Thinking about taking an English exam? Whether you need a qualification for study, work or personal goals, choosing the right exam and preparing well can make a big difference.
At ECS Scotland, we work with students taking a range of international English exams from IELTS to Cambridge, TOLES to Business English exams. Here’s how to choose the right one for your goals, practise effectively and walk into your exam with confidence.
🧭 1. Choose the right exam for your goal
Not all exams are the same. Ask yourself: Why do I want this qualification?
Here are a few common exam types and what they’re useful for
- IELTS – for academic study or immigration. The Academic IELTS is often required by universities, while the General Training IELTS is useful for work or visa purposes.
- Cambridge Exams (FCE, CAE, CPE) – great for showing general English ability. These are useful for work, travel or life abroad.
- TOLES – for legal professionals or law students who want to work in English-speaking environments.
- Cambridge Business Exams (BEC) – focused on workplace English, useful for CVs, applications and internal promotion.
📝 Tip: Not sure which one to choose? Your English teacher can help guide you based on your current level and future goals.
📚 2. Understand what the exam includes
Once you’ve chosen an exam, it’s time to get familiar with:
- The skills tested – speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary
- The format – number of parts, timing, types of tasks
- The assessment style – is comprehension tested directly or in context? Are there multiple-choice questions or essay tasks?
✅ Download a free sample paper here and try it.
📖 Visit the official exam website for handbooks, marking criteria and examples.
🧠 3. What can I study alone and when should I get help?
- Self-study works well for:
- Vocabulary building
- Grammar review
- Listening practice
- Reading practice
- Familiarising yourself with the format
- You may need a teacher for:
- Writing feedback
- Speaking practice
- Learning exam strategies
- Staying motivated and on track
💬 Many students find that a short, focused course helps them stay accountable and make faster progress.
🎯 4. Make a plan and stick to it
Taking an international English exam is a big commitment. You’ll need:
- A realistic schedule for regular study
- Practice tests with time limits
- A quiet space to focus
- Confidence in your ability and belief that you can do it
🙋♀️ We recommend studying in an English-speaking environment for 4–8 weeks before your exam, if possible. This gives you daily English exposure and boosts your confidence.
🏡 Staying with a local host family also gives you extra speaking practice in everyday life — perfect if you want to improve fluency fast.
📌 5. Need exam support in Edinburgh?
ECS Scotland offers small-group and 1-to-1 preparation courses for exams like IELTS, FCE, CAE and more.
Our experienced teachers will help you:
✅ identify your strengths and areas to improve
✅ practise in real test conditions
✅ build exam skills and strategies
✅ feel more confident on the day
Ready to get started?
