A test of understanding and producing
English
Before deciding to accept the IELTS as an alternative to
TOEFL, I sat for the exam myself and can attest to the genuine
rigor it represents. Candidates are tested not just on
comprehension of written and spoken English but further on
understanding and producing English of an academic nature. That
there may be a perceptible slant towards British English in
contrast to TOEFL's slant towards the North American brand did not
strike me as a significant issue.
James F Minter, Columbia University, New York