IELTS vs Cambridge: all you need to know

Differences between the most popular English language exams

Find out the most important information and choose which English language exam to take.

As a teacher who regularly prepares students for exams, I often find that many of my students are unaware of the differences between English language exams and are unable to make an informed decision about which is the best for them. 

So, here is a summary of the most popular English language exams: 

IELTS VS Cambridge (KEY, PET, First, CAE and CPE)

WHAT ARE THEY USEFUL FOR? 

IELTS is mainly needed to study at a university which provides courses in English but also can be used for immigration such as visas. It’s important to know that there are two different types of the IELTS exam: IELTS Academic (used for universities) and IELTS General (used to obtain visas). They are very similar, with the main difference being the reading and writing parts: IELTS Academic focuses more on texts used in higher education and writing an essay and IELTS general concentrates on letter writing and texts related to work and employment. 

Universities usually accept IELTS band scores between 5.5. and 6.5, but sometimes this is as high as 7 or 8, depending on the university. The minimum requirement to study at an English-speaking university is usually a B2 English level (CEFR). I advise you to check this requirement on the university's website. 

Cambridge exams are somehow more flexible as they are taken mainly for employment purposes or to have a proof of your overall English level. Before deciding on which exam to take, you should have an idea of your current English level. 

EXAM LEVELS & SCORES

European CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels are levels provided by the Council of Europe to indicate differences in language level. 

The IELTS score is based on bands from 1 to 9. Depending on the band score you receive, your level will be determined.

However, Cambridge English exams are already split into levels. If you don’t reach your desired level, you can still pass the exam with a lower level depending on your score. The same goes for higher-level candidates. For example, if you decide to do the CAE exam and achieve a lower score, you will get a certificate with a B2 level instead of a C1.

EXAM SECTIONS & TIME

Both types of tests have four different parts: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The speaking part is always conducted with an examiner, in person. You have a choice whether to take the exam on paper or online. 

A new feature IELTS made available is that if you don’t pass the exam and need a higher score in just one skill (for example, reading), you can now take only this part of the exam while keeping the score of the other sections / skills. It is called One Skill Retake. It makes it easier and less stressful for the candidates to/ receive their desired score. 

TYPE OF ENGLISH

Both IELTS and Cambridge level exams are provided by Cambridge English. They are designed by a British exam board but it doesn’t mean you should use British English. Other variations of English are accepted as long as you are consistent. 

PREPARATION

"How long do I need to prepare?”  - I get asked this quesiton at the beginning of every course. As I say to my students:  “It all depends on the time you have”. 

First things first, you need to assess when you need your results and what is your current English level. Remember that exam preparation is different to general English classes, and you will equally need some time to get your head around the specific questions and practice timing. 

Generally, if you are a level below to what you need to achieve, consider that it may take longer to prepare. You will also need to set time during each week to practice and continuously work towards your goal until you feel confident you can achieve it.

GETTING YOUR RESULTS

The timing of your results depends on the format (paper or online). Results from the paper exam take up to 13 days, whereas results from the online exam take 1-2 days. 

Cambridge exam results take longer, paper-based exams take 4-6 weeks, and online exam results are ready after around 5-10 days.