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English exams compared

Which English exam suits you? Choose by your goal

Cambridge, Aptis, Linguaskill, IELTS… There's no single 'best' exam, just the best one for YOUR goal. Here's an honest comparison by price, speed, validity and recognition.

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Choose by what you need it for

Public-sector exams & university in Spain

Aptis stands out: very wide recognition (CRUE, 16 regions), fast and affordable. For C1 and bilingual accreditation, Cambridge C1 Advanced also works.

International prestige

Cambridge (B2 First / C1 Advanced) is the safe bet outside Spain: universities and employers worldwide recognise it, and it never expires.

Migrating or studying in an English-speaking country

IELTS is the reference for the UK, Australia, Canada or the US (visas and universities). For a purely national goal, its price isn't worth it.

Fast and affordable

If you just need to certify a level now (university, CV, oposición), Aptis or Linguaskill give results in 2-3 days at a much lower price than Cambridge or IELTS.

The differences that actually decide

Recognition

Cambridge and IELTS lead internationally. In Spain, Aptis has the widest recognition for public-sector exams and university. Linguaskill is accepted, but in fewer places than Aptis.

Format

Linguaskill is adaptive (difficulty adjusts to your answers). Aptis, Cambridge and IELTS have fixed difficulty. Aptis and Linguaskill are multi-level; Cambridge is taken at one specific level.

Price and speed

Aptis and Linguaskill are the fastest and cheapest (results in 2-3 days). Cambridge takes 4-6 weeks and costs more than double; IELTS is pricey and aimed at migration.

Validity

Cambridge never expires. Aptis has no official expiry, but institutions usually require a recent certificate. Linguaskill and IELTS are generally considered valid for about 2 years.

Quick comparison (indicative)

ExamPrice (approx.)ResultsValidityRecognitionFormat
Cambridge (B2 First / C1)≈ €2104-6 weeksNo expiryWorldwide (prestige)Fixed level
Aptis General≈ €80-922-3 daysNo official expiry*Very wide in Spain + Latin AmericaMulti-level
Linguaskill (Cambridge)≈ €115≈ 48 h≈ 2 years (per institution)Wide; less than Aptis in SpainAdaptive
IELTS≈ €200-2203-13 days≈ 2 yearsWorldwide (migration to UK/AUS/CAN/US)Fixed level

Prices and timings are indicative and vary by centre and year. *Aptis has no official expiry, but many institutions require a recent certificate. Confirm price, validity and recognition on the official sites (British Council, Cambridge, IELTS) and with your institution.

FAQ: which English exam to choose

Which is easier, Aptis or Cambridge?
It's not that one is 'easier': Aptis is multi-level (you certify whatever level you achieve, A1 to C1) and is often seen as more approachable for its format and speed. Cambridge B2 First tests one specific level with more weight on writing and speaking, and carries more international prestige. It depends on your goal, not the difficulty.
Which is the fastest and cheapest?
Aptis and Linguaskill: results in 2-3 days and around €80-115, versus ~€210 and 4-6 weeks for Cambridge or ~€200 for IELTS.
Which exam is best for public-sector exams (oposiciones)?
In Spain, Aptis is among the most chosen for oposiciones thanks to its wide recognition (16 regions, CRUE) and speed. For C1 and bilingual accreditation, Aptis Advanced or Cambridge C1 Advanced also work. Always check your call's scale.
And for university?
To certify the B1 or B2 required by Spanish universities, Aptis is fast, affordable and widely accepted; Linguaskill and Cambridge also work. Confirm with your university.
Which do I need to study or migrate abroad?
IELTS is the reference to migrate or study in the UK, Australia, Canada or the US. Cambridge also has worldwide recognition. Aptis and Linguaskill are more oriented to the Spanish market.
Aptis or Linguaskill?
Linguaskill (by Cambridge) is adaptive and very fast; Aptis (by the British Council) has wider recognition in Spanish public-sector exams and universities. If your institution accepts both, weigh speed/format against recognition.

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