The British Council is a great place to start if you want to improve your English or get tested. They can also advise you on which tests are widely recognised in the UK.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) are the preferred tests because they are designed to test academic English.
IELTS
IELTS measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS is internationally owned by the British Council, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations and IDP:IELTS Australia. Over one million people a year are now using IELTS to open doors to international education and employment opportunities in the English-speaking world and beyond.
Students planning to undertake postgraduate studies in English will need to take the Academic IELTS test. The institution you are applying to will specify their required IELTS module and minimum band score needed for admission. IELTS test centres can be found in over 500 locations across 121 countries, and IELTS scores are accepted by over 6,000 education institutions and professional organisations around the world. You can search a complete database of IELTS test centres, where you can also use an online Global Recognition System to search the thousands of institutions that accept an IELTS score as proof of English language proficiency.
IELTS offers up to 48 test dates in a year or up to 4 test dates in a month. With the increasing popularity of IELTS, you should check the test date availability with your selected test centre and book your test before the closing date for registration. The test fee varies, but you can use the test centre database to find out the test fee in your country.
Click here for more in-depth information about the IELTS test.
TOEFL
The TOEFL test measures the ability of non-native speakers of English to use and understand North American English as it is spoken, written and heard in college and university settings. The test, which is delivered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), covers all facets of English proficiency, including a test of spoken English and grammar exercises.
The TOEFL test is offered in different formats depending on a test-taker's location. The TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) tests all four language skills that are important for effective communication: reading, listening, speaking and writing. In countries where the TOEFL iBT is still to be introduced, ETS offers a paper-based version. You can find out more about the TOEFL Access website.
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