Global exam
GlobalExam is a French-headquartered e-learning platform, founded in 2014, that delivers adaptive language certification prep across 40+ exams in five languages, serving individual learners, corporations such as Schneider Electric and Orange, and French higher-education institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Global exam does
GlobalExam is a privately held e-learning platform headquartered in Montrouge, Île-de-France, that was founded in 2014 by Charles-Eliott Debourdeau after he twice failed the TOEFL exam while studying at Sciences-Po Lille. The company specialises in online preparation for international language certification exams and general professional language training, and operates a four-product architecture: Global Exam (certification preparation covering 40+ exams in English, French, Spanish, German and Chinese), Global Eval (adaptive CEFR level testing and mock exams under real test conditions), Global General (everyday language training in six languages), and Global Business (professional English covering general skills, occupation-specific skills, and sector-specific skills). Underlying technology consists of a 100% online platform with adaptive level tests, personalized study paths, 47,000+ practice exercises aligned to official exam formats, video lessons with certified teachers, a personalised statistics dashboard, and SSO plus white-label integrations for enterprise clients. The business model combines recurring B2C subscriptions across Basic, Premium and Premium Plus tiers (weekly through annual billing in 15+ currencies) with B2B enterprise licensing (dedicated Account and Customer Success managers, SSO, benchmarking, virtual group classes), educational institution licences (Simple and Global tiers), and a global channel of 1,500+ distributors and reseller partners. The company reports a cumulative user base of 3 million across 37 countries, with named enterprise customers including Schneider Electric, Orange, Welcome to the Jungle, Algeco, Louis Pion and Moovone, and a higher-education client roster that includes HEC Paris, KEDGE Business School, EM Normandie, Mines-Telecom, SKEMA, TBS Education and Université Paris Dauphine. Disclosed funding is limited to small public grants (French Tech 2014 and Total Développement Régional 2016), with no institutional VC rounds identified in the input data.
Global exam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Global exam
- Legal name
- GlobalExam
- Website
- https://global-exam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- GlobalExam is a French-headquartered e-learning platform, founded in 2014, that delivers adaptive language certification prep across 40+ exams in five languages, serving individual learners, corporations such as Schneider Electric and Orange, and French higher-education institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Global exam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Language Learning and Certification Exam Preparation
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Language Proficiency Exam Prep (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE) (EDANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Language Proficiency & Admissions Testing Prep (TOEFL/IELTS/DELE/HSK, etc.) (EDAGADAE), Certification & Exam Prep eLearning Modules (EDAGAEAL), Exam Preparation Materials (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAGAHAE)
Keywords
Where Global exam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Global exam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Exam Preparation Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to exam preparation courses for over 20 language certifications including TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, and more. Plans available at Basic, Premium, and Premium Plus tiers with varying video lesson access and coaching options.
- General Language Training Subscriptions: Online language training for general communication skills in 6 languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese) with video lessons from certified teachers.
- Business English Professional Subscriptions: Professional English improvement courses with 30+ training courses covering skills, professions, and sectors. Tiered subscriptions with group and individual video lessons.
- Corporate B2B Licenses: Enterprise licensing for corporations with features including individual licenses, corporate licenses at preferential rates, SSO integration, benchmarking tests, business English study programs, and virtual group classes. Includes Admin & Reporting area access.
- Educational Institution Licenses: Licensing for educational establishments including Simple License (access to chosen services for one year) and Global License (all services). Includes CEFR level tests, placement tests, general and professional English paths, and exam prep courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Weekly | Basic Exam Prep - Weekly subscription at $34.07 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Exam Prep - Monthly subscription at $68.25 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Exam Prep - Quarterly subscription at $113.82 |
| Subscription | Annual | Basic Exam Prep - Annual subscription at $227.75 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium/Plus Tiers |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Corporate Enterprise - Individual and Corporate Licenses |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Global exam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GlobalExam operates an online e-learning platform specialized in language certification exam preparation and language training. It offers adaptive CEFR level tests, mock exams under real test conditions, video lessons with certified teachers, and personalized study paths covering over 40 language certifications (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, HSK, DELF, DELE) across five languages. The platform serves individual learners, corporations, educational institutions, and training organizations through four product lines: Global Eval (assessment), Global General (general training), Global Business (professional English), and Global Exam (certification prep).
Product overview
GlobalExam is an e-learning platform specializing in language training and certification exam preparation. The platform operates on a multi-product architecture comprising four core solutions: Global Eval (assessment and level testing), Global General (general language training), Global Business (professional English improvement), and Global Exam (certification exam preparation). For individual learners, the platform offers separate pathways for exam preparation, general language learning, and business English improvement. The platform supports 5 languages for exams (English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese) and 6 languages for general training, serving over 3 million users with over 47,000 practice exercises and partnerships with 1,500 organizations worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Global Eval: Language evaluation and level testing solution with adaptive CEFR level tests, level positioning tests, and mock exams under real exam conditions.
- Global General
- Global Business
- Global Exam
- Qioz
Quantifiable outcome
- 3 million users have reached their goals with GlobalExam
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Global exam
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Global exam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature9 records
Global exam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- BlackboardcoreWorld leader for LMS solutions in education chose GlobalExam as its distributor in France. This partnership enables GlobalExam to reach educational institutions through Blackboard's established distribution network.
- Île-de-France Region (Qioz Platform)flagshipLaunch of Qioz, a multilingual platform for the 9 million residents of the Île-de-France Region. GlobalExam co-developed and managed this platform as part of a consortium held by the Île-de-France region.
- OrangeflagshipLaunched first language training application on App TV Orange. Selected in 2016 for quality content, GlobalExam developed a TV app made available to all Orange clients. Major distribution partnership with French telecommunications leader.
- Orange Fab FrancecoreStart-Up Winner of season 7 of Orange Fab France, the start-up accelerator program. Provided acceleration and mentorship opportunities for growth.
- French Tech / Business FrancecoreSelected by French Tech and Business France to represent France in the French Tech Tour of North East Asia program. This accelerated international development through visits to three Asian destinations including Taiwan.
- HEC Paris (Mercury HEC Booster)coreWinner of Mercury HEC Booster awarded for innovative solution. Received 6 months of coaching by HEC mentors to accelerate business development.
- Schneider ElectriccoreCorporate customer using GlobalExam for employee language training. Part of 1,500+ partner network trust.
- OrangecoreCorporate customer with additional partnership for TV app distribution. Using GlobalExam for employee language training solutions.
- Welcome to the JungleminorHR tech company using GlobalExam for employee language training. Part of the corporate partner network.
- HEC ParisflagshipPremier business school partner using GlobalExam for language training solutions. Part of prestigious educational institution network.
- Mines-TelecomcoreFirst network to partner with GlobalExam in 2015. Engineering school network using language training solutions.
- KEDGE Business SchoolcoreBusiness school partner using GlobalExam for student language certification preparation.
- EM NormandiecoreBusiness school partner implementing blended learning language courses with GlobalExam.
- Centrale MarseillecoreEngineering school partner for language training solutions.
- Montpellier Business SchoolcoreBusiness school partner using language exam preparation solutions.
- SKEMA Business SchoolcoreGlobal business school partner with language training integration.
- TBS EducationcoreBusiness education institution partner for language exam preparation.
- Université Paris DauphinecorePrestigious university partner for language training.
- Alliance FrançaisecoreGlobal French language and cultural institution partner extending language training catalog.
- Wall Street EnglishcoreGlobal English language learning organization partner for extended course offerings.
- EurocentrescoreLanguage training organization partner for extended catalog.
- Cambridge School of English PolandcoreInternational English language school in Poland serving as channel partner for GlobalExam solutions.
- Protos EducationcoreEducation organization channel partner expanding GlobalExam reach.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Global exam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Duolingo: Duolingo is the world's largest language learning platform with a freemium model and expanding paid tiers, including the Duolingo English Test. It overlaps significantly with GlobalExam's general language and test prep offerings and dwarfs GlobalExam in capitalization and consumer brand.
- Babbel: Babbel is a leading subscription language learning platform offering courses in multiple languages with a focus on conversational proficiency. While less specialized in certification exam prep, it competes in the same general language learning subscription category as GlobalExam.
- Busuu: Busuu is a subscription language learning platform offering courses in 14+ languages with community features and premium tiers. It overlaps with GlobalExam's general language training offering in the consumer subscription space.
- Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is a long-established language learning brand offering consumer subscriptions and enterprise (Rosetta Stone for Enterprise) solutions. Its enterprise offering directly overlaps with GlobalExam's corporate B2B language training segment.
- EF Education First (EF Corporate): EF Education First is a global education company offering language training and corporate language solutions. Its EF Corporate Language Training division competes directly with GlobalExam's enterprise offering and global delivery footprint.
Direct peers
- Magoosh: Magoosh is an online test preparation company offering courses for TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, and other standardized exams via subscription. It directly competes with GlobalExam in the online language certification prep space with comparable self-serve subscription pricing.
- E2Language: E2Language is an online test preparation company specializing in IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE with live teachers and self-study materials. It is a direct competitor to GlobalExam in the online language certification prep category.
- Speexx: Speexx is a cloud-based enterprise language training platform offering business English and business language courses with corporate admin tools, similar to GlobalExam's Global Business solution and corporate licensing model.
- goFLUENT: goFLUENT provides enterprise language training combining AI-powered self-paced content with live tutoring for global corporations. It directly competes with GlobalExam's corporate B2B segment, particularly for large multinational workforces.
Regional players
- Wall Street English: Wall Street English is a global English language learning franchise with a blended online/in-person model. While a GlobalExam distribution partner, it independently competes in adult English language education, primarily outside the test prep specialty.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Global exam social profiles
Digital presenceGlobal exam compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Global exam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Global exam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Global exam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Global exam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Global exam
What does Global exam do?
GlobalExam operates an online e-learning platform specialized in language certification exam preparation and language training. It offers adaptive CEFR level tests, mock exams under real test conditions, video lessons with certified teachers, and personalized study paths covering over 40 language certifications (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, HSK, DELF, DELE) across five languages. The platform serves individual learners, corporations, educational institutions, and training organizations through four product lines: Global Eval (assessment), Global General (general training), Global Business (professional English), and Global Exam (certification prep).
Is Global exam a public or private company?
Global exam is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Global exam founded?
Global exam was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Global exam based?
Global exam is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Global exam make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Exam Preparation Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are general Language Training Subscriptions, business English Professional Subscriptions, corporate B2B Licenses and educational Institution Licenses.
Who are Global exam's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Rosetta Stone and EF Education First (EF Corporate). Direct peers are Magoosh, E2Language, Speexx and goFLUENT. Wall Street English is listed as a regional player.
Does Global exam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Global exam.
What industry is Global exam in?
Global exam's product category is Online Language Learning and Certification Exam Preparation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDANACAD, Language Proficiency Exam Prep (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE), with a secondary code of EDAGADAE, Language Proficiency & Admissions Testing Prep (TOEFL/IELTS/DELE/HSK, etc.). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.