Today knowing English is a must, if you want to be perceived as an educated person.
All international business communication is done mainly in English. Plus, it comes in handy in everyday life: travelling and getting all kinds of information becomes so much easier.
But it is one thing to use English for personal reasons and another to use it for career advancement or studying abroad. In these cases, it is necessary to obtain a language certificate, which confirms your knowledge of English at a certain level.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES?
All certificates can be divided into two types:
If your goal is to study abroad or work that requires knowledge of English, you only need an international certificate.
WHAT ARE THE MOST FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES?
Each certificate has its own characteristics; some of them are considered valid only for a limited amount of time (for example, IELTS and TOEFL are valid for 2 years). Another important thing is that they are not free, therefore it makes sense to receive them not to decorate your walls, but for a specific purpose.
WHY DO YOU NEED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE?
Today, the best educational institutions occupying the first lines of the ranking are in English-speaking countries: the UK and the USA. But even in non-English-speaking countries, many universities implement English-language study programs, therefore, good English opens doors of many foreign universities.
Having an international certificate puts you at least couple of steps ahead competitors, even if your work is not dependent on the English language. After all, this is a sign that you have a high intellect and are not too lazy to learn. Moreover, it makes you look organized, persistent and purposeful. And these qualities are valued in any workplace.
Also now, living in one country, you can work for a company located in another part of the world.
Finally, if you are looking for employment abroad (especially if the country is English-speaking, or you still do not know the local language well enough) English can be a game changer.
If you are planning to move abroad, a language proficiency certificate is included in the list of documents that must be submitted to the embassy.
WHAT IS TOEFL AND IELTS?
The versatility of a language certificate is one of its most important qualities.
In this regard, the most popular are TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) certificates, which are recognized by most foreign educational institutions.
These tests assess the level of language proficiency in four areas:
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TOEFL AND IELTS?
EXAM DIFFERENCES: TOEFL VS IELTS
Reading
IELTS in the Reading block offers answers to questions on the text according to the multiple-choice principle, that is, choosing one of the options.
TOEFL gives a variety of tasks for working with text: number paragraphs, enter the missing word, fill in the table with data from the text, indicate the relationship between the parts.
Listening
In order to assess how well the test-taker perceives information by ear, both tests offer to listen to the text and answer questions related to it. But TOEFL first lets you listen to the text, and then answer the questions.
IELTS gives you the opportunity to see the questions before you listen to the text.
Speaking
In the Speaking block, when passing the TOEFL, the answers are recorded and sent to the assessment center.
IELTS requires face-to-face communication with the examiner, which can be scheduled up to a week before or after the written exam. Of course, the answers will also be recorded, so if the assessment seems biased to you, there is a possibility for reassessment.
Writing
When passing TOEFL, examinees must read the text, listen to its recording, and only then complete the written test task.
IELTS, among other things, offers a task related to the description of a graph or diagram.
IN A NUTSHELL
If you plan to study or work in the USA or Canada, it is wise to consider TOEFL, for the UK or Europe – choose IELTS. Nevertheless, specifying it directly with your university or hiring company is always the best solution.
All international business communication is done mainly in English. Plus, it comes in handy in everyday life: travelling and getting all kinds of information becomes so much easier.
But it is one thing to use English for personal reasons and another to use it for career advancement or studying abroad. In these cases, it is necessary to obtain a language certificate, which confirms your knowledge of English at a certain level.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES?
All certificates can be divided into two types:
- certificates issued by courses and schools;
- international certificates.
If your goal is to study abroad or work that requires knowledge of English, you only need an international certificate.
WHAT ARE THE MOST FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES?
- IELTS;
- TOEFL;
- BEC;
- TOEIC;
- FCE;
- CAE;
- CPE.
Each certificate has its own characteristics; some of them are considered valid only for a limited amount of time (for example, IELTS and TOEFL are valid for 2 years). Another important thing is that they are not free, therefore it makes sense to receive them not to decorate your walls, but for a specific purpose.
WHY DO YOU NEED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE?
- ADMISSION TO A FOREIGN UNIVERSITY
Today, the best educational institutions occupying the first lines of the ranking are in English-speaking countries: the UK and the USA. But even in non-English-speaking countries, many universities implement English-language study programs, therefore, good English opens doors of many foreign universities.
- GETTING A JOB
Having an international certificate puts you at least couple of steps ahead competitors, even if your work is not dependent on the English language. After all, this is a sign that you have a high intellect and are not too lazy to learn. Moreover, it makes you look organized, persistent and purposeful. And these qualities are valued in any workplace.
Also now, living in one country, you can work for a company located in another part of the world.
Finally, if you are looking for employment abroad (especially if the country is English-speaking, or you still do not know the local language well enough) English can be a game changer.
- MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY
If you are planning to move abroad, a language proficiency certificate is included in the list of documents that must be submitted to the embassy.
WHAT IS TOEFL AND IELTS?
The versatility of a language certificate is one of its most important qualities.
In this regard, the most popular are TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) certificates, which are recognized by most foreign educational institutions.
These tests assess the level of language proficiency in four areas:
- Reading;
- Listening;
- Speaking;
- Writing.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TOEFL AND IELTS?
- IELTS is based on British English, while TOEFL is a North American version of the language. Everyone knows that the pronunciation in these variants can vary greatly, although in general it is the same language;
- TOEFL is only an academic test, while IELTS has two versions - Academic, intended for studying abroad, and General, which is taken for immigration and (or) employment purposes;
- TOEFL in some countries can be taken electronically, and IELTS is always “on paper”.
EXAM DIFFERENCES: TOEFL VS IELTS
Reading
IELTS in the Reading block offers answers to questions on the text according to the multiple-choice principle, that is, choosing one of the options.
TOEFL gives a variety of tasks for working with text: number paragraphs, enter the missing word, fill in the table with data from the text, indicate the relationship between the parts.
Listening
In order to assess how well the test-taker perceives information by ear, both tests offer to listen to the text and answer questions related to it. But TOEFL first lets you listen to the text, and then answer the questions.
IELTS gives you the opportunity to see the questions before you listen to the text.
Speaking
In the Speaking block, when passing the TOEFL, the answers are recorded and sent to the assessment center.
IELTS requires face-to-face communication with the examiner, which can be scheduled up to a week before or after the written exam. Of course, the answers will also be recorded, so if the assessment seems biased to you, there is a possibility for reassessment.
Writing
When passing TOEFL, examinees must read the text, listen to its recording, and only then complete the written test task.
IELTS, among other things, offers a task related to the description of a graph or diagram.
IN A NUTSHELL
If you plan to study or work in the USA or Canada, it is wise to consider TOEFL, for the UK or Europe – choose IELTS. Nevertheless, specifying it directly with your university or hiring company is always the best solution.
