ESL EXAMS

Many government agencies, corporations and schools will ask you to take theESL (English s a Second Language) Exam. This will check your ability to read, write, understand, listen to, and speak English.

There are 3 kinds of ESL Exams: General English, Business English, and Academic English

GENERAL ENGLISH ESL EXAMS

The most well known ESL Exam is the Cambridge Main Suite. About 1.5 million people from as many as 135 countries take this test every year.

The Cambridge Main Suite is composed of 5 different exams of varying difficulty. The easiest are the Key English Test (KET) and the Preliminary English Test (PET).

Both tests are required in order to qualify for the higher level exams, though they may be sufficient to gain entry to the smaller companies and schools. There are only three kinds of grades: Pass With Merit, Pass, and Fail.

The third test is the First Cetificate in English or the FCE, which is often required for those who want to get a work visa or qualify for a job in another country. However, the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) is usually required by the more prestigious companies and universities. The highest, and hardest, exam is the Certificate of Proficiency in English or CPE, and is needed to qualify to become an English teacher.

You may also get a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Skills or CELS which measure individual reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities.

BUSINESS ENGLISH

The most renowned certification for Business English skills is the TOEIC or Test of English for International Communication. This is given by the Educational Testing Service or ETC. It is often required by schools or government agencies, not only for hiring, but for promoting employees or determining if they should be sent to offices or branches in another country. Some schools, on the other hand, will ask for the TOEIC as a requirement for graduation.

Cambridge also gives the Business English Certificates (BEC). Unlike the Cambridge Main Suite it is primarily concerned with your ability to use the language in a business setting. Another alternative is the The Business Language Testing Service or BULATS.

ACADEMIC ENGLISH

For those who want to study in a university, the TOEFL is the recognized authority in academic English. This test is required by over 5000 universities in ninety different countries.

Cambridge also gives the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, which is also recognized by schools, immigration, and employees.