Best Free learning apps to prepare for English tests

Are you considering studying in an English-speaking country?

Then you will have to pass an English language skills test to get accepted into the university or college. You will be required to show that your English proficiency is up to their standards.

Meeting the language requirements of the UK Border Agency for a student visa is another bonus and most native English employers will prefer international staff with good to excellent English language skills.

What do I need to learn?

For the various English language standard tests like the IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or the Cambridge ESOL, you will have to succeed in all of these four language aspects:

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

How do I prepare?

Attending English classes, reading test books and going through old tests are the more traditional approaches to language learning. However, technology in education has blessed us with more fun language learning methods. Check out these popular and mostly free language-learning apps out on the market right now.

Here is a selection of the 3 most downloaded free language-learning apps, based on the number of downloads on Google Play. Learn how they can help you with preparing for your English exams.

1. Duolingo

This language-learning app has been downloaded 100.000.000 times on Google Play and currently holds the record as the most popular language app. What makes Duolingo so successful is the short exercises, independent target setting and daily learning reminders. You can keep track of your language progress through in-app rewards. It covers all four language areas by:

• Reading: you read words and sentences in your native language and English
• Writing: you write words and sentences in your native language and English when translating them
• Listening: you hear audio recordings of English words and sentences
• Speaking: you verbally repeat these audio-recorded words and sentences in English

Start by having your initial English language level assessed by doing a test in the beginning. The app guides you from level to level and helps you improve your English language skills until you have reached your set target and fluency. What an all-in-one tool!

2. Rosetta Stone

This 10-year-old language learning concept has been downloaded 5.000.000 times via Google Play as an app. It takes pride in its true language immersion factor, which aims to teach you a new language as you’ve learned your mother-tongue. Mainly focusing on the verbal communication aspect, it works through daily speech and language exercises via online forums, chats and activities with speech recognition. Therefore, it mainly covers three language areas:

• Reading: you are challenged to read in English with its online exercises and stories.
• Listening: your listening and comprehension skills are improved by talking to others in English.
• Speaking: you are regularly communicating in English with your tutor or learning community. This challenges you to converse verbally and the speech recognition technology applied in its activities supports your pronunciation.

The main use for this is verbal preparation as the focus is on spoken language learning. Writing is not covered as much, but for English exams, this is a vital ability.

3. Drops

The simplicity of this language app makes it so popular that it has been downloaded 1.000.000 times. The app cleverly drop-feeds new vocabulary in English within topics of your choice. Brief 5-minute-exercises per day are said to help you expand your English vocabulary and improve your English language skills. Preparing you for your English exams, this app can only cover two language areas out of four:

• Reading: you read mainly nouns, verbs and adjectives in English as it’s very vocabulary-based learning
• Listening: when reading the English words, you will also hear them be pronounced

If you’re opting for this language learning app, you would definitely need other resources to pass your English test. But if you’re looking for short memory boosts for your English vocabulary, it can be of great benefit.

These free language learning apps will hopefully support you in becoming 100% English-proficient to pass any English test. Good luck!