IELTS or Cambridge Exam? Which Should I Choose?
Students are always asking me which exam course they should take — IELTS or the Cambridge Main Suite exams (KET, PET, FCE, CAE and CPE).
In fact both are Cambridge-developed exams, although IELTS was developed jointly with the British Council and IDP.
The IELTS exam awards a grade according to your level, whereas the Cambridge Main Suite has exams at each level and awards a certificate if you pass. The IELTS grade is only valid for two years, whereas the Main Suite exams have no expiry date.
IELTS is used for immigration purposes and for entrance to higher education such as TAFE colleges and universities in Australia and overseas. Main Suite exams are widely used for employment overseas and also for college and university entrance.
The IELTS exam consists of four papers: listening, speaking, reading and writing. For immigration, the reading and writing have a general English focus; for higher education, students take an academic-focused reading and writing exam. Main Suite exams have five papers: listening, speaking, reading, writing and use of English (PET has four).
At Lexis Noosa, we run IELTS continually in 12-week blocks. Students may join at any week, although it is advisable not to join in the last four-week block. There is a pre-test for entry and students are expected to be at a minimum 4.5 IELTS-equivalent level. Exams are held every month in all the major cities, with Brisbane the nearest centre for Lexis Noosa students.
We offer Cambridge PET, FCE, CAE, CPE and BEC exams, run three times a year in line with the exams held simultaneously around the world in March, June and December. We also offer computer-based FCE in August. Entry is by pre-test.
Which exam is best for you? If you want to enter a TAFE college course in Australia, then IELTS is the best option. If you wish to enter an undergraduate course at university, you can consider IELTS or CAE. If you have any questions about these exams or the courses that we offer, come and see us.
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