Which Test Should I Take? - TOEFL / IELTS / FCE / CAE, etc.  

There are a lot of English language tests available. It can be confusing to many learners which test is right for you. This will help you choose which test is right for you. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself: 

Do I need a specific certificate for a school / job? - If yes, your choice is easy. Take the exam which your employer or potential educational institution requires.

Do I want a certificate to improve my general English abilities? - If yes, we highly recommend taking one of the Cambridge ESOL exams as there are a number of exams for every level. We also feel that these exams better test the ability to use English in a wide range of circumstances. We do not recommend taking the TOEFL as it is a test that is aimed at academic English for studying at North American universities.  

Do I want a certificate to get the necessary scores to enter a university? - If yes, and if you live in North America, take the TOEFL. Of course, check with the institution you would like to attend. However, the TOEFL is the standard academic English test for entry into most North American institutions. - If yes, and you want to attend an institution in the UK or a European Union nation try to pass the IELTS, CAE or CPE from Cambridge ESOL Exams. - If you would like to attend an institution in Australia or New Zealand, take the IELTS exam. 

Do I need a business English certificate? - If yes, we would recommend taking the BEC from Cambridge ESOL examinations. The other choice, which is often required for companies in Asia is the TOEIC. 

We hope this helps guide you in which choice best fits your goals. If you want to gain certification, but feel you do not need any of these standardized tests, we would recommend taking a General English Course with Learn English in Dublin which you can try for free. Each of the courses provides review tests and gives a Certificate at the end of your course. The courses cover a wide range of English from beginning to advanced levels, as well as excellent business English courses.