“It Improved My Life Completely”: Why Juan Bautista del Rosal Recommends MET

At Michigan Language Assessment, nothing inspires us more than hearing firsthand how the Michigan English Test (MET) helps ambitious individuals reach their personal, academic, and professional goals.

We recently sat down with Juan Bautista del Rosal, a 24-year-old student from Argentina who is currently studying accounting and agribusiness at Austral University. After dedicating months to his English studies, Bautista del Rosal achieved a C1 level on MET.

Here is his story, along with his top advice for future test takers.

Choosing the Right Path

When seeking to certify his English skills for personal development and future study opportunities, Bautista del Rosal initially considered a few exam options. However, a recommendation from a friend who had already taken MET changed his mind.

After researching the pros and cons of both exams, he decided that MET was the best fit for his goals. To prepare, he enrolled in a four-month preparation course at the Aricana Language School and sat for the exam last December.

Embracing Real-World Challenges on Test Day

Every test taker experiences a few nerves on test day, and for Bautista del Rosal, the quick pacing of the MET Speaking Section was the most intense part of the experience.

“The little to no time I had to prepare for the answers seemed difficult at first, but I surprised myself with how much I knew once I started speaking,” Bautista del Rosal said.

He quickly realized that the structure of the exam mimics the exact environments he will face in his future accounting career.

“I guess those are real-life situations, because in a meeting, you don’t really have much time to prepare every response,” Bautista del Rosal said. “So I guess those kind of situations on the exam prepare me for the future.”

The Reward of Lifelong Learning

Just two days after completing his exam, Bautista del Rosal received his results and was thrilled to see a glowing C1 certification. Having studied English since the age of three—and consistently immersing himself in the language through pop and rock music like the band The Score—he felt the high score was a hard-earned validation of his lifelong dedication.

“When I saw C1, I was happy… I’ve been studying my whole life, right? So, it was quite deserved,” Bautista del Rosal said.

Looking Ahead: Destination New York?

With a C1 certificate in hand, the future is incredibly bright. Bautista del Rosal notes that certifying his English proficiency has already begun to shift his day-to-day life and expand his horizons.

“It opened doors, to be honest,” Bautista del Rosal said. “Having this kind of level really pays off and improved my life completely.”

Bautista del Rosal is currently pursuing his degree in accounting and agribusiness at Austral University, which he notes is one of the top universities in Argentina, South America. 

Looking forward, he hopes to leverage his MET score to secure a great job, pursue advanced financial certifications, and eventually head to the United States to study abroad for a master’s degree in finance at institutions like New York University (NYU) or Columbia University—allowing him to live closer to his sister who currently resides in New York.

Juan’s Advice for Future MET Test Takers

Are you thinking about taking MET yourself? Bautista del Rosal shares a few key strategies that helped him succeed:

• Take Practice Exams: Familiarize yourself early with the exact formatting and layout of the test you will be attending.
• Master Complex Grammar: Dedicate time to studying conditional structures and practice expanding on them naturally in your responses.
• Simulate the Pressure: Focus heavily on practicing the speaking sections. Put yourself into the exact, fast-paced scenarios you will face on test day so you can practice expressing yourself clearly without overthinking.

For more information about MET, visit our MET page.