When an Arab student or a student from the Middle East region in general thinks about enrolling in a college or university in an English-speaking country, as an international student, he is required to pass one of the English language proficiency tests as proof that he is eligible to benefit from the course he will study abroad, and proficiency tests The English language has many tests, and in this article we have tried to shed light on the most important of them and the differences between them
Universities abroad, when requesting to pass one of the English language proficiency tests, aim to identify the student’s proficiency in the language, specifically assessing the student’s level in the four language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing; The university requires a specific standard or test score as evidence of the student's eligibility to study there
These tests are not only required by universities and educational institutions abroad, but even companies may require workers or employees coming from other countries not speaking English to pass one of the language proficiency tests
Here are some important differences between each of the most common English language proficiency tests among students and universities.
IELTS test
The word IELTS is an acronym for the International English Language Testing System, and this test is the most prevalent among many students, as it is required by many universities, especially British universities. The IELTS test is accepted and recognized internationally by many international companies and professional institutions, and is accepted by many educational institutions in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
TOEFL test
The TOEFL test is a test to measure the student's proficiency in English as a foreign language. The TOEFL test is divided into two types: the Internet-based TOEFL test (iBT) and the paper-based TOEFL test.
The TOEFL test online tests reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, and the TOEFL test online is characterized by the fact that the speaking test is done on the computer, while this part of the IELTS test is done face-to-face with the examinee.
The TOEFL paper-based test tests listening and writing skills, correct linguistic composition and syntax, and reading and comprehension skills.
There is also the TOEFL test, and this type of TOEFL is administered by the academic institution chosen by the student, but passing this test does not mean dispensing with the TOEFL test
In Australia, the student’s TOEFL scores are used to measure his or her English language proficiency and complete the process of obtaining a study visa.
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English is a test of English at an advanced level administered by the University of Cambridge in England. The test is recognized by most British universities and institutions of higher education as a measure of language proficiency for university admission
Now which of these tests is the best for you? There are things that you can consider to help you determine the test that is best for you, for example, the TOEFL test is preferred by most American educational institutions, or you may see an advantage in one of the tests that distinguishes it from the other and makes you prefer it. Also, the university in which you will study, the state and the study visa have a role Great in deciding which test might be right for you
Most of the courses abroad require a score of 6 to 6.5 in the IELTS test, and some fields of study such as medicine may require a higher score, 7 for example, so study the components of each test well and the field of study that you will study before deciding which test is suitable for you
Good luck, and see you at the top
