In Russian schools, and others educational institutions Such tests for English proficiency are rarely used. They are mainly distributed in the USA. Maybe the fact is that we are accustomed to only such tests where we need to decide on the correct use of time, or similar tasks. But what we offer you today is very good test on understanding language in general, and not just a specific rule. If you are a teacher, please note that this knowledge test English language, students cannot be prompted or helped to translate assignments. The whole point lies precisely in this.
If you translate the task and understand it, then, in general, any student will be able to choose the correct answer. This test is needed so that you can actually adequately assess the knowledge of your students, but knowledge not from the point of view of what the student knows grammar, but from the extent to which he understands the language.
Today, more and more people are starting to study foreign languages, and this test will suit them too. But what if you learn English on your own? Our recommendation: pay attention to a new, but increasingly widespread, method of studying foreign languages via Skype. Learning English via Skype is the same as having a personal tutor, only much more convenient. You don't have to waste time on the road, and the atmosphere is less formal. But the advantages are still the same: personal communication, speaking practice, and only you get all the attention.
The importance of the fact that a student has a good vocabulary and can understand unusual sentences and tests where there is not a word in Russian is difficult to overestimate. After all, very often, seemingly excellent students in languages from regular schools, are lost when they see tests entirely in English. This English proficiency test consists of two parts. Both tasks that are done with a focus on vocabulary are important here. Answers are included with the test and are on the last page. For your convenience, all pages have a name and date column.
website A pleasant bonus for you will be that there will also be a book in the archive The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in English.
website Romanova Nelly Viktorovna,
English teacher,
High school No. 82 Ulyanovsk
Job description : This test will be useful for English teachers to conduct in grades 7-8 in order to monitor students’ knowledge on the topic “USA” in lessons and extracurricular activities. The test covers information about geographic location, symbolism, political system, famous people of the United States, cities and landmarks.Goals and objectives :
Educational: generalization of the studied material on the topic “USA”; updating of regional studies material; improving reading and speaking skills; improving lexical skills.
Developmental : increasing the level of motivation to learn English; development of cognitive activity; development of attention, memory, imagination and logical thinking.
Educational: foster a sense of belonging to world culture.
Answer the questions .
What is the capital of the USA?
What is the population of the USA?
How many states are there in the USA?
What two oceans are the USA washed by?
What color is the American flag?
How do people call the American flag?
What is the motto of the USA?
What is the symbol of the USA?
Why is America called a “melting pot”?
Who is the heard of the USA?
Choose the correct variant .
Christopher Columbus discovered America in …
1492
1402
1442
Who lived in America before Columbus came?
Americans
Pilgrims
Indians
When did Europeans first arrive in America?
1720
1620
1670
The first colonists started the tradition of …
Thanksgiving Day
Halloween
Independence Day
When did America become independent?
1776
1676
1767
When is Independence Day?
The first president of the USA was…
Abraham Lincoln
Jeffrey Jefferson
George Washington
Which American state is located 50 miles from Russia?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
The largest state in the USA is…
Alaska
Texas
California
Which river did native Americans call “the father of waters”?
the Mississippi
the Colorado
the Missouri
Which state of the USA is located in the Pacific Ocean?
Idaho
Hawaii
Montana
The USA is a … republic.
Federal
Constitutional
presidential
The US President's term is…
4 years
5 years
6 years
The US Government has…braches.
Three
Four
Five
Congress is made up of
The House of Representatives and the House of Commons
The House of Lords and the House of Commons
The House of Representatives and the Senate
What is the favorite sport in the USA?
Baseball
Cricket
Rugby
Match the sights (A-H) with their definitions (1-7). One sight is extra.
The Capitol
The White House
The Empire State Building
Hollywood
Disneyland
The Grand Canyon
The Statue of Liberty
Yellowstone
It is the official home for the President of the USA.
It is the symbol of freedom in America.
It is one of the tallest buildings in the USA.
It is the tallest building in Washington and the most famous building in the USA because it is the place where laws are made.
It is the world famous center of films.
It is a large amusement park for children in Southern California.
It is the oldest national park in the world. It is famous for its geysers.
Match the beginnings of the sentences (1-5) with the endings (A-F). One variant is extra.
The Bering Strait
277 miles long
2) Yellowstone covers
c) parts of three states
3) Alaska is separated from Russia by
d) nine million square kilometers
4) The area of the USA is over
e) Great Lakes
5) The longest river in the USA is
f) the Mississippi
Match the cities (A-F) with their definitions (1-5). One city is extra .
Philadelphia
New York
Chicago
Washington, DC
Los Angeles
Boston
It is one of the main cities of the USA. It was the first capital of America from 1790 until 1800. The USA constitution the first written constitution in the world was adopted in this city in 1787.
This city is located on the left bank of the Potomac River. It is one of the most beautiful and unusual cities in the USA. It has little industry. There are no skyscrapers. It was named after the first American President.
It is the largest city in the United States. It is located at the mouth of the Hudson River. It is the world leader in finance, the arts and communications. There are many skyscrapers of fifty and more stores in it.
It is one of the oldest cities. It was founded in 1630. There are three universities in this city. The oldest university in the USA, Harvard University, was founded in 1636.
It is the second largest city in the USA after New York City. It is located in Southern California. This city is known as a center of the American entertainment industry.
Match the names of the famous people (A-F) with the sentences (1-5). One name is extra.
Walt Disney
Neil Armstrong
Martin Luther king
Henry Ford
Charlie Chaplin
Mark Twain
The American astronaut first stepped on the surface of the Moon.
His cartoon films are popular all over the world.
He was the leader of the Black civil rights movement in the USA.
He was a famous American actor called “The Little Tramp”.
He was the first to use an assembly line in car making, which made cars affordable.
Keys: 1) Washington, DC; 2) 250 million people; 3) 50 states; 4) the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean; 5) red, white, blue; 6) Stars and stripes; 7) In God we trust.; 8) the bald eagle; 9) because people of many nationalities live there; 10) the President; 11) a; 12)c; 13) b; 14) a;15) a; 16) b; 17) c; 18) b; 19) a; 20) a; 21) b; 22) c; 23) a; 24) a; 25) c; 26) a; 27) 1b; 2g; 3c; 4a; 5d; 6e; 7h; 28) 1b; 2c; 3a; 4d; 5f; 29) 1a; 2d; 3b; 4f; 5e; 30) 1b; 2a; 3c; 4e; 5d.
C list of used literature:
I. Yu. Bakanova “600 oral topics for schoolchildren and those entering universities” M., “Drofa” 2001;
T.P. Vanina, M.S. Evdokimov " Test tasks in English" M., "List" 1999;
V.V. Oshchepkova “USA: geography, history...” M., “List” 2000
The old saying goes that the US and Britain are “two nations divided by a common language.”
There are several ways in which differences between American and British English are clear:
British vs American English: difference in spelling
We often see differences between British and American English in spelling. In British English, words, as a rule, retain the features of those languages (French, Italian) from which they passed into English, while in American English the spelling of these words is adapted to their sound.
In written English it is important to adhere to one option writing throughout the document.
Main spelling differences:
‘- tre' ‘- ter' in American English.
AmE: theater, center
BRE: theater, center
Some words ending with ‘- our’ in the British version, end with ‘- or’ in American English.
AmE: color, labor
BRE: color, labor
Some words are shorter in American English than in British English due to Americans adapting loanwords.
AmE: catalog, program
BRE: catalogue, program
Verbs in British English can end in ‘- size' or ‘– ise' , while the American version is characterized only by the spelling ‘– size' .
AmE: apologize, organize, recognize
BRE: apologize or apologise, organize or organize, recognize or recognize
Words ending with ‘- yse' in British English, end with ‘- yze' in American English.
AmE: analyze, paralyze
BRE: analyze, paralyze
Verbs ending in vowel +l, in the British version they double the final consonant when adding the ending, but in the American version they do not double it.
AmE: travel – traveled – traveling – traveler; fuel – fueled – fueling
BRE: travel – travelled – travelling – traveler; fuel – fuelled – fueling
Some words that are spelled with in British English ‘ ae' And ‘ oe', are written with ‘ e' in American English.
AmE: leukemia, maneuver, estrogen, pediatric
BRE: leukaemia, manoeuvre, oestrogen, paediatric
Let's summarize and consider table:
Differences between American and British English in grammar.
A comparison of British and American English would not be complete without paying attention to the grammatical differences.
The first of these concerns collective nouns, denoting a group of people (staff, band, team, etc.). In American English, collective nouns always have singular, and in the British version - singular or plural - depending on the shades of meaning.
AmE: My favorite band is playing tonight.
BRE: My favorite band is/are playing tonight.
You will also find some slight differences between British and American English in the formation of the II and III forms of some irregular verbs.
AmE: learned, dreamed, burned, leaned
BRE: learnt, dreamt, burnt, leant.
Americans often use the forms - get-got -gotten, the British are exclusively get-got -got
Differences in grammar between American and British English also exist in usage divisive issues. The difference here is not in the rules of use, but in the frequency. For the British, a dividing question is a fairly common occurrence in speech; for Americans it is rare.
Americans are much less likely to use PresentPerfect than the British. In the USA we can hear the phrases Didyoudoyourhomeworkyet? or Ialreadyate, whereas in Britain only the Present Perfect can be used in these sentences.
The British use the expression more often havegot meaning to have. Americans say have.
BRE: I've got a sister.
AmE: I have a sister.
Differences between British and American English: vocabulary.
The most obvious differences between British and American English lie in the vocabulary, that is, in the words.
British vs American English – table.
|
American English |
British English |
Translation |
|
counterclockwise |
counterclockwise |
|
|
women's bars (in the anthem.) |
||
|
eggplant |
||
|
baking tray |
||
|
official holiday |
||
|
underground economy |
shadow economy |
|
|
bath sponge |
||
|
apartment building |
apartment building |
|
|
drawer in the chest of drawers with the bride's dowry |
||
|
parking |
||
|
emergency department |
||
|
French fries |
||
|
movie theater; the movies |
||
|
food film |
||
|
consumer durables |
consumer durables |
|
|
corn |
||
|
romaine lettuce |
||
|
cot |
||
|
sudden infant death syndrome |
||
|
cotton swab |
||
|
chips; potato chips |
||
|
Heavy cream |
||
|
checkers (game) |
||
|
pushpin |
||
|
drunk driving |
||
|
cocktail party |
||
|
driver's license |
driver license |
|
|
dummy (for a baby) |
pacifier (for baby) |
|
|
dust cover |
||
|
trash can |
||
|
busy (about short beeps on the phone) |
||
|
real estate agent, realtor |
real estate agent |
|
|
parochial school |
parochial school |
|
|
fiscal year |
||
|
fire company/department |
fire brigade/service |
fire brigade |
|
second floor |
||
|
fish sticks |
||
|
wall-to-wall carpeting |
Wall to wall carpet |
|
|
apartment |
||
|
full stop (punctuation) |
period (punctuation mark) |
|
|
gardening art |
||
|
hatrack |
||
|
bachelorette party |
bachelorette party |
|
|
holidays |
||
|
marmalade |
||
|
elementary school |
junior school |
|
|
doghouse |
||
|
ladybug |
||
|
lollipop |
||
|
truck |
||
|
corn |
||
|
expressway; highway |
motorway |
|
|
diaper |
||
|
thoughts and crosses |
tic-tac-toe |
|
|
potholder |
||
|
children's pool |
||
|
pedestrian crossing |
pedestrian crossing |
|
|
mailbox |
||
|
postal code |
||
|
baby carriage; stroller |
stroller (cradle) |
|
|
Stroller (stroller) |
||
|
racing car |
||
|
railway |
||
|
royal tennis (played with a cloth ball on an indoor court) |
||
|
shopping trolley |
shopping cart |
|
|
bachelor party |
||
|
tempest in a teapot |
storm in a teacup |
storm in a teacup |
|
sneakers |
||
|
cafe on the motorway |
||
|
carriage (on a train) |
||
|
coffee with cream |
Coffee with cream |
|
Please note that in American and British English they are called and counted differently. floors in the building.
There is a difference in the spelling and pronunciation of dates:
Differences between American and British English in pronunciation.
I offer you a table of words whose pronunciation differs in British English and American English.
American and British English are not so different!
British and American English have many more similarities than differences. The differences between American and British English are often exaggerated. If you understand one option, you will understand the other. Often the differences between regional dialects are much greater than the differences between two national varieties. The British and Americans understand each other without much difficulty. They watch the same TV shows, listen to the same songs, read the same books.
British and American English: tasks and exercises.
Let's do some exercises on the topic BritishvsAmericanEnglish.
Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks in the table.
|
British English |
American English |
|
(1) ______________ |
|
|
(2) ______________ |
|
|
(3) ______________ |
|
|
(4) ______________ |
|
|
(5) ______________ |
|
|
(6) ______________ |
movie theater; the movies |
|
(7) ______________ |
|
|
(8) ______________ |
|
|
(9) ______________ |
chips; potato chips |
|
(10) ______________ |
|
|
(11) ______________ |
|
|
(12) ______________ |
|
|
(13) ______________ |
|
|
(14) ______________ |
|
|
(15) ______________ |
|
|
(16) ______________ |
|
|
(17) ______________ |
|
|
(18) ______________ |
|
|
(19) ______________ |
|
|
(20) ______________ |
|
|
(21) ______________ |
|
|
(22) ______________ |
|
|
(23) ______________ |
|
|
(24) ______________ |
|
|
(25) ______________ |
tempest in a teapot |
|
(26) ______________ |
|
|
(27) ______________ |
|
|
(28) ______________ |
|
|
(29) ______________ |
|
|
(30) ______________ |
|
|
(31) ______________ |
|
|
(32) ______________ |
|
|
(33) ______________ |
Exercise 2. Give two variants: British and American of the words that correspond to the definitions.
- A line of people or vehicles that are waiting for something.
- A device that moves up and down inside a tall building and carries people from one floor to another.
- A major road that has been specially built for fast travel over long distances.
- An area of building where people can leave their cars.
- A large vehicle that is used to transport goods by road.
- A vehicle without an engine that can be pulled by a car or a van. It contains beds and cooking equipment so that people can live and spend their holidays in it.
- A liquid which is used as a fuel for motor vehicles.
Answers to the exercises.
Exercise 1. 1 Eggplant, 2 biscuit, 3 car park, 4 drugstore, 5 French fries, 6 cinema, 7 crib, 8 cotton swab, 9 crisps, 10 checkers, 11 dressing gown, 12 pacifier, 13 ground floor, 14 flat, 15 soccer, 16 period, 17 vacation, 18 ladybird, 19 lift, 20 lorry, 21 corn, 22 diaper, 23 stag night, 24 appetizer, 25 storm in a teacup, 26 sneakers, 27 truck stop, 28 trolley, 29 subway, 30 undershirt, 31 wagon, 32 waistcoat, 33 zipper.
- queue/line (USA)
- lift/elevator (USA)
- motorway/ expressway; highway (USA)
- car park/parking lot (USA)
- lorry/truck (USA)
- caravan/trailer (USA)
- petrol/gas, gasoline (USA)
International exams English language tests are carried out by specialized language centers in many countries, including Russia. The most popular exams in this category are described below.
Why is this necessary?
International English language tests are conducted for the following categories of persons:
- applicants planning to study abroad;
- labor migrants (for official employment);
- employees foreign companies, whose branches operate in Russia;
- immigrants traveling for permanent residence to English-speaking countries.
The need to introduce certain generally accepted testing systems for English proficiency was caused by the following reasons:
- In various organizations, companies, and educational institutions, when recruiting foreigners, they were forced to conduct their own internal language exams, which took a lot of time, effort and money.
- There were no uniform standards of language knowledge. This again led to problems when working with personnel, selecting applicants, when foreigners applied to government agencies, embassies, etc.
The first standards for the English language were developed back in the 1970s. They were constantly improved, and specialized assessment systems were created. In 1989, the European language organization ALTE was created, which began developing examination standards and determining levels of language skills. The University of Cambridge, national linguistic organizations, and the British Council joined the process. By 2001, the European Union had developed and began to use a unified system for assessing the level of language proficiency - CEFR.
By the end of the 2000s. A certain number of generally accepted international examination programs in English have been formed. It took enough of them to create large number in connection with different target groups of foreigners. For students, businessmen, company employees, teachers, scientists, migrants, standards and language levels, types of assessment will be different. Although there are tests for general level language knowledge for all categories.
Today, a person can get an objective assessment of his level of knowledge of English. For example, an applicant knows the requirements imposed on applicants by one or another foreign university: say, TOEFL 120 points or CAE 180 points. And then, no matter where he is - from Russia, or, say, Indonesia - he can take the unified international exam in English in any country and receive the corresponding uniform certificate. He presents this document upon admission to the university, without undergoing any additional language testing.
What types of exams are there?
Today there are the following types of English language exams:
- Tests for general knowledge of English: IELTS, TOEFL, KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE;
- English for specialists: BEC, ILEC, ICFE, GMAT, GRE, BULATS, LCCIEB;
- Tests for children and adolescents: YLE, KET, PET, FCE;
- English for teachers: TKT, CELTA, DELTA.
These types of tests have their own characteristics, requirements, certain types of tasks, different shapes testing, assessment levels, cost.
The most relevant certificates for Russians are those required for admission to foreign universities or obtaining prestigious vacancies in international organizations and companies. These are IELTS, TOEFL, FCE, CAE, CPE.
General English
The IELTS English language test is intended for those who want to study in the UK and Commonwealth countries (Academic module), and for those who plan to work in these countries (Main module). The test evaluates oral and written speech, language skills in listening and reading. Scores from 1 to 9 are used for assessment; The certificate is valid for 2 years. In Moscow, the exam can be taken at the International Examination Center IELTS Students International, which is located at: st. Shchipok, 20, office 203. This is the only organization in Russia that specializes only in IELTS and implements high-quality preparatory programs for this test. The cost of IELTS is 16,000 rubles.
TOEFL is an English language test recognized in North America. The TOEFL certificate is required for international students in the US and Canada. This exam does not determine the degree of proficiency in spoken English, but only shows how much a foreigner understands the academic language of instruction used in educational institutions North America. When preparing, you need to take into account one nuance: TOEFL tests are based on the American dialect of English. Testing takes place on the official website toefl.org and is checked automatically. Typos and other random errors still count as grammatical errors. Time to complete the test is 4 hours. For example, you can take the TOEFL in Moscow at the American Center for Education and Testing (Leninsky Prospekt, 2) - the company has been preparing applicants and conducting certification exams in Russia for many years. The official cost of taking the exam is $250.
ESOL is an exam in practical English. Its developer is the PITMAN Institute, which emphasized the ability to understand the essence of information, briefly convey what was heard (abstract), take notes, understand subtext, accents, hidden meaning. The organization where you can take this exam is Moscow “ Educational Center“Meganom” (Naprudny lane, 8, 1st entrance, 3rd floor). 
Cambridge exams
The University of Cambridge has created and is now effectively implementing its system of English language exams for non-native speakers. Exams for a certificate in English of one type or another are taken only once, such a certificate is valid for life.
KET and PET tests to confirm the basic (KET) or intermediate (PET) level of oral communication or written language for everyday use. First of all, these tests are used as international English language exams for children and adolescents. In Moscow, there are test centers “BKC-International House”, which are official branches of the worldwide network of language centers IHWO, founded back in 1953. Moreover, they themselves prepare English texts for the exam. There are more than 30 BKC-IH schools in Moscow. The cost of passing the test is about 6,000 rubles.
FCE is the most popular of Cambridge's exam programs. The certificate holder is considered to speak the language at the Independent level according to the European Union classification. The FCE certificate is generally accepted in the business environment, industrial production, and educational institutions. The exam tests skills in the following areas: reading, composition, everyday conversation, auditory perception, conversation. The assessment is point-based, up to 40 points for each module. You can take the FCE at the Language Link Examination Center in Moscow (Novoslobodskaya str., building 3, 5th floor). The company has been an international linguistic center since 1998, and in 2011 received a Platinum Partner certificate from the University of Cambridge. The cost of FCE is about 9,500 rubles.
CAE is an exam that assesses the level of general English. The CAE certificate confirms that its owner fluently uses the language not only in everyday life, but also when receiving special, higher education and in work. The highest Cambridge level is CPE. The holder of this certificate is considered to have achieved the level of an educated native English speaker. The Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow (Ladozhskaya St., 9/8) has been an examination center since 1997, where you can take tests for CAE and CPE certificates. By the way, in the English department of this institute, Cambridge exams are mandatory. Estimated cost of CAE and CPE: from 10,000 rubles. up to 12,000 rub.
There are also English proficiency tests developed by Cambridge linguists for specialists in certain industries.
The BEC certificate confirms the skills of using language in management activities and entrepreneurship. At the same time, such types of language activities as reading, writing, listening and speaking are tested. There are 3 levels of BEC: beginner, advanced and higher. A person with a BEC certificate can safely participate in business negotiations, correspondence, speak at seminars, conferences, understand special articles, reports, instructions, etc.
ILEC is an exam for specialists working in the field of legal relations. Also, law students can take the test. Knowledge of legal terminology and English-language legal practice is important here. Another test from Cambridge - for specialists working in the field of economics, accounting, finance - ICFE.
BEC, ILEC, ICFE can be taken at authorized Cambridge examination centers in Moscow: the already mentioned BKC-IH, Institute of Foreign Languages. 
BULATS is a test developed by Cambridge linguists for testing company employees and applicants for available vacancies. The test is designed to obtain objective information about the applicant’s level of English in various areas economics, entrepreneurship, management. BULATS is used by large corporations when recruiting administrative management, marketing, economics, PR, finance specialists and so on. The test is suitable for anyone who wants to evaluate their business English skills and plans to use them in the future. Based on the test results, applicants are assigned a score that is correlated with the international systematization of levels - from beginner to advanced. Testing is carried out on a computer at the request of organizations and firms. In Moscow, such an exam can be taken, for example, in the ALIBRA SCHOOL network of foreign language schools, which has 8 branches in the capital. This network is the official examination department of the University of Cambridge. The cost of the full exam package is up to 5,000 rubles.
Other Business English Certificates
The GMAT is a business school admissions test. It tests the level of oral and written speech, analytical ability, critical thinking, includes general educational aspects. The GMAT inherently assumes a high degree of language proficiency. The applicant receives grades in areas and an overall score from 200 to 800 points. The test result is officially sent to business schools (no more than five) where the applicant plans to enroll. The already mentioned American Education and Testing Center operates in Moscow, where you can take the GMAT. In this case, you need to register on the official website mba.com. The cost of taking the test is $250.
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCIEB exams are several types of tests focused on various business areas: trade, business, industry, tourism business, PR. The exam is carried out only in Britain, directly in the presence of examiners. Cost - up to 80 euros (depending on the direction).
Oxford exams
The University of Oxford has also developed its own examination system, recognized throughout the world. Oxford English exams are exclusively written. They have three levels: 1) preliminary, 2) advanced and 3) diploma. At the first level, in addition to advanced knowledge of the language, knowledge of geographical terms and names and reading printed publications are required. A high level requires intensive English lessons for at least two years under the guidance of an experienced teacher. A diploma holder is, in fact, a native speaker. In Moscow, Oxford exams can be taken at the Examination and Methodological Council "RELOD" (Leninsky Ave., 4). Cost - up to 80 US dollars.
Thus, international examinations of English proficiency are complex systems, developed by different scientific centers for specific purposes. They are united by the fact that they are recognized all over the world and are necessary for migrant workers, students and applicants, entrepreneurs working in the field of international business, specialists of foreign companies, and so on.
It is important to emphasize that all the exams mentioned above require a fairly high entry level knowledge of the English language, far from the school curriculum. That’s why you don’t need to take seriously advertising of language courses that promise to prepare you, for example, for the TOEFL in six months “from scratch.”
If you are about to enter a higher education institution abroad, emigrate, or have an interview and employment in an international company, then in all of them you will need “proof” that you speak English at the proper level. This “proof” will be one of a number of international exams for English language proficiency. Of course, you first need to decide which specific international exam is suitable in your case in order to achieve your goal, and seriously prepare for it. So let's see what we have here.
Life does not stand still and presents us with surprises and a lot of new things, requiring us not to stop there. Every person strives to achieve certain results and leave their mark in this world. IN modern society The English language rises above all linguistic charters. In order to test your knowledge and document it, international English language exams were invented.
Some take them to study or work abroad, others use the exams as an incentive to learn the language, while others need the certificate for a successful career in their country. Be that as it may, such exams are gradually gaining popularity among English language learners all over the world. This article will talk about the most famous international English language exams, compare them and, of course, answer the question “Is this necessary at all?” Let's start with it.
Why is an international exam needed?
Really! After all, this requires money (the exam is not free), energy and a lot of time! But nevertheless, everything has its reasons. For example:
- First of all, the exam is passed to obtain a special certificate, which will officially confirm your knowledge. Having received it, you will be able to enroll in prestigious universities that are located abroad (for example, in the USA or Canada,
as well as other countries where the main language of communication is English). More than 7,500 educational institutions in English-speaking countries will require your document. - Finding a decent job abroad it is also unlikely without a certificate, because no one needs illiterate employees. In order to settle comfortably abroad, you need to pass this exam and receive a certificate with a high score. The higher it is, the more likely it is that you will get a job with a high level of pay. Everyone wants to occupy senior positions, but this requires hard training, a lot of desire and patience. Yes, different companies require different levels of language knowledge, but often this indicator should be above 80 points. So... you better be ready.
- In addition, you can pass such an exam for self-affirmation purposes. It will be nice to test your capabilities and receive a document that will confirm your literacy and skills, and, perhaps, help you win an argument (the certificate will become ironclad proof).
Passing the exam is a guarantee that you speak this language and can communicate and write fluently in it.
Types of international exams
The diversity of this knowledge sector is due to specific preferences in certain regions of the world. That is, one exam is taken at one site, and another at another. Now we will introduce you to the main varieties of this section of knowledge.
Lately everything more people take international English exams: TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, FCE and others. Let's start with TOEFL.
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
The most common and most popular type of international exam for the United States. The TOEFL exam is prepared by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Main feature The TOEFL exam is that it is based on American English, so to successfully pass the TOEFL you need to understand the lexical and grammatical subtleties that distinguish American English from British English.
This knowledge test is designed to determine the level of your knowledge at the academic level. More likely, if you decide to study at universities in the USA or Canada, then you will have to take this one. It is worth noting that this test for knowledge of American English has received approval and a lot of positive feedback from various government and even international organizations. We can certainly say that this is the leading English language exam among its other counterparts.
The main purpose of the international exam TOEFL— assess the level of training of those for whom English is not their native language. Providing TOEFL results is a necessary condition for admission to more than 2,400 colleges and universities in the USA, Canada and some other countries. TOEFL certificate is a document required for admission to foreign universities to study for an MBA program, to obtain the right to an internship in English, or to apply for a job that requires knowledge of the English language. Some academic and professional certification programs also require applicants to take the TOEFL. The certificate is valid for two years.
There are currently 2 versions of the test: Paper-based Test (PBT), that is, a written test on paper, and Internet-based Test (iBT) - testing via the Internet. The second option has recently been considered preferable in many universities, as it includes tasks not only for reading, listening and writing, but also for speaking and combined tasks.
Like most exams of this type, it takes place in 4 stages:
- Reading(read and translate 3 texts, answer a number of questions);
- Letter(write 2 essays on given topics; emphasis on grammar, accuracy and stylistic correctness);
- Listening(listen to 2 texts in American English and answer a series of questions, or take a series of tests for each);
- Talk(communication with the examiner in American English + answer 6 questions, clearly articulating your thoughts).
All tasks must be completed with maximum precision. The approximate cost of this exam will be 260/180 US dollars for residents of Russia and Ukraine, respectively.
Maximum points in computer version TOEFL, which has almost completely replaced the old paper version, - 120 . To study at a prestigious American university, on average, you need at least 80 points.
IELTS – International English Language Testing System
This type of exam tests your knowledge of British English. IELTS appeared later than TOEFL, but it is becoming increasingly popular. This exam is considered more extensive, because unlike the previous one, it is divided and taken in 2 modules.
You can take English at the academic level ( Academic Module, for those entering universities abroad), or you can - in general ( General Module(for those who travel for permanent residence to Canada, Australia or New Zealand, etc.). Both options also consist of 4 parts: “Reading” (60 minutes), “Writing” (60 minutes), “Listening” (40 minutes), “Speaking” (11-14 minutes). The first 2 parts differ in different modules, the other 2 - listening and interview - are the same. English texts for the exam are selected in such a way as to cover the maximum level of your knowledge and evaluate them objectively.
The test result is valid for 2 years from the date of receipt.
KET - Key English Test
The test is intended for adults and children over 15 years old. For young children, namely from 11 to 14 years old, the Exam, being an exam of the University of Cambridge, was developed directly by the examination department of the university of the same name, Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
In principle, anyone who has recently started learning English and has already achieved some success can take the exam. After all KET tests basic knowledge, including the ability to use simple phrases and expressions, easy grammatical structures in oral and written speech. If you can introduce yourself, answer easy questions and also ask them, can speak briefly on any issue, are able to understand basic texts and grasp the meaning of simple conversations in audio and video format, the international KET exam will help you evaluate your knowledge at professional level, will show you your weak and strong points in learning English, and, therefore, you will be able to purposefully prepare for passing exams a step higher.
KET is the first of a block of General English exams that measures knowledge of General Universal English. The exam confirms knowledge of the English language at a basic level (level A2 Council of Europe scales) and contains 3 parts:
- « Reading and Writing"(1 hour 10 minutes, read information from newspapers or magazines in English, and complete several types of tasks based on it),
- « Listening"(30 minutes, listen to announcements and monologues in the form of audio recordings at a slow pace, and answer a certain number of questions),
- « Speaking"(8-10 minutes, conversation in pairs (with a partner) with two examiners, one of whom communicates with you, and the other evaluates your abilities).
Completed tasks checked by specialists Cambridge ESOL, which evaluate your knowledge based on the sum of points for all tests (1st stage - 50%, 2nd and 3rd - 25% each). In a couple of months you will be able to find out whether you passed this exam (70%-84%), whether you were successful in it (85%-100%), or whether you coped with the task, but not quite well, so you receive a level certificate A1, which means you can take part in a simple dialogue in English on a predictable topic, are able to write a simple questionnaire or note indicating the time, date and place, but this is not enough for the international KET exam. Well, if your percentage of points received is 0%-44% of correct information, then you have failed the exam.
This exam requires availability basic knowledge. Using the language in study, work or just travel, you will inevitably face the need to deepen the material that you know, and, therefore, you will be able to take international exams in English at a higher level.
There are 5 international exams in this series: KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE. The upper limit is the CPE exam, which is taken by those who speak English almost like a native speaker. Accordingly, the international KET exam is the first step in improving your knowledge.
Certificate The international KET exam, like the other exams in this block, is valid for life, which means you will not have to take the exam again to prove your knowledge. The only question is: will you be satisfied with your victory at this stage of language proficiency or will you strive for new heights, reinforcing your knowledge with increasingly difficult and serious exams?
Basic knowledge English language required for the international KET exam will not remain unclaimed you. After all, from now on you will be able to communicate with native speakers, for example, when traveling abroad. You will learn to understand easy information presented in English rather than your native language, which will give you an advantage over those who do not study this language. Needless to say, employers of some organizations recognize the KET international exam certificate as a basic qualification in the field of learning English.
Every year the international KET exam strive to pass about 40,000 people from 60 countries. To get into their number, you just need to register at the British Council training center, which accepts this exam, pay the cost of the exam (6,700 rubles in Russia and 2,350 UAH in Ukraine), and take all types of tests at the appointed time.
PET - Preliminary English Test
This is the second exam in the Cambridge General English series, which confirms the average level of English proficiency; designed for those who want to discover opportunities to study, work and travel. The exam confirms knowledge of the English language at an intermediate level (level B1 Council of Europe scales). The PET certificate is recognized by many companies in the tourism, hospitality, administrative fields, as well as most educational institutions as confirmation of an average level of English proficiency.
Upon delivery PET you can evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and understand what you should subsequently pay more attention to when improving your English. A PET certificate will give you confidence in your abilities and make preparing for higher level exams much easier. In addition, it confirms your confident command of English in everyday life.
Cambridge certificates do not expire and do not require retaking over time.
Like KET, the exam contains 3 parts - “ Reading and Writing"(90 minutes, be able to form sentences, be able to read and understand the main idea of articles from magazines), " Listening"(35 minutes, understand spoken language from various sources and people’s attitude to what they say, their emotions and mood), “ Speaking"(10-12 minutes, talk with the examiner and in pairs with another student, be able to ask and answer questions). Due to the fact that this part of the “Speaking” test is taken in pairs with another candidate, the exam becomes closer to real life situations.
It is assumed that at this level the candidate is capable understand factual information and express opinions, attitudes and moods in English, both orally and in writing. The certificate confirms the ability to communicate on everyday topics with a native speaker.
In 2009, a special PET for schools exam was introduced. This exam is absolutely identical to the regular PET with the only difference being that the topics covered in the exam material are related to school and school life, which makes it more convenient for candidates under 15 years of age to take the exam.
For successful passing exam candidate must be able to:
- Express yourself simply and coherently;
- Feel free in most situations while traveling;
- Understand the essence of the conversation, as well as be able to express personal interests and communicate on familiar topics, such as work, school, home, etc.;
- Talk about your experiences and events, and describe your dreams, hopes and goals.
Result The PET exam is the arithmetic average of the sum of scores for all three parts. The mark for reading and writing is 50% of the total score, listening and colloquial speech- 25% each.
Grades and corresponding points:
Pass with Distinction: 160 - 170;
Pass with Merit: 153 - 159;
Pass: 140 - 152;
Level A2: 120 - 139.
“Pass with Distinction”, “Pass with Merit” and “Pass” mean that the exam has been passed and the desired level has been confirmed. It is important to note that the “Pass with Distinction” grade is a confirmation of the next level B2 (FCE exam), and the “Level A2” grade is a confirmation of the previous level (KET exam). If the candidate does not score enough points to level A2, the exam is considered failed and a certificate is not issued.
FCE - First Certificate in English
This is not just one of the list of Cambridge exams, but the first Cambridge certificate. The exam is developed and administered by the ESOL division of the University of Cambridge Examinations Council (UCLES). Just like the KET and PET exams, the FCE certificate is valid for life. But this is not the last advantage of the exam.
Can take the FCE exam those who speak English sufficiently to use it in everyday life, including at work and in school.
To successfully pass the exam, you need to have a large vocabulary, be able to conduct a conversation and use the necessary communication strategies in a variety of life situations. If you communicate fluently in everyday situations, read correspondence in English, conduct telephone conversations, use language skills in various fields of activity, then you should try to pass this exam.
FCE Test is equivalent to the level Upper-Intermediate(or B2 according to the international scale CEFR). With an FCE certificate you have the opportunity to study or work abroad. If you are a high school student, passing the FCE Test will ensure that you achieve the maximum final grades in English in Years 10 and 11 - this will be confirmed by a letter from the Department of Education.
Exam lasts 5 hours And divided for 2 days. During the exam, the level of all your language skills is tested, so the test is divided into whole 5 parts(they are called “Papers”): reading (1 hour, 30 questions on 3 texts), writing (1 hour 20 minutes, write an essay, then an article or letter, email, review or report), use of language(45 minutes, grammar and vocabulary, insert words into the text), listening (40 minutes), speaking (15 minutes). Reading, writing and listening are tested in the same way as other Cambridge exams. Oral proficiency will be assessed based on how well you can carry on a discussion.
All examiners are accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
Those who successfully pass this exam receive a certificate from the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. This certificate is highly valued by universities and companies in many countries. Everyone who passes the test receives a document about the exam results, which indicates what level of language knowledge was demonstrated at each stage of the exam.
Every year, more than 270 thousand people take the FCE in more than 100 countries. FCE is an important qualification indicator for any person wishing to work or study abroad, or to achieve professionalism in a field where language knowledge is required - this could be business, medicine, engineering and many other fields of activity. In addition, FCE can be an important step towards preparing for higher level exams such as the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE).
Why take the FCE? Many universities and other educational institutions consider the FCE to be an indicator of intermediate level English language proficiency. In such educational institutions, passing the FCE is one of the conditions for admission to them. Since many life situations are played out during testing, the FCE certificate is important for any person who wants to work or study abroad or communicate with foreign partners. Companies all over the world recognize FCE. It means the ability to work with English-language documentation, to use English in the field of management, as well as in any field, such as tourism, where it is necessary to maintain contacts with English-speaking colleagues.
Knowledge of the language at the FCE level allows you to conduct business correspondence and telephone conversations, participate in trainings, and read simple books and articles. The areas of application of the FCE certificate are many and varied.
CAE - Certificate in advanced English
The exam is necessary for those who will work or study in an environment with high demands on English language skills. Similar to FCE, the test CAE consists of 5 parts. It can be completed in either written or electronic form.
Receiving this certificate characterizes you as a fairly confident “user”, and, based on the name, confirms your knowledge of the Advanced level ( C1). If you can easily read any literature, write competently and in different styles, communicate freely on any topic and understand fluent native speakers, then you should try it. Successfully passing the SAE is considered for admission to many universities, even such prestigious ones as Oxford, Cambridge and the Californian University of Technology.
Each of the 5 parts is longer than FCE: Reading (1 hour 15 minutes), Writing (1 hour 30 minutes), Using English (1 hour), Listening (40 minutes) and Speaking English (15 minutes).
This exam is scored in the form of letters, each of which has a different range. The overall score consists of the sum of the results from each part of the exam.
A: 80-100
B: 75-79
C: 60-74
CEFR Level B2: 45-49
Fail: 0-44
The validity period of the certificate is unlimited.
CPE - Certificate of Proficiency in English
Also known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English, the exam is a qualification that confirms that you have achieved an exceptionally high level of proficiency in the English language. This is the last in the block of Cambridge exams, confirming proficiency in English top level- on par with a native speaker (Proficiency, or C2). Is oldest from Cambridge language exams. It was first introduced in 1913.
The English Language Certificate gives you the opportunity work in any field, get a first higher education, study in postgraduate or master's programs in any English-speaking country, because it is accepted by more than 20,000 commercial and government agencies and organizations around the world.
Like other Cambridge certificates, the CPE does not expire. It is accepted in most European universities and other educational institutions abroad. In many English-speaking countries, if you have this certificate, you will not need to take qualification tests for employment or higher education.
Also CPE is considered one of key tests for teachers, it significantly increases the competitiveness of the teacher, both in the domestic market and abroad.
Consists of 5 parts - Reading, Writing, Use of English, Listening, Speaking.
The specifics of the assessment are such that even if one of the blocks was passed poorly, you have every chance of receiving a CAE certificate.
BEC - Business English Certificate
Cambridge University exam designed to certify proficiency business English.
The BEC tests a candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a business environment, but does not require any specialized knowledge.
BEC is intended for students who need specialized knowledge
English to pursue a business career internationally
level. The exam tests four aspects of language skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. IN this test exercises are used that draw on everyday business life to test the candidate's ability to use various linguistic functions and structures in a business context.
There are 3 options for the BEC exam:
- BEC Preliminary(designed for candidates who speak business vocabulary
English level Intermediate); - BEC Vantage(designed for students who know business English at a level Upper-Intermediate);
- BEC Higher(intended for candidates who have completed a Business English course at the Advanced).
BEC Preliminary. Upon successful completion of the exam, three levels of certificates are issued: Pass, Pass with Merit and Pass with Distinction, depending on the overall test score. All candidates will also receive an examination report, which includes the Cambridge Framework score for each part of the examination, the overall Cambridge Language Assessment score, overall rating for the entire exam and assessment according to the Council of Europe Scale.
BEC Vantage. Upon successful passing of the exam, English language certificates of three levels are issued: A, B and C - depending on the overall grade based on the test results. Candidates who score from 140 to 159 points are issued a level certificate B1
BEC Higher. Upon successful passing of the exam, English language certificates of three levels are issued: A, B and C - depending on the overall grade based on the test results. Candidates who score from 160 to 179 points are issued a level certificate B2. All candidates receive an examination report, which includes the Cambridge Framework score for each part of the examination, the overall Cambridge Language Assessment score, the overall score for the entire examination and the Council of Europe Scale score.
YLE – Young Learners English Tests
This is the only English proficiency test in the world that is designed for children aged 7 to 12 years. The exam consists of 3 levels: “Starters”, “Movers” and “Flyers”, the last of which is approximately equivalent in difficulty to the KET exam.
- YLE Starters- for children whose knowledge of English corresponds to the Beginner level;
- YLE Movers- for those who have already reached the Elementary level;
- YLE Flyers- for those who can already engage in dialogues in English and have a vocabulary at the Pre-Intermediate level.
Examiners test proficiency in basic types of language activities in a playful and relaxed manner, which motivates the child to study further and helps to understand that exams are not scary.
Despite the innate human fear of various exams, tests and tests, this series was created in order to demonstrate to children how easy it is to pass exams. If you think your child has enough stressful situations at school, don't worry about this exam: absolutely all children receive an English language certificate. No matter how many points your child scores, he will still become the proud owner of the first Cambridge certificate in his life.
How the exam works? YLE is taken in 2 stages and consists of a written procedure (reading, listening, writing) and an interview with an examiner. The exam is adapted to the characteristics of child psychology; passing the exam only creates a positive perception of the test as a tool for testing knowledge. Thanks to this exam, the child becomes familiar with the format of international tests at an early age. A comfortable environment during the exam is provided by the YLE format itself.
What does the certificate provide? If you are wondering whether it is possible to enter one of the foreign schools with an exam certificate, the answer is clear - no. The exam is intended for other purposes. Among them:
- the child receives the first document of international level;
- early acquaintance with international requirements when passing exams;
- positive assessment of one's own knowledge;
- increasing a child’s motivation in learning English, testing knowledge by experts from a world-famous university.
How to prepare for an international exam
In fact, there are many preparation methods and you can independently choose the one that will be most convenient for you. We recommend taking a free test online to find out which exam is best for you.
EnglishDom - great option, because with us you can not only improve your weak points without leaving home, but also do it as efficiently as possible. With the help of our teachers, you will be able to ask questions about issues that concern you in English and consolidate material that you have left unstudied previously.
Don't miss out on webinars and online courses. They are designed this way
so that you can easily learn on your own.
You can also hire yourself a tutor. You will come to his office or home and study individually with him on the topics in which you are weakest. This is convenient for the simple reason that there are different types exams in English and you should choose a preparation method based on this. If this is children's training, then you can freely prepare yourself.
Conclusion
Pick what you will! If you type in the search any of the names of international exams, you will be able to download a lot of materials for self-study: specialized textbooks, trial tasks and just useful tips. However, Skype classes at our EnglishDom school with a qualified teacher will significantly increase the effectiveness of your preparation. Have no doubts!
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