Standard language tests

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What is the purpose of standard language tests like TOEFL, TOEIC, JLPT,IELTS the Cambridge exams etc. I wonder. Japan is the world leader in takingthe TOEIC test, with around 2 million testers. Many foreign students take TOEFL before coming to North America. Does this testtaking help them speak English better?

If I were to recruit someone for a job, I would just ignore anystandard test results. I would look at their written letter and resume,and then talk to them. If I were admitting someone to university, Iguess these tests could be a minimum indicator, but I want to seesomething written by that person, as well as an audio file of thatperson speaking. I guess they can fake these things, but then if theyare admitted based on falsified test results, the will fail and I guessmay just have to go home.

I mean we are nottalking about doctors or electricians or engineers here. We do not needsome "objective" finely defined measurement of skill level. We just need to find out ifpeople can communicate. Even when I look for translators I go to ProZ.comand get a lot of applicants offering to translate into just about anylanguage. I ask them to do a trial, and select one. I never look at anyscores or levels on some standard language test.