English language proficiency

Which one have you took?
IELTS or TOEFL

Well, I've not taken any of those but I have tried them. Personally I think these tests are a whole bunch of rubbish. It's too commercialised. In Beijing people pay so much money to go to schools like 新东方 thinking that they could crash learn English.

During one summer vacation when I was in Singapore (12 years old), I went back to Wuhan for holiday. I remember attending one of my Dad's lectures in 武汉华中理工大学 （now 华中科技大学 Wuhan University of Science and Techonology). After the lecture when all the students left a professor came up to me and spoke to me in English. After our conversation, he challenged me to take TOEFL. So I did. Right on the spot.

To his amusement I got 620+ marks. Haha. I was so proud of myself. But looking back, I don't feel so proud any more. These tests are just too easy and definitely doesn't show your true English ability.

As proven from the people I know who's taken IELTS:

The average grade is 6 (the minimum requirement for Uni applications in the UK). I don't think I should name anyone here, as it's quite embarrassing for them. But let me give you 2 examples.
A boy who's came here since he was 16 or 17 (took his A levels here) took IELTS 2 times. 1 try he got 5 or 5.5 then 2nd try he FINALLY got 6 or was it 6.5? But his English was no where near competent. I don't think his English has ever improved since.

Another example, also a boy coming to the UK at 17. Took foundation in a crappy Oxford school and prepared for IELTS for only 3 months. And got 6.5.

This makes me think.

What kind of rubbish test is that if someone who has not learnt English before but could just spend 3 months to get 6.5 . Does that mean people who have done A levels here can definitely going to get 8 or even 9 (Full marks)?

The Government should really consider making these tests hard. They seem to be degrading English. *shakes head*