A Brief Overview of Some of the Most Popular English Language Proficiency Tests

TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test) is a high-stakes test of English language proficiency for university study, work, and immigration purposes. TOEFL® is a registered trade mark of Educational Testing Service (ETS).

TOEFL uses real academic content to measure four English language skills, i.e. reading, listening, speaking, and writing, for academic contexts. The test is delivered online in secure testing centers. The test is administered all in one day and takes nearly three hours.

Unlike some other tests, TOEFL iBT has “integrated tasks”. For example, in the speaking section, you will read a passage, listen to a recording, and then fulfill the speaking task. Similarly, in the writing section, you will read a passage, listen to a recording, and then fulfill the writing task.

Each section scores out of 30, and the overall test scores out of 120. There are extra unscored questions either for the reading or the listening section.

You’ll receive your results in 6 days.

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is a high-stakes test of English language proficiency for study, work, and immigration purposes. Launched in 2009, PTE Academic is a registered trademark of Pearson Education. PTE is recognized by higher education institutions, organizations, and immigration bodies in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, USA, and many other countries around the world.

PTE Academic is a computer-based exam delivered in secure centres. PTE is scored by AI, which means, unlike some other exams, your test will be graded by automated scoring technology and algorithms, and not human examiners.

As the name, PTE Academic, suggests, the test mainly involves real-life English used in a wide range of English-speaking higher education institutions and academic contexts. In the test, you will be hear a range of accents form across the world.

PTE Academic lasts up to 3 hours, and assesses your English proficiency in terms of your communicative listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The test has three main parts: speaking and writing (as one part), listening, and reading.

Results are reported on a 10-90 scale, typically within 48 hours upon sitting the test. Your PTE Academic Score Report will show your overall score (on a 10-90 scale), your communicative skills scores, and your enabling skills scores. Enabling skills are Oral Fluency, Grammar, Vocabulary, Written Discourse, Pronunciation and Spelling.

Duolingo English Test is an online tool to assess your language proficiency. The test is a trademark or service mark of Duolingo or their respective owners.

Duolingo English Test is known as a convenient test, which can be taken online anytime and anywhere, with no need to have an appointment with a a test center. The test is also comparatively affordable.

The test includes a Quick setup (5 minutes), an Adaptive test that evaluates your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills (45 minutes), and a Video interview in which you respond to open-ended questions (10 minutes).

Occupational English Test (OET) is a high-stakes test of English language proficiency for healthcare professionals. OET is a registered trademark of and is owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a joint venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute.

OET assesses your English proficiency in terms of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. The test reflects real workplace tasks and language skills relevant to 12 professions within healthcare. The professions are: Dentistry; Dietetics; Medicine; Nursing; Occupational Therapy; Optometry; Pharmacy; Physiotherapy; Podiatry; Radiography; Speech Pathology; Veterinary Science.

As a proof of English language proficiency, OET is favoured by many healthcare professionals because it uses real life healthcare related scenarios similar to the candidates’ day-to-day work. Furthermore, OET is recognised by many immigration organizations, healthcare regulating bodies, and academic education providers.