The job advert says “excellent English required”. Then the recruiter sends a link to an online test, or asks for an IELTS score, or simply says you will be “assessed”. Which test is it, what does it measure, and what score is good enough?
The short answer: there is no single English test for jobs. Employers use a handful of well-known tests, plus their own interviews and writing tasks. This guide compares the main options, explains how scores relate to each other, and shows how to prepare for whichever one you are given. Test formats and policies change, so the details below are as checked in November 2026. Fees are not listed; check the provider’s own page.
The common yardstick: CEFR levels
Most English tests report against, or map to, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It has six levels, grouped in three bands:
- Basic user: A1, A2
- Independent user: B1, B2
- Proficient user: C1, C2
The Council of Europe’s global scale describes a B2 user as able to understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, and a C1 user as able to understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognise implicit meaning. For many office and customer-facing roles, the practical question is whether you sit at B2 or C1. If a recruiter gives you a requirement in one test’s scores, ask what CEFR level it corresponds to; that makes it easier to compare.
The four tests you are most likely to meet
| IELTS General Training | TOEIC Listening and Reading | Linguaskill | Versant by Pearson | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | IELTS, delivered by the British Council and partners | ETS | Cambridge English | Pearson |
| Main use | Work, vocational training and migration to English-speaking countries | Workplace listening and reading, intermediate to advanced | Organisations testing staff or applicants; general and Business versions | Employers hiring and training staff |
| Skills | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening and Reading only (separate tests exist for Speaking and Writing) | Organisation chooses any combination of Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking | Speaking, writing, or all four skills |
| Format | Speaking is a live conversation with an examiner; computer option available | 200 multiple-choice questions: 100 Listening (about 45 minutes), 100 Reading (75 minutes) | Online, computer-adaptive, with AI scoring | Online, with AI scoring and remote proctoring options |
| Scores | Bands 1.0 to 9.0, overall and per section | Each section 5 to 495; total is the sum | Scale with CEFR mapping from B1 (140 to 159) to C2 (200 to 210) | See provider for the reporting scale |
| Results | Computer-delivered: usually 2 days (range 1 to 5) | See provider | Certificate and score report per module | Pearson says within minutes |
How each test feels to take, and who asks for it
IELTS General Training
IELTS is the test candidates are most likely to have heard of. The British Council describes General Training as being for anyone planning to work, train or migrate to an English-speaking country, and names Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. You get an overall band and a band for each skill.
The British Council page notes that employers often require a minimum between 6.0 and 7.0. In practice, if a job is linked to a visa or professional registration, the required score is usually set by that authority, not by the employer. Check the official requirement before you book.
Best suited to: roles tied to migration or professional registration, and candidates who want a widely recognised certificate they can reuse.
TOEIC Listening and Reading
ETS designed TOEIC for the workplace, and its organisations page describes the Listening and Reading test as assessing intermediate to advanced listening and reading skills needed at work. It is multiple choice only, so it does not test whether you can speak or write.
The ETS score user guide is worth knowing about if an employer gives you a cut-off. It says companies often set their own standards according to the English each job needs, recommends using several criteria (such as experience and recommendations) alongside scores, and states that ETS does not recommend rigid cut scores.
Best suited to: large employers screening many applicants for reading and listening, and roles where most English use is documents, emails and calls.
Linguaskill
Linguaskill from Cambridge English is online and on demand. It is modular, so the organisation chooses which skills you sit. It adapts to your level as you go, so questions get harder or easier depending on your answers. A Business version focuses on workplace English.
Results are reported from B1 to C2. A module below the B1 range is shown as “Not reported”, which matters if you are close to that boundary.
Best suited to: employers who want CEFR-labelled results and the flexibility to test only the skills the job needs.
Versant by Pearson
Pearson’s Versant tests are aimed at hiring and training. Employers can test speaking, writing or all four skills, online and at any time, and Pearson states that results are available within minutes and that its AI scoring reduces human examiner bias. Pearson also offers spoken tests in some other languages, including Arabic.
Best suited to: high-volume hiring for call centres, customer service and hospitality, where speaking matters most and speed of results is important.
Tests employers build themselves
Many employers never ask for a branded test. Instead they assess your English through:
- The interview itself. Your fluency, vocabulary and listening are being judged throughout.
- A written task. A short email to a customer, a summary of a document or a report paragraph, often timed.
- A role-play or call simulation. Common in customer service and sales.
- A proofreading exercise. Finding errors in a short text.
These are harder to prepare for specifically, but the same habits help: clear structure, short sentences and checking your work.
Which test should you take if you have a choice?
- If the job is linked to a visa or professional registration, take exactly the test the authority names, at the score it sets. Nothing else counts.
- If the employer names a test, take that one. Ask which version and which modules.
- If you want one certificate to show many employers, a four-skill test reported on the CEFR is the most transferable. A reading-and-listening-only score will not convince an employer who cares about speaking.
- If you are applying for speaking-heavy roles, make sure whatever you take includes speaking.
How to prepare in two to four weeks
- Learn the format first. Use the provider’s official sample or practice materials. Knowing the question types saves time on the day.
- Take one timed practice test early to find your weakest skill, then spend most of your time on it.
- Listening: practise with workplace audio such as meetings, phone calls and announcements, not just conversation.
- Reading: practise skimming for the main idea and then scanning for details; most workplace reading questions test one or the other.
- Writing: write short emails and reports to a time limit. Check grammar, but focus first on organisation and answering the task.
- Speaking: record yourself answering a question for one minute. Listen back for hesitations, filler words and unclear endings.
- For online tests: check your microphone, camera and connection, and find a quiet room. Technical problems cost more marks than grammar.
Putting your English level on your CV
State the test, the score and the date, and add the CEFR level if it is reported: for example, “IELTS General Training, overall 7.0 (2026)”. If you have not taken a test, describe your English with evidence, such as “working language for five years in a multinational team”. The resume builder has a languages section for this, and the cover letter guide is useful because your letter is often the first sample of written English an employer sees. If Arabic is also relevant to the roles you want, check separately how and when employers assess it.
Frequently asked questions
What English test do employers accept?
It depends on the employer and the role. Common choices are IELTS General Training, TOEIC, Linguaskill and Versant, alongside interviews and written tasks. If the job is linked to a visa or professional registration, the authority usually sets the test and score.
What IELTS score do employers usually want?
The British Council notes that employers often require a minimum between 6.0 and 7.0. Always check the specific requirement for the job or the authority involved.
Does TOEIC test speaking?
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test does not. It has 200 multiple-choice questions on listening and reading. ETS offers separate tests for speaking and writing.
Can I take an English test for a job online?
Yes, several are delivered online, including Linguaskill and Versant, and IELTS offers a computer-delivered option at test centres. The employer or authority decides which delivery mode it accepts.
How do I compare scores from different English tests?
Use the CEFR level each test reports or maps to. For example, Linguaskill reports scores of 160 to 179 as B2 and 180 to 199 as C1.
Sources
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment, Council of Europe
- The CEFR Levels, Council of Europe
- IELTS General Training, British Council
- TOEIC Listening and Reading Test Score User Guide, ETS
- The TOEIC Tests for organizations: Listening and Reading, ETS
- Linguaskill, Cambridge English
- Linguaskill: how results are presented, Cambridge English
- Versant by Pearson English Tests for business, Pearson