This table compares ELT exams according to the CEF levels: Cambridge TCL TCL Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge

CEF NQF PTE UBELT ESOL Cambridge ALTE Level ESOL ESOL IELTS ESOL ESOL ESOL Skills Level exam BEC[disambiguation ESOL YLE Level General GESE ISE BULATS General for Life [14] needed] C2 Level 5 C1 B2 B1 A2 A1 Level 3 Level Level 4 2 Level Level 3 1 Entry Level 2 3 Entry Level 1 2 Entry Breakthrough 1 Level 5 Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Level A1 Grade 12 Grade 10,11 Grade 7,8,9 Grade 5,6 Grades 3,4 Grade 2 IV III II I 0 n/a 4.0-5.0 8.5-9.0 90-100 3.0-3.5 7.0-8.0 75-89 2.0-2.5 1.5 1.0 <1.0 5.5 6.5 4.0 5.0 n/a n/a 60-74 40-59 20-39 0-19 n/a Higher Vantage Preliminary n/a n/a CPE CAE FCE PET KET n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Flyers Movers n/a Level 2 Level 1 Entry 3 Entry 2 Entry 1

Band scale
IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band. The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band. The nine bands are described as follows: 9 Expert User Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. Has full operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. 8 Very Good User Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in 7 Good User some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can 6 Competent User use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many 5 Modest user mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. 4 Limited User Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in using complex language. Extremely 3 Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Limited User No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar 2 Intermittent User situations and to meet immediate needs. 1 Non User Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. Did not attempt 0 No assessable information provided at all. the test A 6.5 IELTS score lies roughly between B2 and C1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and >8 scores are C2.[5]

Acronyms and abbreviations

Types of English

BE - Business English EAL - English as an additional language. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. EAP - English for academic purposes EFL - English as a foreign language. English for use in a non-English-speaking region, by someone whose first language is not English. See the discussion in Terminology and types. EIL - English as an international language (see main article at International English) ELF - English as a lingua franca ELL - English language learner. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. ELT - English language teaching. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. ESL - English as a second language. English for use in an English-speaking region, by someone whose first language is not English. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. ESOL - English for speakers of other languages. This term is used differently in different countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. ESP - English for specific purposes, or English for special purposes (e.g. technical English, scientific English, English for medical professionals, English for waiters). EST - English for science and technology (e.g. technical English, scientific English). TEFL - Teaching English as a foreign language. This link is to a page about a subset of TEFL, namely travel-teaching. More generally, see the discussion in Terminology and types. TESL - Teaching English as a second language. The use of this term is restricted to certain countries. See the discussion in Terminology and types. TESOL - Teaching English to speakers of other languages, or Teaching English as a second or other language. See the discussion in Terminology and types. TYLE - Teaching Young Learners English. Note that "Young Learners" can mean under 18, or much younger.

Other abbreviations

BULATS - Business Language Testing Services, a computer-based test of business English, produced by CambridgeEsol. The test also exists for French, German, and Spanish. CELT - Certificate in English Language Teaching, certified by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (ACELS). CELTA - Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults CELTYL - Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young Learners DELTA - Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults ECPE - Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English IELTS - International English Language Testing System LTE - London Tests of English by Pearson Language Tests TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication UCLES - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, an exam board