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English Language Teaching

English Language Teaching

A Guide For International Students.

Most of the universities that you apply to will want to know your ability to speak, write, read, and understand the English language. Use our guide to English language tests for international students to help you decide which test is better for you.

TOEFL

The TOEFL is produced and governed by Educational Testing Service (ETS). The TOEFL is a 3-hour test with 4 sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Each section is graded on a scale of 0 to 30 for a maximum point value of 120.Here’s how the sections are broken down:

The reading section is comprised of three question formats:
1. Multiple-choice format requiring you to select the correct
answer from four choices.
2. Inserting a sentence where it best fits in a passage from four
potential choices
3. A “reading to learn” section with multiple correct answers
– Question breakdown: 3–4 reading passages, 12–14 questions each
– Time: 54–72 minutes
 The listening section of the TOEFL English language proficiency test covers the following:
Basic comprehension

Recognizing a speaker’s attitude and the purpose of what the speaker is saying
Understanding the importance of order, relationships, inferences, and connections

Here are the question formats:
Traditional multiple choice
Multiple choice with more than one correct answer
Questions that require you to sequence events correctly
Matching questions
TOEFL speaking section overview

The speaking section measures your ability to speak English in and out of academic settings. The six categories are broken up into independent and integrated speaking tasks.
1. Independent speaking tasks require you to draw upon your
ideas, experience, and opinions. There are two independent
speaking tasks per test.
2. Integrated speaking tasks require you to combine speaking
with listening or reading to answer questions. There are four
integrated speaking tasks per test.
– Question breakdown: 6 tasks: 2 independent, 4 integrated – Time: 17 minutes
The writing section of the TOEFL English language tests your integrated and independent writing skills.
1.
2.
Integrated writing tasks require you to write academic argument in response to a prompt.
Independent writing tasks require you to express an idea or opinion in writing.
Question breakdown: 2 tasks – Time: 50 minutes.

IELTS

Each section is graded on a 0–9 scale, with 0 representing a non- user or someone who skipped the test and 9 representing an expert. Your scores are added up across all sections and then averaged and rounded to give you a comprehensive score.

In the listening section, you will answer multiple choice questions, matching and labelling questions, and sentence and diagram completion questions. There are four recordings you will have to listen and respond to:
1. An everyday social conversation between two people.
2. An everyday monologue or speech.
3. A conversation between as many as four people in an
educational context.
4. An academic lecture by one person.
– Question breakdown: 4 recordings, 10 questions each – Time: 30 minutes
The topics of reading section passages on the IELTS English proficiency test can range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. There are many question types in this section, from multiple choice to matching to sentence and diagram completion.
– Question breakdown: 3 readings, 40 questions total
– Time: 60 minutes
In the writing section of the IELTS English language proficiency test, you will have to answer two task-based questions.
1. The first question will ask you to describe some visual cue,
such as a graph or flowchart. You will have to write
approximately 150 words in 20 minutes.
2. The second question will ask you to respond to a point of view
or argument. You will need to write 250 words in about 40
minutes.
– Question breakdown: 2 questions – Time: 60 minutes
The speaking section of the IELTS English language exam consists of three parts and assesses your spoken English skills.
1. Part 1 lasts around 5 minutes and requires you to speak your
answers to general questions on familiar topics.
2. Part 2 requires you to respond to a topic written on a card.
Your interviewer will also ask follow-up questions.
3. Part 3 lasts about 5 minutes and will continue with questions
related to the topic on the card in part 2. Expect these
questions to be more abstract and difficult.
– Question breakdown: 1 oral interview – Time: 11–14 minutes

CAE

Holders of CAE will have a level of English that is suitable to prepare for a professional correspondence, contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within their own area of work and are able to read quickly enough to cope with an academic course

Cambridge English Advanced is an in-depth examination, covering all four language skills, plus a Use of English component that tests knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

There is no age limit for taking up CAE. Students appearing for 10+1 or 10+2 exams are preferable candidates for the exam, and students who have completed post-secondary education may also apply for CAE, though some universities demand a two-year old CAE score for accepting applications.
Cambridge English: Advanced covers all four language skills: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. It consists of four papers. The reading section contributes 40% to the total marks, and remaining sections contribute 20% each of the total marks. There is an additional section called ‘usage of English’ that tests your grammar.
Bond University, Victoria University Melbourne and the University of South Australia are some of the universities that accept CAE scores  from international students. These universities accept other common tests like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE alongside exams like CAE and CPE. Cambridge English exams are accepted by more than 2000 institutes and government sectors all over the globe.

 

IELTS is available in: Academic – for people applying for higher education or professional registration, and General Training for those migrating to Australia, Canada and the UK, or applying for secondary education, training programmes and work experience in an English-speaking environment. Both versions provide a valid and accurate assessment of the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

IELTS is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency for study, work and migration in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, as well as for study and work in the USA.

Each country sets its own IELTS requirements. For up-to-date information, please visit the relevant government websites.

IELTS is accepted for many visa categories, as well as for permanent residency in Australia. It is also a requirement for some Australian professional organisations and accrediting bodies.

The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking – in less than three hours.

The Listening, Reading and Writing sections of all IELTS tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks in between them. The Speaking section, however, can be completed up to a week before or after the other tests. Your test centre will advise.

The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

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