English Tests & Certificates
Find the English exam that fits your goal, understand how it works, and prepare with study plans and free practice.
Whether you want to study abroad, apply for a visa, move up in your career or simply find out your level, there is an English certificate for it. This site explains more than 25 exams, from IELTS and TOEFL to Cambridge, telc and specialist tests for doctors, pilots and teachers.
Which English Exam Do I Need?
Choose your goal to see the exams that fit.
Study at a university abroad
Most universities accept IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT. Many also accept PTE Academic, the Duolingo English Test or Cambridge C1 Advanced. Check your university's list first.
Visa or immigration
Governments accept only certain tests, often at approved test centres. For the UK you usually need a SELT such as IELTS for UKVI; for Canada, IELTS General Training or CELPIP; for Australia, IELTS or PTE.
A job or career
Employers in Germany and Europe know Cambridge, telc and LanguageCert certificates well. International companies often use TOEIC to check workplace English.
Healthcare, aviation or shipping
Some professions have their own English tests: OET for doctors, nurses and other health professionals, ICAO English for pilots and air traffic controllers, and maritime English for seafarers.
A school qualification
International schools teach towards IGCSE English, the International Baccalaureate or, in the US system, AP English.
Find out my level
A level test shows where you are on the CEFR scale before you choose an exam. EF SET is free online; Cambridge Linguaskill is used by companies and universities.
Teach English
Teaching qualifications are not language tests: they show you can teach. CELTA is the best-known starting point, DELTA is for experienced teachers.
All English Exams
Seven groups of exams, each with its own overview page.
1International English Exams
The big five, accepted by universities, employers and authorities around the world.
2Cambridge & European Certificates
Certificates that are well known in Germany and Europe, many with no expiry date.
3English Tests for Visa & Immigration
Tests approved by governments for visas, residence and citizenship.
4Professional English Exams
Specialist tests for people who need English in a particular profession.
5School English Qualifications
English as a school subject in international and bilingual schools.
6English Level Tests
Quick tests to find your level before you choose a full exam.
7English Teaching Qualifications
Qualifications for people who want to teach English, not tests of your own English.
New: Practice Pages
Interactive practice with answers, including the new TOEFL format from 2026.
TTOEFL (new format)
PPTE Academic
CCambridge English
The CEFR Levels at a Glance
Most English certificates report your result as a level of the Common European Framework of Reference.
| Level | Description | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner | Understand and use simple everyday phrases; introduce yourself. |
| A2 | Elementary | Talk about familiar topics such as family, shopping and work in simple sentences. |
| B1 | Intermediate | Deal with most travel situations; describe experiences and give short reasons. |
| B2 | Upper intermediate | Follow complex texts on familiar topics; speak fluently with native speakers. |
| C1 | Advanced | Use English flexibly for study and work; understand long, demanding texts. |
| C2 | Proficient | Understand almost everything; express yourself precisely and naturally. |
Compare Exams
Side-by-side guides for the most common choices.
More Ways to Learn English
Grammar, speaking and quizzes on our partner sites.
Your goal. Your exam. Your certificate.
Choose the right test, learn the format, and practise until the exam feels familiar.
Choose. Learn. Practise. Pass.
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