The list of IELTS Alternative Exams Needed to apply for Admissions on Scholarships abroad is featured in this article. International students from non-native English-speaking countries can take any IELTS alternative test to apply for scholarships internationally.
You must be familiar with the IELTS test if you want to pursue an education abroad. Even while IELTS can appear to be the only option for getting a study visa abroad, there are alternative English Language Assessments you can take in its place.
To study abroad, you can also obtain scholarships from foreign universities. But most scholarship offering organizations make due diligence on applicants’ English language proficiency. This is where international students either provide IELTS certification or produce any IELTS alternative English language exam to meet this requirement.
List of Alternative Exams to the IELTS in 2023
You can evaluate and certify your English language proficiency for your study abroad by taking various English language tests. The following are the tests:
1. TOEFL
The Educational Testing Service is responsible for administering and scoring the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL (ETS). More than 130 countries, including Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, recognize the TOEFL as a prerequisite for admission. Candidates may choose between taking the paper-based test (PBT) and the online test (IBT).
More than 50 times a year, the TOEFL is offered, and it is generally accepted in the United States and Canada. It is also approved for applicants seeking immigration to nations like Singapore, Canada, and Germany. The exam has multiple-choice questions and lasts for four hours.
Exam Fees: The TOEFL Essentials test costs between US$100 and US$120, according to IELTS Indicator.
2. PTE Academic
The three-hour Pearson Academic Test is administered. Reading, writing, and listening make up the test’s three sections. Twenty different question types are present on the test. Many universities across the world recognize PTE. The governments of Australia and New Zealand also recognize PTE Academic scores for visa applications.
Exams Fees: The cost of the PTE Exam is $215.
3. Duolingo (DET)
The one-hour Duolingo English Tests can be scheduled at the candidate’s convenience. The COVIID-19 crisis made the DET popular, and more than 2000 institutions now accept it in the UK. Within two days of the exam, you can receive the Duolingo test results. The assessment lasts 45 minutes and evaluates your speaking, listening, writing, and reading abilities. It is then followed by a ten-minute video interview.
Exams Fees: You can take the test online at any time for $49.
4. Password English Test
Two portions make up the Password English Language Test. The first section, which lasts for two hours, assesses the candidate’s reading and writing abilities. Within 80 minutes, the second section assesses the candidates’ speaking and listening abilities.
The exam is online, and the first section’s results are immediately accessible. Within the next 48 hours, the second test’s results will be made public. Each candidate’s tests are different and randomly assigned. The Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA), a research organization involved in the production and evaluation of English language tests like the Cambridge suite and IELTS, created the Password Tests.
Exams Fees: Pay $42 to cover the test-taking expenses.
5. ACT English Test
The ACT (American College Testing) English exam lasts 45 minutes. Each of the five passages has fifteen questions. A candidate’s grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, organization, and style are assessed during the test. It takes place five times a year.
Exams Fees: The ACT with writing costs $196, while the ACT without writing costs approximately $171.
6. Cambridge Advanced Exam (CAE)
More than 9,000 institutions accept the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test. Every month, the exam is given in about 2,800 exam centers. The test is divided into four sections: speaking, writing, listening, and reading and usage of English. The results of the Cambridge exams are suitable for the rest of your life. You must receive at least 60% on the CAE exam, with the reading section accounting for 40% and the hearing, writing, and speaking sections for 20%.
Exams Fees: You should budget between USD 165 and 195.
7. SAT English Test
An SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) tests universities administer to students applying to undergraduate programs. It lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes (including the essay). It assesses the writing, critical reading, and mathematical abilities of the applicants. The majority of US universities accept the test. It is done seven times a year all around the world.
Exams Fees: The standard exam costs $49.50, and the SAT with Essay costs $64.50.
8. AP Programs
Students under 21 can take the Advanced Placement (AP) exams. In addition to many other nations, the exam is valid in the UK, Canada, Singapore, and Australia. The test is offered for 23 disciplines that might aid students in honing their reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities. The students can choose between the AP Language and Composition exam and the AP English Literature and Composition exam to assess their proficiency in English.
Exams Fees: The AP Seminar and AP Research tests cost $144 each. The exam costs $126 for students, not from the US, US territories, Canada, or DoDEA.
9. GRE
Institutions in numerous nations accept the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate degrees. For candidates taking the computer-based exams, the exam is offered year-round; for those taking the paper-based exams, it is offered twice a year. The three skill categories of analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning are used to evaluate the candidates.
Exams Fees: The GRE typically costs $205 to take.
10. GMAT
A computer-based test called the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is used to evaluate candidates’ abilities for graduate management programs like the MBA. The test evaluates the candidates’ written English reading, writing, verbal, and analytical skills. The examination is offered in approximately 114 nations and is valid for five years.
Exams Fees: A GMAT exam costs $275.