests on this list, the International English Language Testing System is graded into “bands”. In other words, there’s no pass of fail, but test-takers receive a score of 1 to 9. 1 is classified as “non-user”, and 9 means “expert user.”
One difficult feature of the test is that, for the listening section, test-takers are required to interpret a range of English accents. These include British, Australian, New Zealander, and American. (We learn a new language best by speaking it. A Language opens a new window on the world >> https://blog.lingobus.com/tag/lingo-bus)
- The TOEFL Exam
Judging whether the IELTS or the TOEFL (the other major internationally-recognized English language proficiency test) is harder isn’t easy.
Like the IELTS, the Test of English as a Foreign Language is graded on a sliding scale. It’s also about an hour longer than the IELTS, at 4 hours.
The TOEFL tests test-takers ability to understand English spoken with an American accent. Another difference between IELTS and TOEFL is that the latter is computer-based, which can create screen-fatigue as you concentrate, listen, think, and type for hours on end.
- The PTE Academic Test
The Pearson Test of English Academic measures non-native English speakers’ readiness for English-language university programs. It is a newer test than others on this list, but is endorsed by the Graduate Management Admission Council.
The PTE Academic aims to reflect English as test takers will encounter it in real-life grad-school scenarios, like lectures and seminars. Some test components include re-telling a lecture, writing from dictation, and listening with background noise.
- UN Language Competitive Examinations
To work for the UN as a language professional, – that means as an interpreter, editor, proofreader, translator, or verbatim reporter – applicants must undergo a language examination process that is notoriously difficult. English is just one of the official languages of the UN which the LCE tests for. The others are Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French and Spanish.
Besides a required university degree, most applicants taking the LCE for interpretation also have higher-level degrees and accreditation in interpretation.