The most well-known and globally accepted English proficiency exams are generally those used for university admissions, work visas, immigration, and professional licensing. Here’s a clear overview of the major ones:

1. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
   Organizers: British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, Cambridge Assessment English.
   Versions:
   • Academic: for university admissions and professional registration.
   • General Training: for immigration, work, or non-academic purposes.
   Scoring: Band scale from 0 to 9 (half-band increments).
   Skills tested: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking.
   Acceptance: Widely accepted in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and by many institutions in the USA and Europe.

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2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
   Organizer: ETS (Educational Testing Service, USA).
   Main format: TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test).
   Scoring: 0–120 points (each section 0–30).
   Skills tested: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing.
   Acceptance: Especially common in the USA and Canada, but also recognized globally.

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3. Cambridge English Qualifications
   Organizer: Cambridge Assessment English.
   Main exams:
   • B2 First (FCE)
   • C1 Advanced (CAE)
   • C2 Proficiency (CPE)
   Scoring: Cambridge English Scale (e.g., 160–230 for CAE).
   Skills tested: Reading, Use of English, Listening, Writing, Speaking.
   Acceptance: Popular in Europe and the UK; accepted worldwide by universities and employers.

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4. PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic)
   Organizer: Pearson Education.
   Format: Fully computer-based, AI-scored.
   Scoring: 10–90 scale.
   Skills tested: Integrated testing of Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing.
   Acceptance: Increasingly recognized in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and some US institutions.

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5. Duolingo English Test
   Organizer: Duolingo.
   Format: Fully online, can be taken from home.
   Scoring: 10–160 scale.
   Skills tested: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking (adaptive test).
   Acceptance: Accepted by many universities, especially in North America; less universal than IELTS/TOEFL but growing quickly.

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6. OET (Occupational English Test)
   Organizer: Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment.
   Focus: Healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, dentists, etc.).
   Scoring: Grades A–E for each skill.
   Acceptance: Used for professional registration in healthcare sectors in countries like the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

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