OFFICIAL ENGLISH TESTS: London Tests of English
The London Tests of English are international English language exams for people whose first language is not English. They've been developed by Pearson Language Tests, the division of the Pearson group that is responsible for language testing and certification.
The London Tests of English are theme-based exams - they test how well someone can communicate in "authentic", real-life situations. Because of this, the LTE are said to be somewhat less formal, focusing more on real-life scenarios than other language exams. The tests are broken up into four sections: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The London Tests of English have six levels, which conform to the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): A1 (Foundation), 1 (Elementary Level 1), 2 (Intermediate Level 2), 3 (Upper Intermediate Level 3), 4 (Advanced Level 4), 5 (Proficient Level). Reading, writing, listening and speaking are tested at all levels.
Levels 4 and 5 of the London Tests of English are accepted for entrance to universities in the UK and by a variety of international companies.