Questions tagged [language-exams]
Questions about the language exams which the applicants to academic programs may sit to prove their language skills.
120
questions
32
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6
answers
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My native language is English but I was raised in a different country, how do I prove my native language?
I was born in the US and stayed for a little over 2 years, thus English and Spanish (my parents' native languages) are both my native languages. I've stayed in near constant contact with English and ...
- 337
2
votes
1
answer
167
views
Is TOEFL minimum score strict in UK? [closed]
I recently gave TOEFL and got 99 with only 20 in writing. However the 6.5 equivalent of IELTS corresponds to minimum 23 in writing. Do I need to redo the test?
- 131
2
votes
1
answer
160
views
I got a low score on my English proficiency test, should I explain it?
Is it OK to write a cover letter with my PhD applications to explain why I got a low (6.5) score in IELTS listening?
Can I mention I had a lot of stress I couldn't prepare for IELTS, and I also was ...
- 121
0
votes
0
answers
192
views
IELTS score in which section of my cv?
Where should I put my IELTS score? Under certifications or in the language section where I include my native language and English?
My overall is 8.0, and I scored 9.0 in reading and 8.5 in listening. ...
- 263
5
votes
3
answers
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Perfect TOEFL reading/writing/listening scores but low speaking score due to stutter. How will this affect PhD admissions?
I am fairly comfortable with English as a second language and have been studying at schools with English as the primary language for the last 9 years. I also have multiple semesters worth of ...
- 404
11
votes
5
answers
3k
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Would having two words in my surname in my passport be a problem for US colleges/GRE/TOEFL?
I'm Indian and my full name is X Y Z (such as John Doe Johnson). In my passport, Given Name is X and Surname is Y Z. Would that be any issue? Or should I get it corrected to update Given Name to X Y ...
- 111
0
votes
2
answers
166
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How to design a translation test [closed]
I teach a language course on 1st year BA level. The students should be able to translate basic sentences, and this is to be tested in a written exam. I'm looking for resources on how to design the ...
user135650
4
votes
2
answers
1k
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I submitted the correct essay in an exam, but I did not remove my draft outline at the beginning of the essay. Is it going be a problem?
I was taking a language exam that asked us to finish writing an essay. Because of COVID, the exam went online and used Canvas as the platform. Neither scratch paper nor any other software was allowed ...
- 51
0
votes
2
answers
154
views
Bad score in IELTS, should I send it anyway?
A graduate program I'm applying for in mathematics requires fluency in English but didn't set the lower bound for the IELTS score. I'm very good at English but I went to the test unprepared and got ...
- 477
3
votes
0
answers
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Do undergrads need an Italian language certification to get into a master's program in Italy?
For international students, do applicants need to demonstrate Italian skills for most Master's programs (except of course the ones taught in English) in Italian universities?
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4
votes
1
answer
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Would language difficulties be considered a valid excuse for a poor masters performance when applying for a PhD?
I recently completed an M2 (second year of masters) in mathematics in a Paris university. I come from the UK, had never studied French until the summer directly before, and foolishly thought that ...
- 41
4
votes
3
answers
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Is EF-SET English Certificate accepted?
Is EF-SET English Certificate accepted for higher education or jobs across the world? Did anyone try using that? I have not yet seen any place where they accept this.
1
vote
1
answer
111
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Is it possible to get perfect score in TOEFL's Speaking Question Type 1 (Personal preference) without using examples? [closed]
The ideal way to approach Question Type 1 (Personal preference) type questions is to state your preference/opinion along with 2 reasons and examples to support each of them. Personally, I find it a ...
- 37
2
votes
3
answers
149
views
Is it allowed to write notes during the "read instructions" stage of a TOEFL exam? [closed]
Is it allowed to take notes during the "read instructions" stage of TOEFL? At this stage the timer is stopped and it's a good time to take notes such as drawing tables for speaking and writing ...
- 37
2
votes
0
answers
132
views
How would native english speakers do in a Proficiency exam? [closed]
Everyday I get more surprised about the native language level of people. It looks like the habit of everyday talking tends to negatively bias their language level.
I’ve seen around some similar ...
- 29
5
votes
2
answers
524
views
How important is the TOEFL speaking score? [closed]
I am a student from China, and I want to apply for (pure) math PhD this fall, in the USA. Now I have a TOEFL score which has 102 points in total but only 20 points in speaking section. I am hesitating ...
- 53
3
votes
2
answers
158
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IELTS - How is the exam handed to students? [closed]
My wife and I are taking the IELTS exam in a few days and this question just occurred to me - When taking the test, do students receive the whole listening/reading/writing package or do they receive ...
- 225
5
votes
4
answers
5k
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Is there an English Proficiency Test with lifetime validity? [closed]
IELTS and TOEFL are valid for a period of 2 years only.
Is there any English language proficiency test with a lifetime (or
more than 2 years) validity?
Which is the scope of the test, in terms of ...
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Graduate Program - CCNY Language Exam [closed]
Got into the Art History program and see that I have to pass a language exam at some point during my studies.
Has anyone here taken the exam? I'd be taking it in Spanish.
I can maintain a ...
0
votes
3
answers
213
views
Do I need to sit for TOEFL or SAT? [closed]
I'm actually an United States citizen who has been living and being educated in Malaysia. So currently my family decided to send me back to the States to continue my future studies. Some people told ...
- 3
0
votes
2
answers
148
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likelihood of Master's application being rejected due to obsolete GRE and IELTS scores [closed]
For those who submit obsolete GRE and IELTS scores (good scores), how likely is it for the admissions committee to reject/throw away the applications due to this? Will they instead review applications ...
- 502
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
TOEFL IELTS GRE scores expired but with work experiences in English speaking countries [closed]
If one wants to apply for grad school in the USA, and one's TOEFL, IELTS, GRE scores all expired, but one has all the following experiences able to prove ones' English proficiency:
one did an ...
- 502
7
votes
1
answer
738
views
IELTS Listening Complaint due to coughing [closed]
I took the IELTS today and during the listening section and at the end during the last passage a student started constantly coughing. This made us lose track and miss the last part.
The center was ...
- 221
1
vote
3
answers
610
views
TOEFL Score and Teaching Assistantship
How does my TOEFL score affect my odds of being granted a TA in US Universities? I'm an international student BTW.
- 281
1
vote
1
answer
322
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English requirement for Teaching Assistantship for Ph.D students [closed]
I am applying to Ph.D programs of universities of America as an international student.
I currently have an 8.0 IELTS with 7.0 Speaking, and a TOEFL with lower points: Reading, Listening and Writing:...
- 135
0
votes
1
answer
698
views
In the GRE, why are we allowed to use calculators and not dictionaries? [closed]
Basic arithmetic is pretty trivial, but it can take time and is often very tedious for large quantities and so they allow us to use calculators when writing the GRE (Graduate Records Examination).
...
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6
votes
3
answers
2k
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Do I have to sit again for TOEFL? [closed]
I want to apply for (top) US PhD programs until this December for being potentially admitted in September 2019.
This personal information is relevant to my question:
Bachelors in non English-...
- 161
3
votes
1
answer
304
views
What can I do if my English level is lower than the minimum requirements? [closed]
I am applying for a Masters degree. An IELTS with an overall Band score of at least 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 for each section is required. I have taken the test and my overall score is 7 but in ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
114
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Accepting two conditional offers [duplicate]
I got two conditional offers for postgradute courses from two universities. The English requirements are a bit lower for one university (IELTS 6 with 5.5 in each section) than for the other (IELTS 6.5 ...
- 155
3
votes
2
answers
177
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Do international students need to take the SAT and TOEFL to study in the US?
I am from Colombia and would like to do grad school in the United States.
It seems in order to study I need to take the SAT and TOEFL exams? Is this correct or does it depend on the university?
- 31
28
votes
2
answers
12k
views
How do universities verify your native language?
Many universities require that your native language be English or you will have to submit proof of language proficiency.
Usually if you lie and say English is your native language while all other ...
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1
vote
1
answer
221
views
How graduate admission committees choose between TOEFL scores?
I recently took the TOEFL test and my score didn't satisfy me, even the result is above the minimum requirement for almost all universities. If I will retake the test and send my new score for ...
- 522
3
votes
2
answers
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English certificate for postdoc in the UK
I am applying for a postdoc in the UK. I hold an academic IELTS certificate. Does anyone know is that enough for a Tier-2 visa?
Thanks in advance
- 31
4
votes
2
answers
627
views
Are there any language requirements for citizen applicants with low English skills?
I see from a university website that "if you are not a citizen of one of the following countries..." [a list of countries], "you will need to take the TOEFL before enrolling." (USA is not on the list,...
- 2,425
-4
votes
1
answer
86
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When and how should I choose universities which will get my exam scores? [closed]
I'm going to apply for a graduate programs (PhD) that require TOEFL, GRE General and GRE Subject tests. Since deadlines for most programs in USA or Europe are somewhere in December-January and two ...
- 522
2
votes
0
answers
385
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Online Masters in the US without GRE and TOEFL [closed]
I am a full-time Software Development Engineer and am looking to pursue Masters in Computer Science through an online learning program from a reasonably reputed University. Georgia Tech's OMS came ...
