English language examinations

Text adapted from St Clare's, Oxford, OnLine (SCOOL) English Language Newsletter, Wednesday, 17 January 2001, written by Geoff Taylor, SCOOL Co-ordinator

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Study tip: How English language exams can help your English

Studying for an English language exam can really help you in a number of ways:

• Studying for an exam gives you a definite goal to work for, and also a way of measuring your progress, and so it can increase your motivation
• Studying for an exam makes you improve the parts of your English that are weaker, for example, writing
• Success in the exam gives you a qualification - a certificate of your English ability - which can help you get into a better university or get a better job

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Study tip: How you can find out what English language exams are suitable for you

• There are exams for almost all levels in general English and in specialist subjects like Business. For example, check out this useful index page of the different Cambridge University examinations:
  http://www.cambridge-efl.org/exam/index.html

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Study tip: Where you can take English language exams

• You can probably take some exams in your country. At the British Council website, you can find information about taking English exams in your country (you select the country in which you wish to take your English exam):

  http://www.britishcouncil.org/english/exams/engexamsos.htm

• You can also take a wide range of exams in the UK, of course.
  (See the St Clare's website <http://www.stclares.co.uk> for exam courses we run.)

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English language exams: Web links

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
http://www.ielts.org/

The official Website for IELTS, includes:

• What is IELTS
• The IELTS Test
• IELTS centres worldwide
• Organisations recognising IELTS
• Sample IELTS tests

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TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) Online
http://www.toefl.org/index.html

The Official Web site of the ETS standardized test, Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL.org contains information for people planning to take the TOEFL test, as well as for administrators and researchers wanting to know about the development of TOEFL and the use of TOEFL test scores.

Includes information about:

• Computer-based TOEFL
• Paper-based TOEFL
• TOEFL Institutional Testing Program
• Test of Spoken English

Also:

• Information Bulletins
• Tutorials and Practice Questions
• Download Library
• Store (where you can buy TOEFL items)

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TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) Online
http://www.toeic.com/testtakerspages/default.htm

The official TOEIC Website, provides information, including:

• About The TOEIC Test
• How can I take the TOEIC Test
• Testtaker Profiles (descriptions of students who have taken the TOEIC test)
• Learning Tools, including:
  - Tips from TOEIC test developers, and suggested resources for the English learner
  - Tools for TOEIC (recommended books, cassettes, CDs)

Also:

• a link to an online TOEIC Mirror Practice Test (cost - $4.95) at http://www.toeicmirror.com/

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Cambridge EFL On-Line - English as a Foreign / Second Language Exams
http://www.cambridge-efl.org/

The official website of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Division. In this site you will find information on all of the Cambridge EFL examinations and tests. There are exams for general English (including PET, FCE, CAE and CPE), Business English (including CEIBT), exams for English teachers (such as CEELT), and other exams.

If your reading in English is slow, you can read the pages translated into other languages: Catalan, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. :-)

Here is a useful index page of the different Cambridge examinations:
http://www.cambridge-efl.org/exam/index.html

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Other useful resources for English language exams on the Web:

English exams in the UK (British Council)
http://www.britishcouncil.org/english/exams/engexamsuk.htm

• From here you can find out more about the major English language examinations offered by British examining boards.

English Language Tests (Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, etc.) web links at the Language Testing page (maintained by Kenji Kitao and S. Kathleen Kitao)
http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/staff/visitors/kenji/test.htm#English

The Internet TESL Journal's ESL Links: Tests
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/links/ESL/Tests/

• Almost 30 exam-related links, including TOEFL and TOEIC practice material

Free TOEFL Online
http://freetoeflonline.address.com/

• Free TOEFL resources on the net, including online TOEFL exercises, TOEFL-writing tips, and other useful information, to help you prepare for your next TOEFL exam.