IELTS or Cambridge exam? Which one is best?
Every week I ask new students who arrive at ELC Bristol if they want to do an exam in English while they are here. Almost every week someone will say to me: What is the difference between the IELTS and Cambridge exam? Here I will explain the main differences for students who are studying English and would like a qualification to demonstrate their level and achievements.
Cambridge: First (B2), Advanced (C1) or Proficiency (C2)
Cambridge are the exams you should be doing if you don’t have a very specific reason for doing an exam. They are also General English exams which students can use to show their level of English. Maybe, you are looking for a job and you want to prove your English level to your prospective employer. Possibly, you need to prove your English level to your school. Then, you should be doing one of the Cambridge exams.
What do Cambridge exams involve?
The exams go from A2 (Elementary) to C2 (Proficiency) and you take the exam at the level you are working at. In addition, they all include sections for Use of English, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. If you get 60%, then you pass the exam.
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/
IELTS Academic
Our students that take the IELTS exam sit the Academic IELTS test. This exam is for people who want to study at university. Students who study at university in the UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand need an IELTS score. Many universities around the world now require their students to take an Academic IELTS test.
What does IELTS involve?
IELTS assesses the four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The writing and reading are academic and require training to learn what is required. Unusually, everyone takes the same test in IELTS regardless of level. You receive a score between 1 and 9 and a score around 6.5 (C1) is required to go to university in the UK.
IELTS General
IELTS General is mainly for students who are permanently moving to an English speaking country. If you need to prove your English level for this reason then this is the exam for you. It is unusual for our students to take this test. It is similar in format to the other IELTS test but the language tested is similar to the Cambridge exams (General English).
Come and see the courses on our website which explain more about these exams. You can also book to do one of our courses to prepare you for the exam!