Preparing for international language exams

A master’s degree abroad, an international grant, a job with a foreign company or a move to another country: in many of these cases you need to prove your level of English with an official certificate. Saying “I know English” is not enough; an admissions committee or employer wants to see the result of an independent exam. In this guide we will cover how to work out which exam you actually need, how the most widely used exams (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English and the Duolingo English Test) are structured, how they relate to CEFR levels, how to run a diagnostic test, what a sample 8–12 week plan looks like, which strategies work for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, how to handle exam day and stress, and how to avoid scams. At the end you will find common mistakes, a practical exercise and a checklist.

One important warning: exam formats, section timings, score requirements and registration conditions change from time to time. That is why this article describes only the general structure. Before registering, always check the latest information on the exam’s official website.

Which exam do you need? Check the requirements first

A common mistake is to start preparing without checking the requirements, simply because “everyone takes IELTS”. The right order is the other way round: first find out what the organisation asks for, then choose the exam.

Where to find the requirements:

1. University. The programme page usually has an “English language requirements” or “Entry requirements” section. It lists which exams are accepted, the minimum overall score and sometimes a separate minimum score for each section.
2. Grant or scholarship. The organisation awarding the grant may set requirements that differ from the university’s. Check both separately.
3. Employer. An international company sometimes asks for a specific exam and sometimes only for a CEFR level.
4. Migration. For a visa or residence permit, a special, officially approved version of an exam is often required. Here, trust only the official website of the government authority.

When reading the requirements, pay attention to the exact name and version of the exam (for example, IELTS Academic or General Training), the overall score and minimum section scores, how long the result stays valid (many organisations accept results only within a certain period, most often two years), and whether an exam taken online is accepted. If anything is unclear, write a short email to the admissions office and ask.

The main exams and CEFR levels

IELTS

IELTS comes in two versions: Academic (mainly for higher education) and General Training (often for work and migration). Both have four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions, while Reading and Writing differ. Results are given on a band scale from 0 to 9: a separate score for each section and an overall score. The Speaking test is a live conversation with an examiner. You can take the exam on paper or on a computer, depending on the test centre.

TOEFL iBT

TOEFL iBT is taken on a computer and also tests four skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing. In TOEFL, Speaking answers are recorded through a microphone, so there is no live conversation partner. The score scale and format have been updated in recent years, so base your preparation only on the current description on the official website.

Cambridge English exams

Cambridge exams are designed for a specific level: B2 First for B2 and C1 Advanced for C1. The exam consists of Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking papers. Speaking usually involves two candidates and an examiner. Some organisations accept this certificate as it is, while others require the result to be recent, so check this in advance too.

Duolingo English Test

The Duolingo English Test is taken online, at home, on a computer with a camera. The questions are adaptive: depending on your answers, the next task becomes harder or easier. Strict requirements apply to the room, the device and the internet connection during the test. Many organisations accept it, but not all of them, so check the requirements first.

How CEFR fits in

CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for language levels: A1 and A2 (basic user), B1 and B2 (independent user), C1 and C2 (proficient user). Many exam organisations publish official tables that map their scores to CEFR levels. For example, if you are currently at B1 and the requirement corresponds to B2–C1, you will see that preparation will take several months rather than a few weeks. You can also read what a certificate is and how it can be verified in our glossary.

Diagnosis: start with an official sample test

Do not start your preparation by buying a textbook; start by finding out your current level. The most reliable way to do this is a free sample test on the exam organisation’s official website.

How to run a diagnostic test properly:

1. Recreate exam conditions. A quiet room, a timer, your phone in another room. Do not use a dictionary or a translator.
2. Take all four sections. Not just the one you like. Your weakest point is often exactly the section you tend to avoid.
3. Record your Speaking. Answer the questions and record yourself on your phone. Then listen back and note where you hesitated and which words you could not find.
4. Write the Writing tasks against the clock. Compare your text with official sample answers and the published assessment criteria (in IELTS, the band descriptors).
5. Write down the result. An estimated result for each section and a list of your main weaknesses.

After the diagnosis you will know three things: your current estimated result, the required result and how much time you have left. If the gap is large, consider moving the exam date or first strengthening your general English. Tips on raising your general level are in our article on learning English on your own.

A sample 8–12 week preparation plan

The table below is a sample only. It is meant for someone who is already close to the required level but not quite there. If your gap is bigger, stretch the plan; if it is smaller, shorten some stages. For someone busy with work or study, 1–1.5 hours a day plus one longer session at the weekend is a realistic workload.

Put your sessions in the calendar at specific times, and at the end of each week write down what worked and what did not.

Example: Sardor prepares for a master’s degree

This example is hypothetical, and so are the numbers. Sardor works at an IT company in Tashkent and wants to apply for a master’s programme at a European university. The programme page asks for IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall and at least 6.0 in each section. Sardor first emailed the admissions office and found out that an online exam is not accepted and that the result must be no more than two years old.

In the official sample test, his Listening and Reading were close to the requirement, but Writing was the weakest: the essay had been written without a plan, and part of the question in the second task had not been answered. His Speaking recording had a lot of pauses. Sardor started preparing 14 weeks before the application deadline and drew up a 12-week plan. On weekdays he did short sessions in the morning and evening, with a longer one on Saturdays. Twice a week, a friend who teaches English checked his Writing. He booked the exam well before the deadline so that there would still be time if the result was delayed or he needed to retake it.

Strategies for each skill

Listening

• Read the questions in advance. Use the time before the recording starts to look through the questions and mark the key words: names, dates, numbers, places. That way you know what you need to hear.
• Expect synonyms. The recording often uses a synonym rather than the word in the question.
• Watch out for traps. A speaker may say one thing and then correct it: “actually…”. Write down the final, confirmed information.
• Do not get stuck. If you miss an answer, move on to the next one.
• Check your spelling. A misspelt answer is usually marked wrong.

You will find detailed advice on building a daily listening habit in our article on listening in English.

Reading

• Skimming. First, look through the text quickly: the title and the first sentence of each paragraph. The aim is to understand what the text is about and what each paragraph covers.
• Scanning. When you are looking for specific information (a name, a number, a term), do not read the text from start to finish; just “search” for the word you need with your eyes.
• Manage your time. Give each text roughly the same amount of time and keep an eye on the clock. Mark a difficult question and come back to it at the end.
• Rely on the evidence in the text. Your answer should be based on what the text says, not on your own knowledge.
• Tell True/False/Not Given apart. “Not Given” means the text has no information about it; “False” means the text says the opposite.

Writing

• Answer the whole task. If the question asks about two things, address both. This is one of the places where candidates lose the most marks.
• Do not write without a plan. Spend 3–5 minutes planning before you start: the main idea, the point of each paragraph and an example.
• Clear structure. An introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. One main idea per paragraph.
• Use linking words appropriately. However, therefore, for example, in addition hold the text together, but starting every sentence with one of them sounds unnatural.
• Count your words. Do not write fewer words than the minimum given in the task. While practising, find out how many words you write on an average line so that you can count quickly in the exam.
• Check at the end. Articles, plural endings and verb tenses are the most common small mistakes.

Speaking

• Extend your answers. Do not stop at “Yes, I do”: add a reason, an example and your own experience.
• Phrases that buy thinking time. “That’s an interesting question…”, “Let me think about it for a moment…”, “I’ve never really thought about it, but…” fill a pause naturally. But do not repeat them in every answer.
• The risk of memorised answers. Examiners usually notice a text learnt by heart, and this can count against you. Rather than ready-made texts, prepare a stock of words and ideas on common topics.
• Correct yourself. If you say something wrong, calmly say it again correctly; that is perfectly normal.
• Ask if you do not understand. You can say: “Could you repeat the question, please?”

Ways to develop your speaking without a partner are covered in our article on speaking English, and how to learn words systematically in the article on English vocabulary.

Official materials, mock tests and exam day

Official materials and mock tests

The official websites of exam organisations offer sample tasks and assessment criteria. Start with these: “tests” on unofficial websites often do not match the real format and give you the wrong idea. Officially published books of practice tests are also useful.

A mock test is a full, timed run-through of the exam. Do it under real conditions too: in one sitting, without breaks, with your phone switched off. The main value of a mock test is not the score but the analysis: ask “why?” about every mistake. Did I not know the word, did I run out of time, did I misunderstand the question? Write the answers in your mistakes notebook and adjust next week’s plan accordingly.

Exam day

• ID. Bring the identity document you used when registering. Often exactly that document is required, and you may not be admitted with a different one.
• Sleep. Do not learn new material the night before. A good night’s sleep is more useful than last-minute revision.
• Time. Arrive at the test centre before the stated time and check the route in advance. Late candidates may not be allowed to sit the exam.
• Online exam. Check your computer, camera, microphone and internet connection the day before, and make sure there are no extra objects or people in the room.

Dealing with stress

A little nervousness is normal and even helps you focus. Problems start when it gets out of control:

• Do mock tests under exam conditions; a familiar situation is less frightening.
• If you come across a difficult question, take a slow breath in and out and move on to the next one.
• Even if you feel one section went badly, do not carry that into the next one: each section is marked separately.
• Remember that most exams can be retaken.

More techniques are in our article on managing stress.

Beware of scams

Demand for international certificates is high, so there are scammers too. The most common situations:

• Fake certificates. Offers such as “a certificate without an exam” or “a ready-made result”. Universities and other organisations check results through an official verification system, so a forgery will be detected. The consequences are a rejected application and serious legal trouble.
• Promises of a “guaranteed score”. Nobody can guarantee an exam result. Promises like “after our course you will definitely get the score you need” or “we can come to an arrangement with the examiners” are a warning sign.
• Fake registration websites. Register for the exam only through the official website or an official partner of the exam organisation. Take the link from the official website, not from an advert on social media.

If you receive a suspicious offer, check it using the contact details on the exam organisation’s official website. Honest preparation takes longer, but the skills it gives you are what you will genuinely need when studying and working abroad.

Common mistakes

• Not checking the requirements. Taking the wrong version (for example, General Training instead of Academic) or an exam the organisation does not accept.
• Only doing tests. Doing lots of tests without analysing the mistakes. Practice without analysis just repeats the same mistakes.
• Avoiding the weak section. Practising your favourite section a lot and the difficult one very little. If a minimum score is required for each section, one weak section can ruin the whole result.
• Not getting Writing and Speaking checked. It is hard to spot your own mistakes. Ask a teacher or an experienced colleague for feedback.
• Registering at the last minute. There may be no places left on the date you need, or the result may not arrive before the application deadline.

Practical exercise and checklist

Set aside an hour today and do the following:

1. Find the language requirements of the university, grant or job you are interested in and write them down: the exam name, version, overall and section scores, and how long the result stays valid.
2. Find a free sample test on the exam organisation’s official website.
3. Do one section (for example, Reading) with a timer under exam conditions.
4. Check your answers and write down the reason for each mistake.
5. Record your answer to one Speaking question on your phone and listen to it.
6. Based on the results and the sample table, draw up your own weekly plan and put it in your calendar.

Checklist before registering for the exam

• The organisation’s requirements have been checked against an official source; the exam name and version are clear.
• The exam format and registration conditions have been re-checked on the official website.
• A diagnostic test has been done and the weak section identified.
• The plan is in the calendar, with several full mock tests scheduled.
• Someone is checking your Writing and Speaking.
• The exam date is before the application deadline, with time left for a retake.
• Registration only through the official website or an official partner.
• ID, route and timing for exam day have been checked in advance.

A good result in an international language exam is not magic; it comes from a clear goal, regular practice and an honest look at your mistakes. If you know the requirements, have a plan and follow it week by week, nothing on exam day will take you by surprise.

If you would like to learn English systematically with a teacher, take a look at our association’s free English language programme and other training programmes. When you are ready, submit an application and our specialists will get in touch.