EFL Exams in Britain Looked at Comparatively. Which Exam and What Does It Mean?

Abstract

It is now a fact of life that one must prove one’s ability with a piece of paper — an examination certificate. But which one? In his own country it is not difficult for a student to know which examinations to take, for a teacher to know what to advise or for an employer to know what to demand. But what of examinations promoted by bodies in other countries — the plethora of EFL examinations for example? How can a foreigner hope to know how they relate to one another in terms of level, or what each one means in terms of achievement in English. In this brief review of some of the principal EFL examinations available I hope to solve a few of the mysteries which may confront the foreign student, teacher or employer.