I took one in college as a graduation requirement and I thought it was easy. I don't like the way they are scored since there is no way to match two separate scorers for results.
I like the idea of people being proficient in English before they get a degree in the U.S., especially since people's lives and health may depend on good communication by doctors and architects and etc. Of course, once upon a time, you couldn't even get into college without being proficient in English. Now they will take anybody because that is all there is to enroll from our high schools, and a very large percentage have to take remedial courses in reading and writing.