Table of Contents
What is the IELTS?
What is the TOEFL?
Reading
Listening
Talking
Composition
To take higher education or to get a job, IELTS and the TOEFL must be passed. Although both tests are intended to assess English proficiency, each has its own approach, timings, origin, and purpose.
Non-native English speakers from any country must pass the TOEFL or IELTS test in order to be allowed into countries where English has been declared an official language. As such, we must establish some benchmark that is based upon scores. So, IELTS and TOEFL Tests of English as a foreign Language (International English Language Test System ) were developed.
Both are accepted by universities around the globe, but there are differences in how they ask questions, their duration and what they aim to accomplish. The student must choose the most appropriate test based on his or her purpose. Both tests reflect the standard of an exam body.
What is IELTS and how does it work? The IELTS test is an English language assessment that is accepted in over 9,000 institutions worldwide. This test is administered by the British Council and University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. IELTS uses British English as its basis and is therefore preferred by Australia, New Zealand, UK, and New Zealand.
What is the TOEFL Test? This test measures one’s ability communicate in English in classroom-based and academic settings. It is accepted by more than 8,500 institutions worldwide, including 130 in the USA and Australia. TOEFL’s American counterpart, “The Education Testing Service”, has tested students in English. American educational institutions will prefer TOEFL.
Differences in IELTS & ToEFL
Explanation
Original: This painting is a masterpiece of Impressionism.
Paraphrased: This artwork is an exceptional example of Impressionism.
Dialects
TOEFL: Very American English Accents
IELTS: Many international accents.
Time to test
TOEFL: 4 Hours
IELTS: 2.45 hours
ReadingTOEFL: 60-100 mins (may vary from a fixed time).
These questions require you to answer objective questions and read 4-6 passages in academic English. Questions will test your comprehension of the text, style, vocabulary, key details, vocabulary and guessing.
IELTS: Candidates must spend 60 minutes reading three passages. They can be either easy or difficult. Questions can be taken from academic textbooks or newspapers. IELTS can choose from 15 types of questions. These questions can be short answers or objective.
ListeningTOEFL is a 40-60 minute course. Lectures and campus conversations are 40-60 minutes long. Take notes for 40-60 mins. Multiple choice. The Listening Section contains 2 or three longer conversations and 4 lectures. These situations usually revolve around conversations between students and teachers. Each question has multiple options and will ask you important details, inferences as well as tone and vocabulary.
IELTS: Duration: 30 minutes (Approx). There are four sections to the IELTS. This is the “transactional conversation”, where someone might be asking for information, or applying for a driver’s licence. The second section contains some informational lectures. The third section is an academic conversation. The last section would be an academic lecturing. There are several types of questions that might be asked. These include: complete a summary. Fill in a table. Multiple-choice. Label a diagram. Segregate information. The answers are written in a test booklet, then transferred to an answer sheet.
SpeakingTOEFL takes approximately 20 minutes. (Approx.) You will need headphones and a microphone to speak on a computer. 6 questions from universities will be asked. An examiner would assess your test on the next day. Two questions will ask about familiar topics. The first one will require you to share your opinion and/or describe a familiar topic (eg: your home or favorite teacher). Two questions will ask you to summarize information in a text, and to discuss it with someone. You will be asked two questions.
IELTS – Duration: 12-15 min. The test will be recorded. The speaking module could be conducted on the same day as the rest of your test. The test is administered by a live, trained examiner. It consists of three parts. Part 1 is an introduction and then some questions about more familiar topics. Part 2 will consist of a series of questions and a topic card. This topic will be the subject of your interview. You are expected to talk for about 1-2 minutes. Part 3 will be a continuation of the Part 2 question.
WritingTOEFL: Duration: 50 min. Two questions and answers will be typed into the computer. The first question is an “Integrated Task” which requires you to read a short content (approx 300 words) and listen to a 2-minute lecture on the same topic. (The listening may contradict or support the reading). Notes must be taken by the candidate as they listen. After listening, candidate must answer a 150-225-word question about what they have read or listened. Candidates will have 30 minutes for planning, writing and editing their essay. The second is to write 300-350 words. Your essay must explain, support and state your views on a given topic.
IELTS: Duration: 1hr 2 tasks Answers must be written by hand. For Task 1, candidates will be required to provide information with at least 150 words. They may also need to support their explanations with graphs, tables or diagrams. Task 2 will require that you either present an argument, (eg: Suicide rates rise due to lack of parental attention) or a discussion on a topic. The candidate should write 250 words. IELTS recommends spending 40 minutes to answer the question.