Differentiate Between Language Proficiency Tests

Many people believe that there is no use taking a test to prove your language proficiency. It is time consuming. It is costly. Plus it wastes a lot of time. However, there are actual undeniable advantages that we can not look down on. In fact, it can be the door that opens you to golden opportunities and success.

Why should learners take a proficiency test?

Language proficiency testing has three advantages:

To begin with, it can be used as evidence for language proficiency in case you want to apply for a job or higher education. Having said that, it would be better for many people if there aren’t any language tests. You don’t have to pay any fees or worry about the results. It is the interviewer who is responsible for assessing the candidate’s level of knowledge and language’s competence.

However, the problem is that it does not seem to be practical and professional. In fact, it is impossible to ask all the questions to test their actual, for example: asking questions about tenses, vocabulary range, translation,… level even if the interviewer has a good command of English themselves. Besides, it is quite inappropriate to check somebody’s knowledge in such a quick test like that.

Imagine that if you have gained documentation showing your competence, it is more convenient for you when you just need to attach the certificate with your applications and that can be much more at ease and convenient. The employer just needs to ask you, “What Certifications Do You Hold?”. And to reply, you can say “Ielts 7.0”, and you two can change the subject to another one like wages, career promotion,…

Your language test will be the proof that can show your level clearly and concisely. Not as perfect as it seems to be, it is absolutely practical if you want to get over the process quicker and more conveniently. Therefore, a large number of governments, organizations, institutions request them from the candidates.

The certificate showing your actual level reveals a lot more than they would like to know about you or your abilities. Therefore, if you want to transfer to a foreign country, you definitely want to take a proficient test that can prove your level and that can satisfy a part of your application process.

Secondly, you are given opportunities to motivate yourself when preparing for the exam. The motivation that is not like anything else that you can imagine. You may want to flick the pages, read through thick books and work late into the night. In the end, the vision that you are paid off at the end and satisfied by the results that you achieved can give you a great sense of achievement.

More often than not, the motivation here is generated by the upcoming test and under a pressured time period. Therefore, when it comes near the test day, you will know that you can endeavor only this time, or else you have to take the test one again and that will take a lot of time, money and effort.

In the end, your hard work will be a rewarding experience. You will end up with a large amount of knowledge that you can accumulate. How wonderful it is to acknowledge that the process of the test preparation is not that depressing and timid but also entertaining and worthwhile.

Last but not least, chances are if you possess a language test certificate that can boost your confidence, build a bridge to success, and give you a sense of achievement. This can motivate you to become your best version because you know that there is no obstacle that you cannot get over and this is the evidence that can sustain your motivation in the long run.

What kinds of tests should you take?

Nowadays, there are a plethora of exams that you can take. It is not that essay to choose what test is appropriate for you. So, you need to ask yourself the following questions first:

What proficiency tests does your target company/country require and recognize?
What budget have you allocated for this test?
How long are my Test results valid for?
Where is it taken?

After that, consider the following standardized tests as a tool to assess your language proficiency.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	IELTS International English Language Testing System)	TOEIC The Test of English for International Communication
– You will have to choose this to test your level if you want to study in an English-speaking environment such as the United States, Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom. – It tests your reading, listening, speaking and writing skills in four sections. – There are two versions of TOEFL: online and paper-based. – The paper-based test duration is in 4.5 hours, and includes a 10-minute break. – The results are valid for two years.	– It is governed by the British Council, IDP Education and Cambridge Language Assessment. – It tests your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. – It takes you 2 hours and 45 minutes to finish the whole test. -There are two versions of Ielts: Academic and General Training. The former is used to apply for higher education, and the latter is used to apply for visa or employment.	-It was created by the ETS to assess the language ability in the working places or business setting. – There are versions of this test: +TOEIC Listening and Reading lasts about 2-hour and consists of 200 questions. + TOEIC Speaking and Writing checks your pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, coherence and organization. – In case you want to progress in your career ladder, and boost your professional expertise, this is a choice for you to consider.

To conclude, in your language journey, you might encounter a lot of obstacles. And these language tests are the criteria that can assess and prove your competence. Plan carefully, Stay focused, Believe in yourself. You can definitely achieve your goals.