English Language Qualifications
What are the most common English Language Qualifications, and what are the benefits of having one?
Find out here!
IELTS Qualification
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an official exam that is respected and accepted around the world for work, education and immigration.
There are four sections of the IELTS exam – Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing – which represent the four skills which are tested. There are also two different types of IELTS exam: Academic (usually for universities) and General (usually for immigration).
The whole exam is normally done in one day, but the speaking section can be done on a different day if you choose. The IELTS can be done on paper or electronically. There is no grammar section in this exam because your grammar and vocabulary are tested in every section in a natural context.
Whatever your level of English is, everybody takes the same IELTS exam. There is no “pass” or “fail” on the IELTS because the purpose of this test is to measure your level of English. The score that you need depends on why you’re taking the test. The university where you want to study or the government of the country where you want to live will tell you what score you need.
The possible scores on the IELTS go from 1 to 9. One is the lowest, and means that you can’t use English at all. Nine is the highest possible score and means that you’re an expert user of English.
The IELTS Academic Exam is accepted by thousands of universities in the UK, Canada, Australia and the United States. Most universities will ask for a 6.0-6.5 to enter an undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree) programme, and a 7.0 or higher for a postgraduate (Master’s degree or PhD) course of study. Also, many universities in non-English speaking countries will ask for the IELTS qualification for a course taught in English.
If you’d like to live in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, the IELTS General Exam is one of the tests you can take to prove your level of English. Again, the score you need depends on the country and the type of visa that you need. Or, in Australia and Canada, your score on the IELTS will determine how many points you get on your visa application.
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Read our blog article – “What’s IELTS and Who Needs It?”
Cambridge Qualifications
There is more than one Cambridge qualifications, depending on level. The Cambridge First is a B2-level exam, and the Cambridge Advanced is a C1-level exam. These are the two most popular, but they’re not the only Cambridge exams.
You have to choose the right test at the right level for you. The First and Advanced exams are very similiar. The Advanced exam is a little bit longer, but both exams have four parts: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. These four sections test your skills and your ability to understand and use English in a natural way. The whole exam is typically done in one day, and when you sign up you can choose if you want to do the paper exam or computer-based exam.
When your exam is marked you are given a score on the Cambridge scale. When you pass a Cambridge exam, you can receive a C, B, or A result.
In the First Exam, C is low B2 level, B is high B2 level, and an A certificate is C1 level.
In the Advanced, Exam C is low C1, B1 is high C1, and A is C2 level.
If your score is below the level of the exam you can still receive a certificate. So if you “fail” the Cambridge First, you can still get a B1 certificate, and if you “fail” the Cambridge Advanced, you can still get a B2 certificate.
The Cambridge First Qualification can be used to prove your level of English for education.
Many universities in the English-speaking world accept the First Qualification as proof of your level English. Mostly, though, the First exam is useful for work. This is especially true in Spain, where having a Cambridge First certificate is an obligation for many professional jobs. Globally, many companies such as Deloitte, Ernst & Young, HSBC, Marks & Spencer, and Nestle use Cambridge First as part of their recruitment process or for training purposes.
The Cambridge First Exam is a B2-level exam, In the First Exam, C is similar to a low B2 level, B is high B2 level, and an A certificate is C1 level.
The Cambridge Advanced Qualification, is accepted by thousands of universities around the English speaking world. In the UK, you only need to meet your university’s English language requirements, so if you pass the Cambridge Advanced you won’t need to take another exam for a visa. The Cambridge Advanced Qualification is also recognised by a wide range of international companies as proof of an employee’s level of English.
The Cambridge Advanced is a C1-level exam. In the Advanced Exam, C is similar to a low C1, B1 is high C1, and A is C2 level.
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You can read more in our blog article: “3 Tips for Success on Cambridge First and Advanced”
TRINITY Qualifications
The Trinity Qualifications are newer than both IELTS and the Cambridge exams, but they have become very important in the UK. Trinity exams are one of the SELTs (Secure English Language Tests) that British immigration accepts for visas and passports.
The GESE 2, 3, and 5 are short speaking exams. The Trinity GESE 2 exam (A1 level) is accepted for a spouse or partner visa in the UK, as well as a parent of a dependent, and for visas for a representative of an overseas business.
The GESE 3 exam (A2 level) is accepted to extend a spouse or partner visa after somebody has been in the UK for 2.5 years. The GESE 5 exam (B1 level) is used for indefinite leave to remain in the UK or to get a British passport.
Finally, the ISE 1 exam (B1 level) is used most often to get a Tier II visa to the UK or to be a private hire driver (for example Uber).
These three exams test three different levels of English. What makes them similar, is that they are all short speaking exams. They test your ability to speak about and understand basic, everyday topics.
The GESE 5 exam is a little bit longer, and you have to talk about a topic that you choose and prepare before the exam.
The ISE 1 exam is more in-depth than the GESE exams. This is because it tests more of your English skills. In the ISE 1 you’ll be tested on your reading comprehension, your ability to read and write about an article, your listening skills, and speaking.
Ingla is an official Trinity Exam Preparation Centre.
Read more about Trinity Exam Preparation Courses at Ingla
Find out more in our blog article: “All you need to know about Trinity exams”
