Find out how to administer English proficiency tests to measure workers’ proficiency and track training performance.
If you work in recruiting or training and development for global companies, you know how important English mastery is in the professional world. But do you know how to assess it?
Administering an English proficiency test is essential not only to improve recruitment and selection processes, but also to track the results of your corporate English training programs.
Read on to understand a bit more about how English proficiency tests work, what are the key points to be considered with this kind of test and how you can use this tool in your organization.
What is an English proficiency test?
An English proficiency test is an exam that assesses an individual’s competency, skill and aptitude with the English language.
In other words, it’s a test that follows several criteria to assess speaking, reading, writing and listening comprehension skills in English. By measuring your workers’ proficiency, you can determine their skill level: from beginner to advanced.
What is an English proficiency test for?
An English proficiency test is important for anyone who wants to ensure their teams have the skills required for their day-to-day work activities, whether it’s administered during recruitment or through language training programs.
These tests are also used by people who wish to relocate to other countries or educators looking to specialize in teaching English. To sum it up, it’s meant for people who, for whatever reason, need to prove their familiarity with the language.
Why are English proficiency tests important for companies?
These assessments are important for companies because they can measure the effectiveness of a corporate language training program, besides being a great tool for recruiting and selecting candidates who need to display mastery of the English language.
For HR teams, these tests also serve as proof that a professional is ready for the challenges they might face in the organization. This makes it possible to obtain accurate information about English mastery for any selection process requiring this skill—whether for new hires or internal mobility.
There are also companies that invest in English courses for their staff, where proficiency assessments serve as an objective indicator of employee performance.
How does an English proficiency test work?
To fully assess English mastery, proficiency tests evaluate the four basic linguistic skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening.
Speaking
This is usually the shortest part of the test, where vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and fluency are assessed. During this section, the candidate needs to speak clearly and in a structured fashion about whatever topic is at hand.
Reading
As a rule of thumb, proficiency tests include short and medium-length texts about different topics. Based on this content, questions are asked to assess an individual’s interpretation skills or even their grammatical knowledge.
Writing
This stage assesses sentence structures, cohesion, coherence, grammar and mastery of vocabulary. The questions typically include describing figures, producing opinion-based texts or even writing a small article.
Listening
During this part of the test, candidates hear audio dialogues with varying levels of difficulty, from slow-paced conversations using basic words to high-speed dialogue employing more complex vocabulary.
What are the main English proficiency tests?
There are several English proficiency tests on the market, so it’s worth understanding a bit about each to know how they relate and compare to one another.
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is one of the most well-known assessments worldwide. It was created in 1964 by ETS, a non-profit institution in the United States dedicated to research and educational exams.
With the TOEFL iBT alternative (where iBT stands for “internet-based test”), candidates can take the test directly on a computer inside an accredited institution. The main goal of the certification is to enable candidates to enter foreign-language universities. Learn more about Voxy’s TOEFL Preparation course.
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also among the main English proficiency assessments. There are two versions of the test: Academic and General Training.
IELTS Academic is designed for those who want to study abroad, while IELTS General Training focuses on work or immigration scenarios. Learn more about Voxy’s IELTS Preparation course.
TOEIC
The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) was also developed by ETS, the same institution that created the TOEFL exam.
The main difference between them is that the TOEFL test measures academic communication skills, while the TOEIC test measures proficiency relevant to the global workplace.
PTE
PTE Academic is one of the proficiency exams offered by Pearson Language Tests, developed and administered by the British multinational Pearson PLC.
What’s unique about the PTE is that it offers tests for different stages of life, from children and teenagers to adults who are seeking a career in multinational companies or academic opportunities in foreign universities. Learn more about Voxy’s PTE Academic Preparation course.
CEFR
The Common European Frame of Reference (CEFR) isn’t exactly a proficiency assessment, but rather an international standard for describing language ability. In other words, it measures language proficiency on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners up to C2 for those who have mastered a language.
This measurement then serves as a frame of reference in English proficiency assessments for placement purposes.
VPA®
The Voxy Proficiency Assessment (VPA®) is an objective and reliable online test that evaluates a test taker’s current English proficiency level and can be used as a benchmarking tool. Through a combination of cutting-edge technology and human expertise, the VPA® is convenient to take from home while maintaining the accuracy of an in-person interview.
The VPA® takes 30 to 60 minutes and assesses English proficiency in four key skill areas: Speaking, Reading, Grammar and Listening.
Because the VPA® shares many similarities with internationally recognized standardized tests such as the TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC and PTE Academic, it can be used to predict how learners will perform on those tests—in addition to being aligned with global standards such as the CEFR and GSE.
How do you prepare for an English proficiency test?
Taking an English proficiency test requires preparation, which involves good training.
After all, you need to frequently practice all the required skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening.
That being said, having trained and certified teachers, technology that facilitates the learning process and a support team that’s familiar with these kinds of tests will make all the difference in ensuring a successful exam.
Where can you take an English proficiency test?
Some tests are held only on specific dates and locations throughout the year, so options such as the VPA® are convenient because individuals can take the assessment on the day and time that best works for them, without leaving the comfort of their home, in 30 to 60 minutes.
Online alternatives such as this are appealing not only for English proficiency tests, but also for entire language training programs. The flexibility of online lessons and self-study content makes it easier for each person to fit learning into their routine, without it becoming tedious.
How can Voxy’s English proficiency assessment help my company?
Voxy is an innovative and flexible digital English training solution that has been used successfully by hundreds of organizations around the world.
Some of the key differentiators of the Voxy Proficiency Assessment (VPA®) include that it can be taken online anytime and it can predict performance on standardized tests such as the TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC and PTE.
And whether you already have your own predefined English levels or want to evaluate individuals using the CEFR scale, the entire Voxy platform can be adapted to use whatever proficiency scale your company chooses.
This means the VPA® can support HR teams when it comes to hiring new employees and assessing the performance of current staff in language training programs.
Conclusion
Administering an English proficiency test to assess a candidate’s skills is very important to ensure efficient selection processes and corporate language training programs.
If you’re looking for an English proficiency test that’s reliable, aligned with global standards and can be taken quickly and conveniently by your employees, please contact Voxy.
In addition to supporting your organization with the Voxy Proficiency Assessment (VPA®), our language training team can help you design the perfect training program for your teams’ needs.
