IELTS and CAE —Comparison
The three most popular English proficiency tests are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) by Cambridge English. All three are designed to rank your English ability according to the CEFR scale from A1 (beginner) to C2 (highest level of fluency). However, the process of preparing for and taking these exams varies immensely.
All three exams will test your performance in four skill areas: Writing, Speaking, Reading, and Listening.
The IELTS takes 2 hrs 55 mins to complete and is entirely paper-based.
Listening (30 mins): you will listen to 4 recordings of informal conversations, discussions and lectures and you will answer printed questions about what you heard.
Reading (60 mins): For Academic, this section consists of 3 excerpts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Exercises will include multiple choice questions, filling in missing words, information matching, etc.
Writing (60 mins): For both Academic and General, you’ll need to write 2 texts. For Academic, the first is a 150-word analysis of a chart, table, or diagram. The second is a short essay in response to a given problem.
Speaking (11–15 mins): This consists of 3 parts in which your examiner will ask you to introduce yourself, speak about a given topic for 1–2 minutes, and answer more abstract questions on the same topic.
The CAE takes 3 hrs 55 mins to complete and is either paper- or computer-based.
Listening (40 mins): 4 parts with multiple-choice questions on topics discussed in recordings from radio broadcasts, speeches, lectures, anecdotes, etc.
Reading (90 mins): There are 8 parts to this section, which is divided into Reading tasks and Use of English tasks. You will read 3,000+ words in total. The texts are excerpted from newspapers, magazines, journals, etc. Questions are in the form of fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and word formation tasks. The Use of English questions focus on syntax, collocations and English morphology in particular.
Writing (90 mins): You are required to write 2 pieces of text. In Part 1, you’ll read a text and write a 250-word essay based on the information contained in the text, weighing information from the text and stating your opinion. In Part 2, you’ll compose a 250-word text written specifically for the context, purpose, topic and audience indicated.
Speaking (15 mins): This section consists of 4 parts and is conducted with a partner. You will discuss interests, studies, career, etc.; describe two pictures for 1 minute, and interact with your partner, as instructed, for the remainder of the time.