English certificates and why you should have them

It is widely known that English is an international language, spoken by more than 700 millions people worldwide. Hence, learning to speak English is considered to be essential. To get English certificates, you need to take English exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and many more. Each one has its own method and score band to assess your level of using English. Moreover, these exams are used for different purposes and are used in different countries.

TOEFL and IELTS are both tests designed for people wanting to study in an English-speaking country or taking a course with a lot of English language content. IELTS has a non-academic version but it’s not as common as the academic version. TOEFL is the most common academic English test worldwide but in some countries, such as the UK, universities prefer people to have a good IELTS score because they think it is a more accurate assessment of English level. You can do the TOEFL test online or face-to-face, but you can only do IELTS in-person. TOEFL and IELTS are both valid for two years so it’s important to plan to do your test a reasonable time before you apply for your university course. If you do it too early, you might need to do it again!

TOEIC is a test of English for communication and it’s usually used for business. Companies, especially in Asia, like people to have a certain TOEIC score to prove their English is good enough to work with and understand English-speaking clients and colleagues. TOEIC scores are usually considered valid for two years and companies may ask people to take the test once when they apply for a job or once every two years to prove their English skills are still at the same level.

OPI and OPIC are tests of spoken English fluency. They are often used in business or even for English teachers to prove their level of spoken English. The OPI exam is taken with an examiner in the room and OPIC is an online test where students answer questions set by a computer. OPI and OPIC are a good way to test your spoken fluency if you don’t need to check other skills and are just interested in finding out more about your English level. OPIC is a lot cheaper than OPI because the examiner doesn’t need to come to the test centre.

The Cambridge English exams are a little different to the tests above. The Cambridge exams are traditional ‘pass or fail’ exams whereas others give you an English score on a graded scale. Because of this, it’s important to enter a Cambridge exam at the right level for you. Your teacher should be able to tell you which level would be best for you. The levels are:

• PET – Cambridge English: Preliminary The lowest level. This proves you have enough English to communicate and talk about simple things.

• FCE – Cambridge English: First Strong intermediate students can take this test. This proves your English is good enough to live in an English-speaking country and that you can communicate relatively fluently.

• CAE – Cambridge English: Advanced Strong advanced students can take this test. You’ll need excellent written and spoken English to pass.

• CPE – Cambridge English: Proficiency For students wanting to prove their level is similar to that of a native speaker of English. This is a really tough test and it’s a great achievement to pass it.

These Cambridge exams remain valid forever so they are a great way to prove what your level of English is at the end of a course like you would with a course at college or university.

So, if you intend to study or work abroad, then those certificates are compulsory because they are proof of your English fluency level. You can not go to live in other countries without any knowledge of foreign languages and therefore having certain qualifications is inevitable. Even if you don’t have that intention, it is still highly recommended to take English exams. Taking a test like TOEFL or IELTS can be a great way to see what level your English is at. Also, an English certificate is an investment in yourself and your future, just like any other types of diploma or certificate but its superiority is to be internationally recognized. Thus, it will make your CVs more attractive and noticeable, opening doors for you in your career such as having greater job promotion and better wages.

Reference: https://englishlive.ef.com/blog/career-english/toefl-ielts-and-co-which-english-exam-should-i-take/

Tác giả : Nguyễn Thành Nam (HSGS)