You will require proper planning and preparation if you want to study in Australia, and that includes selecting the right course, finding the right institution, getting the paper work completed and submitted on time and so on. A major element of any application to study in Australia is your English test score.
There are five different tests accepted for Australian student visa applications:
1. Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL)
Recognised by more than 10,000 tertiary
institutions in over 130 countries, TOEFL requires participants to perform
academic tasks that critique listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.
2. International English Language Testing
System (IELTS)
There are two types of IELTS – Academic,
designed for those wanting to study at university or enter a professional
institution, and General Training, which provides more practical testing. It
may be required to migrate to an English-speaking country or attend high
school.
3. Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
Cambridge offers three English language
qualifications – Schools for foundational skills, General and Higher Education
for those wishing to take on further study, and Business, which is designed for
professionals in international workplaces.
An English test developed for the healthcare sector, OET is recognised by universities and hospitals in several countries including Australia and the United Kingdom. The test is broken up into four sections — an hour of reading, 50 minutes of listening, 45 minutes of writing and 20 minutes of speaking.
5. Pearson Test of English (PTE)The three-step test format begins with speaking and writing, followed by reading and then listening, with a range of multiple choice and essay questions. Some questions can be graded as partial credit, meaning the answer is partly correct, in which case the participant will some points but not the maximum amount.
Checking if you’re ready for the test –With each of these tests costing upwards of $300, it is an expensive investment that you’d be willing to make only once. It’s a good idea to have your ability assessed before handing over your money to make sure. Fluent IQ is a low-cost way of testing your skill level before taking the official test. They offer two assessments – Chat for speaking and listening (up to 15 minutes for $12 USD) and Works for speaking, listening, reading and writing (up to 60 minutes for $25 USD). The results of a Fluent IQ assessment show a comparison of likely scores across all of the official entry exams.