Often admission requirements include a vague phrase: '6.0 on IELTS or equivalent'; 'TOEFL or equivalent'... So don't be put off by this 'equivalent': in such cases, it is better to take the exam that is explicitly named. Or contact the admissions committee to find out which other test results are accepted at that university. It is quite possible that any are accepted, but you still shouldn't risk it.
And no matter how ingenious exam boards become, whatever new ordeals they devise, the most popular remain TOEFL for America, and for other countries – the Cambridge higher-level exams and IELTS (which is, in essence, also a Cambridge exam from UCLES).
TOEFL - the favorite of foreigners
The TOEFL test is an 'American', born in 1964, designed to assess the level of knowledge of applicants entering universities in the USA and Canada. It was this test that, just over ten years ago, was the first to 'penetrate' our region, opening new horizons for our compatriots. Today, the times when you had to stand in a huge queue to sign up for the test have passed; the 'American' has been pushed aside by other exams, and yet many still prefer to take it. Of course, with its results you should go to the intended destination, i.e., overseas. Although recently other countries have become more lenient towards it.
Until recently, test takers worldwide took the paper-based TOEFL - the 'paper' version of the test, where correct answers had to be marked with a pencil on paper. Although it has been almost completely replaced by the computer-based version - computer-based TOEFL, it deserves attention, as it is still taken in some places. The results of the 'paper' test are assessed on a 677-point scale, with the 'passing' score depending on the requirements of the university you plan to enter. As a rule, it is 550-600. This exam cannot be failed (no 'failing grades' are given), and success or failure depends precisely on the number of points scored.
The 'paper' TOEFL consists of three parts: Listening, Structure, and Reading, i.e., listening comprehension, grammar, and reading comprehension. Testing of speaking and writing skills is not included in the test, and those who wish can take two additional exams: TWE (Test of Written English - a test of written English, i.e., an essay) and TSE (Test of Spoken English - a test of spoken English, a conversation in the language).
Since July 1998, candidates in most countries of the world have been taking the computer version - computer-based TOEFL.
The computer-based exam has a number of significant differences. First, a different scoring system. The computer-based TOEFL has fewer questions, and the maximum total score is 300. To be admitted to a prestigious American university, you need to score at least 250 points, and on the paper-based test - 600.
Second, the test has a different structure. Written English is no longer taken separately but is part of the overall exam, which now consists not of three but of four parts. Speaking was still not included, but for those who wish, ETS has developed a new separate test to assess speaking skills - TAST.
Third, the first two parts of the exam (listening and grammar test) have become 'adaptive' (computer-adaptive). This means that their difficulty changes depending on the quality of the tasks completed. That is, you first get a fairly simple question from the computer, and the difficulty level of the next question depends on whether you answered the first one correctly. When scoring the exam, easier questions earn fewer points than difficult ones.
And fourth, you can take the exam not twice a year as before, but four times a week, and even twice a day. Moreover, you can find out your score immediately, while official results will arrive in about 14 days.
In the coming academic year, they plan to introduce a fundamentally new version of the test. Its structure will finally include an assessment of speaking - the Speaking section, as well as new integrated tasks that simultaneously test several language skills - reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Thus, the new TOEFL includes the following sections: Reading (comprehension of written text). Speaking (demonstration of speaking skills). Listening (comprehension of spoken language) and Writing (demonstration of writing skills). The Structure section, which tests knowledge of grammatical structures, is 'scattered' across the other sections. As for the Speaking and Writing sections, they contain two types of tasks: integrated (for several language skills at once) and independent, i.e., specifically speaking and writing.
The new TOEFL test contains questions of various difficulty levels. However, there are no adaptive questions in the new version.
It should be remembered that, unlike the Cambridge exams, TOEFL results are considered valid for two years. Moreover, many American universities only consider 'fresh' results, taken no earlier than a year before admission. So there is no point in taking the exam in advance.
How to approach IELTS
IELTS firmly occupies second place among our preferences. This is not surprising: reliable certificates for passing this exam open doors to British, Australian, New Zealand, and even some American universities.
The curators of IELTS are the British Council and UCLES. There are two types of the test: academic (Academic Module) and general (General Module). The first, more complex one, is the exam required for university admission. A certificate for passing the second, simpler one, will quite suffice for immigration authorities in Australia and New Zealand, and may also be useful for those who wish to work abroad in a field that does not require special eloquence.
The Academic module of IELTS has the same structure as all other higher-level exams. It tests all language skills: listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking. Consequently, you will be required to have an interview, listen to a text with comprehension exercises, read a text, again with exercises, and produce a short piece of writing. Exams are not without reason called a lottery, but when taking IELTS, it is better not to rely on luck: the tasks cover knowledge of the language as a whole, and there is no hope that you will come across exactly the rule you know; in fact, no one will ask you about rules.
The exam is scored on a 9-point scale. It is true that it is hard to tell whether there is a unique person in the world who has earned all 9 points. In any case, universities do not place excessive demands on test takers: the standard passing score is 6-7, and colleges and not very demanding universities may be satisfied with 5.5.
IELTS results, like TOEFL results, are valid for two years.
The Cambridge Family
IELTS is a close relative of the 'range' of international exams known as Cambridge exams. Although it stands somewhat apart, primarily because it has a different grading system. But they are all developed by the same examination board UCLES, founded in 1958 and today one of the world's leading agencies for assessing students' language proficiency. Certificates issued by UCLES are valid for life; they are recognized by all higher education institutions in the UK and many abroad, as well as companies and employers worldwide.
Cambridge exams, developed by UCLES, are taken at five levels, in accordance with the ALTE level scale. At each level, all English language skills are tested. If you pass each level successfully, you receive a corresponding certificate.
But the first two levels - Key English Test (KET) and Preliminary English Test (PET) - lead only to intermediate certificates, which are good only for hanging on the wall. They confirm the candidate's ability to 'survive' in an English-speaking environment, that is, to communicate in a variety of everyday and work situations. They are not suitable either for entering university or for finding a job.
The First Certificate in English (FCE) is another matter. It can already be presented to admissions committees, though not to all. As a rule, such a certificate is sufficient for admission to technical faculties, institutes, and further education colleges. So if you have other, more ambitious plans, you can disregard it and immediately take the exam for the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE). It is awarded after passing the fourth-level exam on the ALTE scale and indicates a high level of language knowledge sufficient for professional and academic purposes. It is this certificate that is recognized by most universities and higher education institutions as meeting the English language requirements for applicants.
But the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) is received by those who take the last, most difficult exam of the fifth level. This document attests to a level of training that will open the doors to any university and any organization in the English-speaking world. The English of someone who has successfully passed such an exam is practically on par with a native speaker.
It should be noted that Cambridge exams are taken once and for all and have no 'statute of limitations'.
The 'Rival' from London
Less well known than the Cambridge exams, but almost as important, are the London exams, the tests for which (London Tests of English, LTE) are developed and assessed by one of the UK's leading examination boards, EdExcel International.
The LTE tests for teenagers aged 13 and over, and for adults, are divided into five levels of difficulty (Basic - Proficiency). Certificates of the third level and above are evidence of a sufficiently deep command of the language. With an Intermediate level, you can already attempt a British college, though it is better not to set your sights on a university with it.
However, the fourth-level certificate is recognized by many colleges and universities abroad as a necessary condition for admission. Only some 'fussy' ones require a fifth-level certificate.
The London tests, like the Cambridge ones, include tasks to check different skills: listening, reading, integrated reading and writing, writing, and speaking. But despite the fact that the tasks are divided into sections, the exam actually consists of only two parts - written and oral.
One of the features of LTE is the absence of academicism. The student is only required to demonstrate general language proficiency, not knowledge of specific structures or words. Therefore, they do not contain 'schoolboy' tasks such as multiple choice questions (which, by the way, can often be answered at random).
Preparation Decides Everything
Perhaps it is not even worth repeating the common truth one more time that you need to prepare for exams. The question is different: where and how to do it. Of course, you can stock up on special study guides, of which British and American publishers produce a great many, and study the material independently. But it is better not to be overconfident and to prepare in courses. Teachers will not only 'drill' you on each section and specific questions, but also tell you in detail what to do and how to behave in the exam. Moreover, the course program usually includes mock exams, giving you the opportunity to practice taking the test. And finally, studying in courses will allow you to learn not only from your own mistakes, but also from those of others.
Many domestic language courses offer quite high-quality preparation for international English exams. By the way, all the above-mentioned exams can also be taken at home, in specialized centers. Nevertheless, preparation at foreign courses gives you many advantages. Long-term immersion in the language environment will bring you to a fundamentally new level of English proficiency. The intensity of classes at foreign courses is also important - on average 20-25 hours per week, because there you do nothing but study. Although even abroad there are no short-term exam preparation courses: the program lasts from 6 to 12 weeks.
And another thing: it would seem that all exams ask approximately the same thing. But both textbooks and courses are "targeted" - designed to prepare for a specific, individual test. Because there are still quite a few nuances. And one thing is knowledge of the material, another is knowledge of the "exam format" and types of tasks. So choose only those preparation options that are suitable for passing the exam you have chosen, otherwise you will waste time and money.