{"id":33681,"date":"2015-09-22T18:38:01","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T16:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/?p=33681"},"modified":"2018-02-23T11:46:39","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T10:46:39","slug":"difference-cambridge-english-exams-first-advanced-proficiency-ielts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/difference-cambridge-english-exams-first-advanced-proficiency-ielts\/","title":{"rendered":"Cambridge English Exams or IELTS?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What exactly is the difference between an IELTS exam<\/strong> and a Cambridge English exam<\/strong> such as the First (FCE) or Advanced (CAE)? This is a common question students ask. In this blog post we will have a closer look at both exams and outline similarities and differences.<\/p>\n

First of all, both exams are testing a student\u2019s English language skills and both exams are produced by the University of Cambridge<\/strong>. They are also both well-known and internationally recognized<\/strong>. Now, let\u2019s have a look at some of the main differences.<\/p>\n

Why do students take this exam?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Increasing future job prospects is the main motivation for doing a Cambridge exam. An exam such as the CAE or Proficiency (CPE) is valuable proof of your level of English that you can include on your CV when applying for a job. It will demonstrate to your future employer that you possess the language skills needed to do the job. However, some scholarships or university courses might also ask you for a CAE or CPE certificate instead of IELTS.<\/span><\/td>\nStudents usually take an IELTS exam either for immigration purposes (e.g. to apply for a visa in the UK or Australia), or because they need a certain IELTS score in order to enter higher education. For example, if a student wants to study at a university in the UK.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is there an expiry date on the exam certificate?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
There is no expiry date on any of the Cambridge English exams (i.e. KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE).<\/span><\/td>\nYour IELTS certificate expires after 2 years. That means that if you need proof of your level of English three years after you have taken an IELTS test, you will have to sit the full exam again.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Are there different exams for each level?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n

Yes, there are different exams for each level.
\nHave a look at the following Cambridge exam list:<\/p>\n

– KET<\/strong> \u2013 A2 Elementary<\/p>\n

– PET<\/strong> \u2013 B1 Pre-Intermediate\/ Intermediate<\/p>\n

– FCE<\/strong> \u2013 B2 Upper-Intermediate<\/p>\n

– CAE <\/strong>\u2013 C1 Advanced<\/p>\n

– CPE<\/strong> \u2013 C2 Proficiency<\/p>\n

They also off the KET, PET and FCE for schools exams which are designed for younger learners and teens.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n


\nThere is only one test in IELTS for all levels. However, there are two different versions: one for academic English and one for general English. That means, taking an IELTS exam at intermediate level is more difficult than taking it at an advanced level.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

How are the exams assessed and what result do you get?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\nCambridge exams are now scored using the Cambridge English scale. You will be given a score based on your performance. For example in the FCE if you achieve 160 \u2013 173 you are awarded a grade C, 174 \u2013 180 a grade B and 180 \u2013 190 a grade A. If you get score between 140 and 160 you do not officially pass the FCE exam but you are given the B1 level.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		\n

You cannot fail an IELTS test. Instead, you will receive a band score ranging from 0 to 9 (with 9 being the highest). Usually the immigration office or university will let you know what band score you need in order to apply successfully. Here is a short description of each band:<\/p>\n

Band 9: Expert user<\/p>\n

Band 8: Very good user<\/p>\n

Band 7: Good user<\/p>\n

Band 6: Competent user<\/p>\n

Band 5: Modest user<\/p>\n

Band 4: Limited user<\/p>\n

Band 3: Extremely limited user<\/p>\n

Band 2: Intermittent user<\/p>\n

Band 1: Non-user<\/p>\n

Band 0: Did not attempt the test<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

How many parts does each exam have?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\nThe FCE, CAE and CPE all consist of 4 papers, although within paper 1 there are two sections:
\nPaper 1: Reading & Use of English
\nPaper 2: Writing (2 tasks)
\nPaper 3: Listening
\nPaper 4: Speaking
\n<\/span><\/td>\n
\nThe IELTS test consists of 4 parts:
\nListening
\nReading
\nWriting
\nSpeaking<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is no Use of English section in the IELTS exam. The Speaking test may be offered on the same day or up to a week before or after the other parts.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

How long are the exams?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\nThe FCE is 3 hours 29 minutes long; the CAE is 3 hours 55 minutes and the CPE 3 hours 56 minutes long.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n
\nThe IELTS test is shorter with just 2 hours and 45 minutes.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is the difference in the speaking exam?<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambridge Exams<\/th>\nIELTS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\nYou take the FCE, CAE and CPE speaking exam with a partner. You will have to speak and answer questions on your own in some parts but you will have to talk about something together with your partner in other parts. Interactive communication is important and you will be assessed on that.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n
\nYou will take the IELTS speaking test on your own without a partner.
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

How do the results in both exam types compare?<\/span><\/h2>\n

This table outlines how the results in the two exam types compare with one another.<\/span>
\n\"The<\/a>
\nSource: Cambridge English<\/a><\/p>\n

For information about our Cambridge Summer Courses<\/a> contact us now via email<\/a>\u00a0or by telephone on +34 93 174 00 62.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Billie Haase<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What exactly is the difference between an IELTS exam and a Cambridge English exam such as the First (FCE) or Advanced (CAE)? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":33695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[]},"categories":[268],"tags":[603,602,229,601,138,604,605,606],"yst_prominent_words":[2599,2590,2595,2588,2591,2598,2597,1031,2593,2586,2592,2585,2596,2589,2601,1078,1077,2600,2587,2594],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33681"}],"version-history":[{"count":97,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36517,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33681\/revisions\/36517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33681"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=33681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}