Language tests can be a requirement, a milestone, or a distraction — depending entirely on why you're learning. This guide covers every major exam across 16 languages, what they cost, and how to decide whether taking one makes sense for you.

Considering what's best for your career? Check out our best language by industry guide.

Language Proficiency Tests Covered in This Guide

Language	Approx. 2025 Speakers	Tests Available
Chinese (Mandarin)	~1.18 billion	HSK, BCT, YCT
Spanish	~558 million	DELE, SIELE
English	~1.53 billion	IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, PTE, Duolingo
Arabic	~335 million	Several — fragmented landscape
French	~312 million	DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF
Japanese	~125 million	JLPT, BJT, J-CAT
Korean	~82 million	TOPIK
German	~130 million	Goethe, TestDaF, DSH, ÖSD
Portuguese	~267 million	CELPE-Bras, CAPLE
Russian	~253 million	TORFL
Hindi	~609 million	Limited — no major international exam
Indonesian	~252 million	UKBI
Italian	~67 million	CILS, PLIDA, CELI
Turkish	~82 million	TYS
Cantonese	~85 million	Limited — institutional only
Wu Chinese	~80 million	None

What Is the CEFR? The Language Proficiency Scale Explained

Nearly every major language test in the world maps to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — a six-level scale developed by the Council of Europe that has become the global standard for describing language ability.

The levels run from A1 (complete beginner) through C2 (full mastery), and they mean roughly the following in practice:

A1–A2 — You can handle basic interactions: greetings, numbers, simple questions. You are not having a conversation.
B1–B2 — You can manage most everyday situations and discuss familiar topics. B2 is broadly considered "independent user" — functional, but with limitations.
C1–C2 — You operate fluently and flexibly. C1 is what most professional and academic contexts require. C2 is native-adjacent.

Most visa and immigration requirements sit at B1 or B2. Most university admissions requirements sit at B2 or C1. These distinctions matter when you're deciding which test, and which level, to target.

Major Language Proficiency Tests by Language (2026)

Speaker figures are approximate 2025 totals (native + second-language) sourced from Ethnologue via the Wikipedia overview.

Chinese (Mandarin)

~1.18 billion speakers. The dominant Mandarin proficiency system is administered by Hanban, the Chinese government's language education body. All three exams below share the same portal.

HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) — The standard general proficiency test, restructured in 2021 to a nine-level system. Levels 1–3 map roughly to A1–B1; 4–6 to B2–C1; 7–9 to C1–C2. The nine-level HSK is now the international standard.
BCT (Business Chinese Test) — Designed for professional and workplace contexts.
YCT (Youth Chinese Test) — For younger learners, covering elementary vocabulary and grammar.

Spanish

~558 million speakers. Spanish has two major international certification paths, with different emphases and institutional backing.

DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) — The oldest and most widely recognized Spanish certificate, administered by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education. Available at all six CEFR levels. Certificates have no expiry date.
SIELE (Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española) — A more recent exam developed jointly by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Universitat de Barcelona, and Instituto Cervantes. It's adaptive, available online, and particularly strong for Latin American Spanish variants. Valid for five years.

English

~1.53 billion speakers. English has the most competitive and fragmented testing market of any language, driven by global demand for immigration and academic entry. The major players:

IELTS Academic — The dominant test for university admissions and immigration to the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Scored 0–9; most universities require 6.5–7.5. Valid 2 years.
TOEFL iBT — Preferred by US universities and widely accepted globally. Scored 0–120. Valid 2 years.
Cambridge English — The B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency exams are considered the gold standard for demonstrating sustained, high-level English ability. Certificates don't expire — a meaningful advantage over IELTS/TOEFL.
PTE Academic — Fully computer-marked; faster results (usually 48 hours). Accepted by most Australian and UK universities. Valid 2 years.
Duolingo English Test — The low-cost disruptor at ~$65. Accepted by over 5,000 institutions but not universally. Best for applicants in markets where access to traditional test centers is limited.

Arabic

~335 million speakers. Arabic testing is more fragmented than any other major language — there is no single globally dominant exam equivalent to IELTS or JLPT. The landscape is improving, but slowly.

King Salman Global Academy Test — The most credible government-backed option, aligned to CEFR A2–C1. Administered by Saudi Arabia's Arabic language authority and gaining recognition internationally.
ALPT (Arabic Language Proficiency Test, Arab Academy) — Fully online, CEFR-aligned, broadly accessible.
ACTFL Arabic OPI/OPIc — Via Language Testing International; used primarily for US government and academic contexts. Speaking assessment only.
Arabic International Proficiency Exam — Administered by An-Najah National University; covers all four skills from beginner to distinguished.

A practical note: Arabic test recognition varies substantially by employer and institution. Verify which credential is accepted before registering.

French

~312 million speakers. France has a well-developed and internationally mature testing system, with distinct exams for different purposes.

DELF / DALF — The core French proficiency diplomas, offered at all six CEFR levels (DELF covers A1–B2; DALF covers C1–C2). Administered globally through Alliance Française and partner centers. Certificates never expire — a significant draw for learners who don't want to retest.
TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) — The test to use for immigration applications to France. Specifically required for French nationality applications and many long-stay visas. Valid 2 years.
TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) — The standard for Canadian immigration, including Express Entry and provincial nominee programs. Valid 2 years. If you're applying to immigrate to Canada, this is the test — not DELF.

Japanese

~125 million speakers.

JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) — The globally recognized standard, offered at five levels (N5–N1). N2 is the practical threshold for most professional roles in Japan; N1 for academic study. Results don't expire. Notable limitation: the JLPT does not test speaking.
J-CAT (Japanese Computerized Adaptive Test) — A free, online adaptive test useful for placing yourself on the scale without the cost or scheduling constraints of JLPT. Not a credential — a diagnostic.
BJT (Business Japanese Test) — For professional and workplace contexts; includes speaking.

Korean

~82 million speakers.

TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) — The single dominant exam, administered by South Korea's National Institute for International Education. Six levels in two tiers: TOPIK I (levels 1–2) and TOPIK II (levels 3–6). Required for university admission and most professional visa categories in South Korea. Results don't expire.

German

~130 million speakers. German has an unusually complex testing landscape, partly because multiple institutions offer parallel certifications and partly because university entry requirements differ from immigration requirements.

Goethe-Zertifikat — The gold standard for German as a foreign language, available at all six CEFR levels. Widely recognized for immigration (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and employment. Certificates don't expire.
TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache) — Specifically designed for university admission in Germany. Covers CEFR B2–C1. Required by most German universities for international students; not relevant for immigration.
DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) — A university-entry test administered by individual universities rather than a central body. Equivalent to TestDaF for admissions purposes, but availability depends on which institution you're applying to.
ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom) — The Austrian equivalent to Goethe-Zertifikat, covering A1–C2. Accepted interchangeably with Goethe across most contexts.

Portuguese

~267 million speakers. Portuguese splits into two distinct testing systems based on variety — Brazilian and European — and they're not interchangeable for most official purposes.

CELPE-Bras — The only internationally recognized certificate for Brazilian Portuguese, administered by Brazil's Ministry of Education. Required for university admission and professional licensing in Brazil. Offered at four levels (Intermediário to Avançado Superior). Certificates don't expire.
CAPLE — The European Portuguese system, offered by the University of Lisbon. Includes five named qualifications (CIPLE at A2 through DUPLE at C2). Required for Portuguese nationality applications.

Russian

~253 million speakers.

TORFL / ТРКИ (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) — The official state-sponsored Russian proficiency exam, covering six levels from A1 (Elementary) to C2. Required for work permits and permanent residency in Russia. Now administered primarily online. Certificates don't expire.

Hindi

~609 million speakers. Hindi presents a genuine paradox: it's the world's third most spoken language by total speakers and less international test infrastructure of any language at its scale. No CEFR-aligned, globally administered exam equivalent to JLPT or DELF currently exists. The options that do exist are fragmented, domestically focused, and largely unknown outside of India.

Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha — Graded exams (Prathamic → Praveen) primarily used within India.
Hindi Sahitya Sammelan — Parallel graded system (Prarambhik → Acharya), also India-focused.
ACTFL Hindi OPI — Available via Language Testing International; used mainly in US government and academic contexts.

Part of the reason Hindi testing remains underdeveloped is the peculiar role English plays in India. English is a co-official language, the primary medium of higher education, and the dominant language of business and government in most urban centers. A foreign learner arriving in Delhi or Mumbai will find that English carries them a remarkable distance — through airports, offices, restaurants, and most professional settings. The practical pressure to develop formal Hindi credentials simply hasn't materialized the way it has for Japanese or Korean, where English is far less embedded.

The consequence for learners is real though: English fluency in India tends to insulate you from the authentic Hindi-speaking environment that would otherwise accelerate acquisition. The conversations that matter — at the local market, with extended family, in regional media — happen in Hindi (or one of its close relatives: Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj). That's precisely where formal tests would be most useful as a learning scaffold, and where the infrastructure has most conspicuously failed to emerge.

If you need a formal Hindi credential, verify with your specific institution or employer which — if any — of the above they recognize. Demand will drive standardization eventually; it hasn't yet.

Indonesian

~252 million speakers.

UKBI (Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia) — The official Indonesian government proficiency exam, administered by the Ministry of Education. Seven levels; required for some professional roles and visa categories in Indonesia.

Italian

~67 million speakers. Italy has three well-established parallel certification systems from different universities — all internationally recognized, all CEFR-aligned.

CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) — Offered by the Università per Stranieri di Siena at A1–C2. One of the two most widely recognized credentials; accepted for Italian citizenship applications.
PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri) — From the Società Dante Alighieri, available A1–C2. Also accepted for citizenship and immigration.
CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana) — From the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, offered across five levels equivalent to CEFR A2–C2.

For Italian citizenship applications, CILS and PLIDA are the most commonly specified credentials — verify requirements with your consulate.

Turkish

~82 million speakers.

TYS (Türkçe Yeterlik Sınavı) — Administered by the Yunus Emre Institute, Turkey's state cultural and language body. ALTE-accredited and covering CEFR A2–C2, it is Turkey's first internationally recognized language proficiency exam. The TYS is offered at 93 Yunus Emre Institute centers across 69 countries — including locations across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America — with further expansion into Latin America and Africa planned through 2026.

Cantonese

~85 million speakers. No major CEFR-aligned international exam exists for Cantonese as a foreign language. The closest formal option is the COPA (Computerized Oral Proficiency Assessment) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which focuses on oral and listening skills. Learners typically rely on institutional assessments or university placements.

Wu Chinese

~80 million speakers. No standardized proficiency tests exist for Wu Chinese / Shanghainese. Learners have no formal certification pathway.

What Does It Cost? 2026 Quick Reference

Prices vary significantly by country and test center. Figures below are approximate USD equivalents for mid-range markets; verify current fees with your local center before registering. Score validity refers to how long certificates or results are formally accepted.

Test	Language	CEFR Levels	Approx. Cost (USD)	Score Validity
IELTS Academic	English	B1–C2	$295–$340	2 years
TOEFL iBT	English	B2–C2	$235–$300	2 years
Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency	English	C1–C2	$215–$250	Lifetime
PTE Academic	English	A1–C2	$200–$255	2 years
Duolingo English Test	English	A1–C2	$65	2 years
DELE	Spanish	A1–C2	$130–$250	Lifetime
SIELE	Spanish	A1–C2	$150–$200	5 years
DELF	French	A1–B2	$100–$200	Lifetime
DALF	French	C1–C2	$150–$250	Lifetime
TCF	French	A1–C2	$100–$200	2 years
TEF Canada	French	A1–C2	$150–$250	2 years
Goethe-Zertifikat	German	A1–C2	$150–$300	Lifetime
TestDaF	German	B2–C1	$200–$300	Lifetime
JLPT	Japanese	N5–N1 (≈A1–C1)	$60–$100	No expiry
TOPIK	Korean	Levels 1–6 (≈A1–C2)	$35–$85	No expiry
HSK	Mandarin	Levels 1–9 (≈A1–C2)	$30–$100	No expiry
CELPE-Bras	Portuguese (BR)	Int.–Avançado Sup.	$30–$60	Lifetime
CAPLE	Portuguese (EU)	A2–C2	$100–$200	Lifetime
TORFL	Russian	A1–C2	$100–$200	No expiry
TYS	Turkish	A2–C2	$50–$100	No expiry
CILS	Italian	A1–C2	$100–$200	Lifetime
PLIDA	Italian	A1–C2	$100–$200	Lifetime

When You Should Take a Language Proficiency Test

There are specific situations where a language certificate isn't a nice-to-have — it's a hard requirement. If any of the following apply to you, stop reading this section and go book your test.

Visa and immigration. Many of the world's most popular immigration destinations have legal language requirements. IELTS or TOEFL for the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. TCF or TEF for French immigration and Canadian permanent residency. Goethe-Zertifikat or TestDaF for German residency and citizenship. CELPE-Bras for working in Brazil. These aren't suggestions — you will not get your visa without the right score from the right exam.

University admissions. International students at the vast majority of English-language universities need a certified IELTS or TOEFL score to enroll. German universities require TestDaF or DSH results for applicants whose first language isn't German. French universities require DELF/DALF or TCF. The threshold is real and non-negotiable.

Professional licensing. Regulated professions — medicine, law, nursing, teaching — frequently require certified language ability in the country of practice. A doctor trained in Germany who wants to practice in the UK needs to satisfy language requirements. The specific credential accepted varies by profession and jurisdiction; check with the relevant licensing body.

Employment credentialing. In multinational hiring, a language certificate is sometimes the only legible signal available to a recruiter who can't personally assess your level. A JLPT N2 or HSK Level 6 on a resume communicates something concrete and internationally understood. This is particularly relevant in competitive markets where you're one of many applicants claiming proficiency in a second language.

Academic credit and waivers. Some universities grant credit or allow students to skip language requirements based on external test scores. If that applies to you, the math is simple: one exam fee versus an entire semester of tuition.

The through-line here is that the certificate has value independent of what it reflects about your actual language ability. It's a key that opens specific doors. If you need one of those doors opened, get the key.

When a Test Might Help You — And When It Won't

For learners without an immediate institutional requirement, the question becomes personal: is a test a useful part of your learning journey, or a distraction from it?

The Case for Taking a Proficiency Test

Some learners genuinely thrive under exam conditions. If you are the type of person who responds well to hard deadlines, measurable targets, and high-stakes accountability — a language test can be an excellent structural tool. Registering for a JLPT N3 in six months' time and working backwards is a legitimate strategy. The CEFR scale also gives you a shared vocabulary to describe your level to others, which is genuinely useful in professional contexts even when no formal requirement exists.

There's also a motivational function that shouldn't be dismissed. For certain learner profiles — particularly those who've studied a language for years without a concrete milestone — passing a formal exam provides a sense of closure and accomplishment that's hard to replicate. This is real, and it matters.

When a Language Proficiency Test Isn't Worth It

The case against is strong, and it centers on what tests actually measure.

Most major language tests are designed to be standardized, scalable, and objectively scorable. That means they heavily weight skills that are easy to mark: multiple-choice reading comprehension, grammar in isolation, formulaic writing tasks. Speaking tests — where they exist at all — typically involve recording yourself speaking into a microphone for a set time, following a structured prompt. The JLPT, notably, has no speaking component at all.

What this produces, predictably, is teaching to the test. Research on the washback effect — the influence tests exert on what and how teachers teach — has documented this extensively.[^1] When a high-stakes test emphasizes grammar over discourse, learners study grammar over discourse. When it doesn't test speaking, speaking doesn't get practiced.

The result is a known phenomenon that any language teacher will recognize: the learner who scores B2 on a DELF exam and then struggles to follow a native speaker conversation at normal speed. The test measured something. It just didn't measure fluency.

There's also a cost-of-opportunity argument. IELTS preparation courses routinely run for 8–12 weeks. That's 8–12 weeks of studying IELTS-specific question formats, timing strategies, and genre conventions — time that could have been spent building vocabulary, consuming content in the language, or practicing conversation. For learners who don't need the credential, the trade-off rarely favors the test.

Finally: tests are expensive. A single IELTS attempt runs $295–$340 in the US; TOEFL is comparable. Factor in preparation materials and the cost compounds quickly. That's real money that could fund a language exchange, a tutor, or a tool actually designed around acquisition.

What Language Certificates Don't Measure

A test score tells you how someone performed on a test. That's genuinely it. Research shows that real language ability involves far more than any standardized exam touches — reading a room, holding a conversation that goes off-script, recovering when you don't know a word — and that drilling for a timed performance event actively works against the deep retention that produces fluency.[^1][^2][^3]

The certificate isn't a lie. It's just measuring something other than whether you can actually use the language. Those aren't the same thing, and confusing them is expensive.

The Best Way to Really Learn a Language: Atlas Runa

Tests measure a moment, but real language fluency is from practice.

The research in this guide makes one thing clear: a certificate tells you how someone performed on a specific day, under specific conditions. What it can't tell you is whether the language will be there six months later — in a real conversation, at normal speed, with someone who goes off-script.

Atlas Runa is built around that gap. Rather than drilling you through practice tests or blunt flashcard repetition, we use a feedback loop that surfaces vocabulary and structures at the moment your brain is primed to consolidate them into long-term memory. The result isn't a score that fades — it's language that stays.

In practice, that means you can use Atlas Runa to prepare for a test and come out genuinely more prepared than if you'd run through practice papers — because you've internalized the material rather than borrowed it for an afternoon. Less grinding, less cramming, and something to show for it beyond exam day.

And if you don't need a test at all — if what you actually want is to be understood when you open your mouth — that's what we're here for.

Start preparing for language tests with Atlas Runa.

Updated April 2026. Test fees and requirements change frequently; verify current details with the relevant examining body before registering.

[^1]: Alderson, J.C., & Wall, D. (1993). Does washback exist? Applied Linguistics, 14(2), 115–129. [^2]: Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 1–47. [^3]: Krashen, S.D. (1985). The Input Hypothesis: Issues and Implications. Longman. [^4]: Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Teaching and Researching Motivation. Pearson Education.