Five Job Application Tips when English Language Proficiency is Required

One of the many benefits of being able to speak English is that you can apply for jobs where English language proficiency is required. Business English language proficiency can also give you a competitive advantage when applying for professional jobs, especially when it comes to international companies.

When applying for jobs that require English proficiency it’s important to know that you need to be able to speak, write, read and converse in English without difficulties to be considered language proficient.

1. A good way to provide proof of your English language ability is to mention if you have taken any standardized English language exams like the TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS.

2. Another thing to remember is to do some research about the company before sending in your application. You can visit their website or talk to someone who has knowledge of the company. Try to include any relevant information you find in your cover letter.

3. Always include a resume and cover letter with your application. The cover letter should be a brief essay on who you are, why you would be a great fit for the position and how you can help the company perform better.

4. Your resume should be clear and to the point. Avoid sending in a resume that is neither to short nor to long. Always customize your resume specifically for the company and position you are applying to.

5. Avoid using English words that you are unfamiliar with as it increases the risk of making grammatical mistakes. Keep it simple and honest.

These are few of the things you should consider when applying for a job in English.

TOEFL Integrated Speaking Topics

It’s a common reaction for test-takers to panic when answers are supposed to be within a specific timeframe during the TOEFL speaking section.

However, with good preparation you are less likely to get startled when speaking under time pressure.

Many test-takers worry about their answer and overanalyze what the right answer should be. Remember on the independent section there is no wrong answer! The same applies to the integrated speaking task, pick a side and simply provide reasons to support your decision within the source material.

One of the most important factors of your TOEFL speaking score is being able to finish your answer within the given timeframe.

You should always start concluding your answer when you see the timer having less than ten seconds left. A good exercise is to practice given a conclusion to an answer within ten seconds. Once you master this you don't have to worry about getting caught in the middle of a sentence during the test.

The TOEFL speaking test is all about patterns and having a clear strategy. For example you should know how you would an answer a question like “what is your favorite movie” within 30 seconds.

TOEFL Integrated Speaking Topics

On the TOEFL integrated speaking task you’ll need to listen to an audio track and sometimes also read a short article before you see the question.

You will see four different types of questions on the integrated speaking task.

• You will read and listen to someone describing events in their life and giving you their opinion. Your task is to summarize what you heard, read and describe the opinion of the person.

• You will listen to an academic lecture and read a passage from a textbook. You will have to speak about the lecture and how it connects with the passage you read.

• Listen to a conversation between two people who are discussing a problem with two different solutions. You will have to speak about the problem, the two solutions, which solution you prefer, and why you prefer that solution.

• Last task will ask you to listen to a lecture. You will be asked to give a summary of the most important points of the lecture.

The tasks will always appear in the same order on the TOEFL speaking section.

Practicing your answer patterns and learning the different TOEFL integrated speaking topics will allow you to feel more comfortable when taking the TOEFL speaking section.

What is the TOEIC Bridge Test?

The TOEIC Bridge test is a simplified version of the TOEIC test. The test is for beginners and intermediate English speakers. The level of the exam is easier than the regular TOEIC test. It is often used to prepare test-takers for the next level of English language.

The test includes 100 multiple-choice questions and takes one hour to complete. The test is scheduled at different dates at various locations throughout the world. You can find the test-dates on the official TOEIC bridge website.

The questions on the TOEIC Bridge test focuses on everyday English rather than English in a working environment. Common topics on the test include entertainment, news, health, housing, travel, school shopping and general ideas. The test is a paper-pencil based test. Your total time spent taking the test will be around 90 minutes with instructions.

TOEIC Bridge Test Format

There are two sections on the TOEIC Bridge test, the listening and reading section.

TOEIC Bridge Listening Section

During the listening section you will be listening to statements, questions and short conversations in English. You will be given questions based on the recordings. The listening section includes three parts, photographs, questions-response and short conversations / short talks. You will be asked to answer 50 questions within a timeframe of 25 minutes to complete the part.

TOEIC Bridge Reading Section
The reading section of the TOEIC bridge test will ask you to read incomplete sentence as well as longer texts. You will be given a total of 50 questions, which you will have to complete within 35 minutes.

Learn more about the TOEIC Bridge test by visiting ETS official website. To practice for the TOEIC Bridge test join ePrepz TOEIC.

What is the IELTS Life Skills Exam?

IELTS Life Skills is an exam provided by IELTS and their test partners. It’s a brand new exam introduced in 2015. The test is designed to meet the requirements for UK visas (UKVI). The exam only includes a speaking and listening section, because it is the only skills applicants need to demonstrate when applying for a visa in the UK. The IELTS Life Skills test is available all over the world.

IELTS Life Skills Test Format

There are two versions of the IELTS life skills exam, the A1 and the B1. The A1 version is for “family or settled person” visas while the B1 is for “indefinite leave to remain or citizenship”.

The A1 version of the IELTS Life Skills takes about 16 to 18 minutes to complete which includes two sections. The B1 takes 22 minutes to finish, which includes three different sections. When taking the test, there will be two candidates taking the exam and one examiner in the room.

IELTS Life Skills at Level A1 has two parts. IELTS Life Skills at Level B1 has three parts.

Part I: Ask and answer general questions, this is the section in which candidates have basic conversations and discussions. Topics include weather, family, friend’s work, health, education etc.

Part II: Candidates will have to listen to a recording and understand the general meaning and details of what they have just heard. Candidates will be asked questions about the recording and will also have discussion on the same theme.

Part III (B1): A more advanced discussion between the two candidates. Often required to plan an activity or event together.

IELTS Life Skills Test Score

Your IELTS Life Skills Score are based on these four factors: obtaining information, speaking to communicate, engaging in discussion and conveying information.

There are two types of scores on the IELTS Life Skills, pass or fail.
If you fail it means that the test cannot be used for the Visa application however, if you pass you may use the test. The results are usually available within 7 days of taking the exam. If you fail the exam, there are no restrictions on retaking the test.

To learn more about IELTS Life Skills exam visit IELTS official page.

How does TOEFL Rescore work?

Did you know that you can request a TOEFL rescore on your TOEFL writing and speaking? If you feel that you’re writing and speaking score on the TOEFL was a misstake, you can request a rescore through ETS.

After you have made a rescoring request, ETS will send your speaking and writing responses to a completely different person. After being reviewed by this individual you will be given a complete new TOEFL score that will become your official score.

Something to keep in mind when requesting a rescore is to make the request within 30 days of taking the TOEFL. Also, remember that if you’ve already sent your score to colleges or universities you cannot request a rescore.

The request fee is $80 for each section. Consider that when requesting a new speaking and writing score, it might cost as much as retaking the test. If you feel you can get a better score on the reading and listening part as well it might be worth to retake the whole test instead.

The negative factor with requesting a rescore is that you may get your test back with a lower score or receive the same score as the first time.

If you have already achieved your target score (the score you need for your university or college) there is no need for you to request a rescore even though you might feel you deserve a better score.

So it’s crucial that you are confident you will receive a better score when requesting a rescore. To learn more about how your TOEFL speaking and writing responses are graded check out the official TOEFL rubrics.