Study Abroad

Many people decide to take a different path in their educational journey and try a university or institution abroad for various purposes. Some students come to this decision because their target university or institution possesses better quality or has more potential to grow. Sometimes experiencing academic life from another country helps students develop a more profound overview of the world and their future careers. 

It doesn’t matter why you want to study abroad; what matters are the opportunities that may present themselves to you by going on this road. If the target country speaks the same language you do, you would have no problem. However, if not, you need to take one of the assigned International language exams your target institution requires to land admission. But what are the required international language exams? Keep reading to find the answer here in Radviser.

International English Language Testing System Exam (IELTS)

Non-native English language speakers can take the IELTS test as an acceptable proof of their language proficiency. IELTS is acceptable to most of the English-based universities and institutions. The exam is available in two variations: IELTS for academic purposes and IELTS for general training. If you wish to apply for a university abroad, you need to take the academic one. 

The participants are evaluated in four different skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Each section will be scored from 1 to 9, and based on those scores, the overall score will be calculated, again from 1 to 9. Each university has a score expectation and examines your IELTS results based on those expectations. Hence, obtaining high scores in this exam is not equal to having a university admission. It is important to remember that taking an international language exam (IELTS or others) is only one of the several steps you have to take during the admission process. 

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Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

TOEFL is another internationally accepted language proficiency test. Non-native English speakers can use this exam for their admission process or job application. TOEFL has 3 types of paper-based (PBT), computer-based (CBT), and Internet-based (iBT) exams. The Internet-based test will be taken online at the specific exam centers (or at your home), using computers and headsets. The test questions are divided into four primary sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each of these sections has 30 points, making the overall score 120. Reading and listening sections will be checked based on your correct answers, while proofreaders will evaluate speaking and writing sections based on specific factors.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is not directly counted as a language proficiency exam, for it is more of a logic test than a language test. This examination can be taken in two different variations: general and subject. The GRE test includes six sections of writing questions to test three abilities:

• Verbal reasoning
• Quantitative reasoning
• Analytical writing

The GRE scoring system is based on an inaccessible algorithm. It is considered one of the most difficult exams, but don’t get discouraged. Numerous resources provide you with valuable tips and suggestions to be more successful at this exam.

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)

Another almost universally accepted language proficiency test is PTE. You need to go to the Pearson test centers to take the PTE test, which will provide you with computers and headsets to answer the questions online. During a PTE exam session, students are supposed to go through three primary sections: one section for speaking and writing, one for listening, and one for reading. Various criteria are evaluated in a PTE test, resulting in the following items on the score report:

• Communicative Skill Scores
• Enabling Skill Scores
• Total Scores

Based on your overall performance, your score ranges from 10 to 90. Unlike IELTS, the PTE exam is a computer-delivered exam, which means a computer is your face-to-face examiner. Many Universities and institutions have listed PTE as their acceptable language proficiency measure. However, this exam is not acceptable everywhere. Therefore, before exam registration, make sure you have picked the right language proficiency exam.

Duolingo English Test 

After the outbreak of the Coronavirus, almost all language proficiency administrating centers got closed. That was when the Duolingo English Test started to gain popularity. The DET is one of the newest proficiency exams and can be done at home. Many universities have begun to accept DET as a valid measuring tool. This exam tests the primary language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The format of this exam may appear strange at first because it’s new. The sections included in the test are mentioned below:

• Listening to spoken words and sentences, then selecting the real ones
• Reviewing written words or sentences, then determining the real ones
• Completing missing letters in words inside a text
• etc.

DET is a computer-scored exam that uses proctors to ensure everyone follows the rules. So basically, every second of you taking the test is recorded, and your observers will disqualify you if you try to cheat or break any rules. Before taking a DET exam, you need to learn about dos and don’ts during the test to make sure you won’t get disqualified.

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Picking the Right Language Exam

The exams mentioned in this article were the most well-known international English language exams required by universities and institutions for studying abroad. Bear in mind that it is better to choose the best-suited exam for your goal. As you know, the international language exams are not limited to the ones we just reviewed. Picking the most suitable exam for you will undoubtedly help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently. To know more about the language tests, go through our comprehensive Library.