Test your English language ability

Online diagnostic tests

The British Council’s short tests will help you to decide whether you have problems in various areas of English.

There are also diagnostic TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language) paper-based or online tests available.

Proficiency tests

The table below lists some proficiency tests and where to get more information on them. The OU does not require you to take a test and you can register for an OU course without taking one, but you do need a comparable level of skill in English to study successfully. Passing any of the tests at the level shown would give you confidence to study a course with the OU with a good chance of success.

You may have studied English, but if you don’t already have test results then do seek advice from your regional centre before registering for an OU course.

List of proficiency tests and minimum level needed for university-level study

Examining board	Test	Minimum level normally recommended for university-level study*
Pearson	Pearson Test of English Academic	52
Pearson	London Tests of English	Level 4
Trinity	Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)	Grade 10
Trinity	Integrated Skills in English (ISE)	ISE III
UBELT University of Bath	Professional language test	3.0
IELTS International English Language Testing System		6.5
University of Cambridge ESOL	Business English Certificates & Certificates in English Language Skills	Higher
University of Cambridge ESOL	Cambridge General English	CAE
City and Guilds	International ESOL	Expert
Test of English for International Communication TOEIC	-	850
Test of English as a foreign languageTOEFL	Test of English as a Foreign Language - paper	575
Test of English as a foreign language TOEFL	Test of English as a Foreign Language - Internet-based testing	90
European Baccalaureate	English as first foreign language	L2 – 7.5
International Baccalaureate	A1 higher or standard level	Grade 4

* Please note that these levels do not correspond with the levels used to describe OU courses. An OU Level 1 course is equivalent in difficulty to a university first year undergraduate course.

Here is a self-assessed diagnostic test Am I ready to study in English? (PDF, 434KB) to help check your ability in the English language. Print it and complete it carefully, then read our advice. Please note that some pages containing only decorative photographs have been removed from this file to minimise the download size.