Whether you want to prove your English proficiency to improve your career or for school, here are some key language proficiency exams for international candidates. There are some other languages also like Spanish, French, or German which you’ll have to master before you go abroad as well. In this article, we cover most Language Proficiency Tests for any international student or teacher.
Language Proficiency Exams For International Students And Teachers
English Language Proficiency Exams
IELTS exam:
IELTS (also known as International English Language Testing System) is an exam that measures a person’s listening-reading-writing-speaking skills in English communication. It is a requirement for enrollment at universities and colleges in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
TOEFL test:
TOEFL (also known as Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a comprehensive test used to measure your grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and oral communication skills. It is a requirement for university and college enrollment in the USA and Canada.
TOEIC exam:
The TOEIC exam (which is also known as Test of English for International Communication) is the world standard for assessing your success. It is a professional English test for international students and professionals. The exam covers vocabulary, the ability to understand business letters and grades, and advanced grammar structures.
CELTA exam:
The CELTA exam (also called the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is an English Language Teaching Certificate program for non-native English teachers, is a program that includes new teaching techniques with international validity. It is a world-renowned document for those who have no or little teaching experience, who have experience but do not have an officially recognized document, and who want to teach.
TESOL exam:
The TESOL exam (which is also called the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) happens to be an advanced course for non-native English language teaching students, graduates or those who have a good level of English and have experience in this field. At the end of this course, an internationally recognized English language teaching certificate will be obtained.
TKT exam:
The TKT exam (also called Teaching Knowledge Test) is an advanced English exam aimed at measuring the teaching technical knowledge of English teachers all over the world and increasing their professional opportunities.
GMAT exam:
The GMAT exam (fully known as Graduate Management Admission Test) is an advanced exam for those students who want to do a master’s degree in schools providing education in the fields of Business, Marketing, and Finance. Good universities require a GMAT score of 600 or higher.
GRE exam:
GRE (which is also called Graduate Record Examination) is an advanced exam for students who want to do a master’s degree in Engineering, Education, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Students will be asked for the score they get from this test. The relevant part of the test is selected according to the area to be mastered. Preparation courses last between 6-12 weeks.
SAT exam:
The SAT exam (expanded as SAT Reasoning Test) is an advanced form of exam for students who want to do a master’s degree in Engineering, Education, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Students will be asked for the score they get from this test. The relevant part of the test is selected according to the area to be mastered. Preparation courses last 6-12 weeks.
6 Cambridge ESOL Exams:
- KET exam:
The KET exam (also known as Key English Test) is the lowest level exam that must be passed. It is for beginners and there is also an elementary exam.
- CAE exam:
The CAE exam (also known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English) is the first exam to be taken by those who want to prove that their English is at an academic level. It is for those who can speak fluent English in social and professional fields.
- PET exam:
The PET exam (Preliminary English Test) is an exam which consists of daily life writing and speaking. Predictable requests are for those who can read simple texts and write personal letters.
- FCE exam:
The FCE exam (First Certificate in English) is a type of exam which consists of speaking and writing parts. It is for those who use a wider vocabulary when expressing themselves and can express their opinions comfortably.
- CPE exam:
The CPE exam (which is also called Certificate of Proficiency in English) is the highest level of Cambridge exams. It is a certificate that is valid in universities and companies. Holders of these certificates can speak English as well as their mother tongue.
- BEC exam:
The BEC exam (Business English Certificate) is an exam necessary to have a good command of the words and technical language used in business English. It has three levels: Preliminary(=PET), Vantage(=FCE), Higher(=CAE).
3 German Language Proficiency Exams
- DSH exam:
The DSH exam (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is a necessary language test to get a good grade on this German proficiency test in order to get into good universities in Germany. Written examination; consists of listening, reading comprehension, and writing parts. The total 4-hour exam has a 20-minute speaking section.
- ZD exam:
The ZD exam or Zertifikat Deutsch is a German Certificate which is accepted almost all over the world as proof of proficiency in German.
- ZMP exam:
The ZMP exam or Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung is held by many universities and colleges as an official registration requirement.
2 French Language Proficiency Exams
- DELF / DALF exam:
The DELF / DALF exam is also known as the Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Français le Degré/ Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française. This is an exam recognized by the French Ministry of Education.
DELF (Level 1-2) and DALF exams are academic and professional exams prepared by the French Ministry of National Education. Those who hold a DALF diploma are accepted without the need for an additional exam in their university applications.
- TEF exam:
The TEF exam (Test d’Evaluation de Français) is an exam recognized by French-speaking universities and institutions.
Spanish Language Proficiency Exam
DELE exam
The DELE exam is also known as Diplomas de Español Como Lengua Extranjera (or the Certificate of Spanish as a Foreign Language). This exam has been prepared by the Spanish Ministry of National Education.
The DELE exam has three different levels. For “Certificado Inicial de Espanol”, you need to be able to express yourself comfortably at the level of daily life, communicate in line with your ideas, and read simple books. For the “Diploma Basico de Espanol” you must be able to communicate in normal subjects that do not require special language knowledge, and be able to speak the language fluently. For the “Diploma Superior de Espanol”, you must have a command of the cultural facts of the language and be able to use Spanish effectively in every field. The exam is held at the Cervantes Institute.
Level: Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced
Italian Language Proficiency Exam
CILS exam:
The CILS exam is also called the Certificato di Italiano come Lingua Straniera (Certificate of Italian as a Foreign Language)
This language proficiency exam is an officially valid exam prepared and administered by the elite University of Stranieri di Siena, Italy. It consists of two stages: writing and speaking. There are exams for 6 different levels. Students who want to go to university in Italy must pass this exam.