Multilingua

What Multilingua does

Multilingua is a Colombian authorized English-language testing and exam-preparation company headquartered in Bogotá, with additional branches in Medellín and Barranquilla. Founded in 1994, it serves as a one-stop certification center administering the major international English proficiency exams available in the country, including IELTS (paper-based and computer-delivered), TOEFL iBT, the full Cambridge English suite (A2 Key through C2 Proficiency plus Cambridge For Schools), the Michigan English Test (MET / MET DIGITAL), TOEIC, Linguaskill, and Cambridge placement tests such as CEPT and TKT. It also offers Cambridge CELTA teacher-training certification.

The company operates under exclusive authorizations granted by international examining bodies — Cambridge English, IDP Education/British Council (IELTS), ETS (TOEFL), and Michigan Language Assessment — and claims to be the only center in Colombia authorized to administer the MET. Complementing its exam-administration business, Multilingua runs preparation courses (IELTS, TOEFL, MET, TOEIC, Cambridge), practice/mock exams (simulacros), and corporate/employer testing services delivered through both in-person branches and online channels. Pricing is denominated in Colombian pesos (e.g., 1,190,000 COP for a Cambridge C1 Advanced paper-based exam in Bogotá; 70,000 COP for an online CEPT placement test), with institutional discounts available to partner schools and universities.

Multilingua employs 11–50 staff, including official Cambridge examiners and Cambridge-certified instructors. Its customer base is predominantly long-tail individual consumers — primarily Colombian university students meeting graduation English requirements, immigration applicants (notably to Canada, Australia, the UK, the US and New Zealand), and graduate-school candidates pursuing scholarships — supplemented by institutional partnerships with universities (Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Pedagógica, Universidad Rosario, Universidad Sergio Arboleda) and corporate clients using Linguaskill for employee assessment. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investment.

Name

Multilingua

Legal name

Multilingua

Website

https://multilingua.com.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Multilingua is a Colombian authorized English-language testing and exam-preparation center, administering IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, MET, TOEIC, and Linguaskill exams across branches in Bogotá, Medellín, and Barranquilla, serving individual students, immigrants, graduate applicants, and institutional clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Testing and Certification Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

English Proficiency & International Admissions Exams (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo) Prep (EDANABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Proficiency Exam Prep (CEFR, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, PTE) (EDANACAD), English Test Preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, etc.) (EDAAACAJ), Immigration, Citizenship & Integration Language Exam Prep (EDANACAG), K-12 & School-Based Language Exam Prep (AP, IB, IGCSE/A-Levels) (EDANACAE), Language Assessment, Placement Testing & Proficiency Certification Tools (EDAFAOAH)

Keywords

• English language testing
• Language certification services
• Exam preparation courses
• Teacher training certification
• International exam administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Official English Proficiency Exams Administration: Multilingua generates revenue by administering official international English proficiency exams (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, MET, TOEIC) on behalf of examining bodies. Candidates pay examination fees for the privilege of taking certified tests at the authorized center.
2. Exam Preparation Courses: The company offers preparation courses for various international English exams including IELTS, TOEFL, MET, and Cambridge. These courses provide training in exam strategies, practice tests, and skill development for candidates.
3. Mock Exams / Practice Tests: Multilingua provides mock exams and practice tests to help candidates assess their English level before taking official examinations. These practice tests help students identify weaknesses and prepare appropriately.
4. CELTA Teacher Training: Cambridge English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) certification courses are offered for aspiring English teachers, providing professional development and teacher training services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Multilingua is an authorized international English exam center that administers official proficiency tests (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, MET, Cambridge suite, TOEIC, Linguaskill, CEPT, TKT) on behalf of examining bodies such as Cambridge English, ETS, and Michigan Language Assessment. The center also delivers exam preparation courses, mock exams (simulacros), and CELTA teacher training to candidates across Colombia. Services are offered in-person at branches in Bogotá, Medellín, and Barranquilla, and virtually via online preparation classes and computer-delivered exams.

Product overview

Multilingua is an authorized certification center that administers and prepares students for international English language proficiency exams in Colombia. The company operates as a multi-exam administrator offering official testing and preparation services for Cambridge English exams (KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE), IELTS, TOEFL iBT, MET (Michigan English Test), TOEIC, Linguaskill, and specialized tests like TKT and CEPT. The portfolio includes Cambridge For Schools programs for young learners and CELTA teacher training courses. Preparation courses and mock exams (simulacros) support candidates before official test administration. The company functions as an official test center rather than a technology product, with services delivered primarily through in-person and virtual preparation courses combined with official exam administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

Quantifiable outcome

• IELTS Computer-delivered results available in 5-7 days (vs. 13 days for paper-based)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultilingua is an authorized IELTS testing center jointly administered by Cambridge English Language Assessment, IDP Education, and British Council. The center offers both paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS examinations. IELTS is the most recognized international English proficiency test globally, accepted for immigration, academic, and professional purposes.
• Cambridge English Language AssessmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized Cambridge English testing center offering the complete suite of Cambridge exams including A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, and Cambridge English Placement Test (CEPT). Cambridge certifications are recognized by over 30,000 organizations worldwide and are valid for life.
• TOEFL (Educational Testing Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized TOEFL iBT testing center administering the Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL is the most preferred English-language test by universities in the USA, Germany, and France, with results valid for 2 years.
• MET / Michigan Language AssessmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized MET (Michigan English Test) center providing exams jointly developed by the University of Michigan and University of Cambridge. MET Digital options available with results in 3-7 days. The only MET testing option available in Colombia.
• Cambridge CELTAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages) training center offering the world's most widely recognized English teaching qualification. Courses available both in-person and fully online.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Open English: Online English-language learning platform serving Latin American consumers with live-instructor classes and corporate training. Comparable target customer (Spanish-speaking adult learners seeking English proficiency) and overlapping value proposition on remote preparation.

Broad incumbents

• Berlitz Corporation: Global language-training incumbent with corporate and consumer English programs and assessment offerings. Comparable as a broad language-services provider, though less specialized than Multilingua in standardized English certification administration.
• EF Education First: Global private education company with English language schools and standardized test preparation across Latin America. Broader incumbent that overlaps with Multilingua on adult English instruction and test prep but operates at vastly larger scale and geography.

Direct peers

• British Council: Global cultural institution that operates authorized IELTS and Cambridge English testing centers in Colombia and across Latin America. Directly competes with Multilingua for the same examinee pool, particularly in Bogotá, and shares partnership status in the IELTS consortium.
• International House Bogotá: Authorized CELTA training center and English language school in Bogotá with overlapping teacher-training and exam-preparation offerings. Comparable to Multilingua in the CELTA/professional-development vertical and on corporate English training.
• Centro Colombo Americano: Binational center in Bogotá offering English language instruction, exam preparation, and TOEFL/iBT testing services. Closest geographic and product peer to Multilingua in the Colombian capital, serving overlapping university-student and professional segments.
• IDP Education: Australian education services company co-owner of the IELTS consortium and operator of IELTS test centers worldwide, including in Latin America. Directly comparable as an authorized test-center network offering the same IELTS, and increasingly Cambridge, exams.

Peers

• Duolingo English Test:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/multilinguaco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/multilingua-centro-certificador-de-ingles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Multilingua