Failed an English Test? Worth Switching your PTE, IELTS, TOEFL or OTE Exam?

The students who wish to study or work abroad but English is not their native language, are most likely to appear for an English language test. There are mainly four kinds of English proficiency test that the student can appear for. They are; PTE, IELTS, TOEFL and OET. Have you failed an english test? Worth Switching your PTE, IELTS, TOEFL or OTE Exam? Know which test to choose in this blog.

Let’s look at some of the most popular English proficiency tests and see which would be best for you. 

Examination Name	The Occupational English Test(OET Exam) The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Pearson Test of English (PTE) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Mode of Examination	OET, IELTS, TOEFL (online and offline mode) PTE (online mode)
Widely popular as	English language proficiency test

Choosing the Right Exam for You

Students who wish to study abroad must know that there are many different kinds of exams and they are all suitable for different purposes. Taking up an English test such as OET, PTE, TOEFL or IELTS can be a great way to see what level the candidate’s English is at and it can also be a useful and a great way to prove the student’s level of English for work, study or citizenship for some countries. 

It may be confusing for the candidates to choose, but don’t worry. We will give the importance of each English test in detail for you to have a better understanding. 

About PTE 

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE-A) is an English language standardized test which is taken by candidates planning to join colleges or universities abroad. 

Generally accepted by	Universities in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand
Skills Tested	English Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading

Who Should Give PTE?

Candidates who wish to study or work abroad can appear for this examination. It is a computer-based test of three hours. A PTE exam concentrates on day-to-day English rather than more elevated or complicated English. 

The PTE Academic test has three parts:

• Speaking & Writing: in this section the students are expected to complete several tasks that include introducing themselves, reading aloud, describing an image, summarizing a text and writing an essay. 
• Reading: in this section the aspirant has to complete tasks such as filling in the blanks, answering multiple-choice questions and re-ordering paragraphs. 
• Listening: in this section, the candidates are supposed to answer a series of questions after listening to an audio or video clip. 

For students who are in a great hurry for applications, this test is a great choice. 

Also Read: PTE Preparation At Home

About IELTS 

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most popular English language proficiency tests for higher education and global migration. IELTS is recognised by the majority of international institutions, employers, governments and professional bodies all across the world. 

This test is structured to examine the skills of a candidate who is not a native speaker of English. 

Generally accepted by

Studying abroad, working, and migrating to English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the UK

Who Should Give IELTS?

The IELTS exam is of two kinds depending upon the purpose of the test. The IELTS Academic is the test for those candidates who are planning to study abroad but if you want to migrate or shift to another country for work, the exam you have to take is the General Training version of IELTS. 

The difference between the two are given below:

IELTS General	IELTS Academic
The exam includes general writing and reading.	The exam includes academic writing and reading.
This exam is for individuals wanting to migrate or work abroad.	This exam is for students who want to pursue their higher education abroad.

Not only this, IELTS is considered the only English Language Test that is secure enough to be officially approved for UK Visa applicants by UK Visas and Immigration. 

Also Read: IELTS Preparation Tips

About TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL is also among the most popular language proficiency tests. This exam assesses your ability to both speak and understand English by analysing your English ability in terms of reading, speaking, listening and writing.  

This English proficiency test is accepted in over 130 countries by different educational institutions and government agencies. 

Who Should Give TOEFL?

The TOEFL test is often taken by students who are planning to pursue their higher education abroad. Candidates who wish to work or migrate abroad can also apply for this test. As it is an English language proficiency test, students should always check the requirements of the specific university to which they are applying. 

It is generally accepted by Universities in the USA and Canada

The TOEFL test is valid for two years and the candidates can take this test as many times as they want. 

Also Read: TOEFL Study Material

About OET

The Occupational English Test (OET), is a slightly different English language proficiency test. This test is conducted to assess the English language skills of healthcare professionals who want to work in an English-speaking environment. 

Applicable Countries: US, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and Singapore, Ukraine, Ireland and the UK

Who Should Give OET? 

The Occupational English Test (OET) is suitable for doctors and paramedical workers belonging to fields like Dentistry Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Nursing, Radiography and  Pharmacy. The test assesses your speaking, reading, writing and listening skills.

If you are a medical professional, then it is important for you to engage with the people and English is a universal language that has more speakers than any other language.   

PTE vs OET 

Candidates who wish to work specifically with the healthcare sectors such as nursing can appear for the OET test as it assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals in general. 

Candidates who wish to study abroad or obtain citizenship in a significant English-speaking country are expected to take the PTE Academic Test. 

IELTS vs TOEFL 

Both these English tests assess the candidate’s English proficiency and are very similar to each other. They are accepted by top universities across the world but they are very different only in terms of structure and question types. 

FAQs

We hope that we were able to assist you with the relevant information. If you want to ease your study abroad journey, build a preparation plan with Leverage Edu’s Leverage Live Classes and call us at 1800-572-000.