Good knowledge of English is mandatory for learning in America. To confirm a decent level of expertise, you must pass the exam and get a certificate. Today there are two varieties of this a test. The applicant can only choose and hand over one of them. Let’s figure out: what is IELTS and TOEFL, what is the difference between exams, and which one to choose.
WHAT IS IELTS AND TOEFL
These are the two most popular tests:
- TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) – compiled at the Center for Applied Linguistics of Standford University.
- IELTS (The International English Language Test System) – 3 organizations are engaged in modifying the test: the British Council, the examination council of the University of Cambridge, and the Australian educational organization.
TOEFL and IELTS have differences. If TOEFL is focused on checking American English, IELTS evaluates the British English.
Confirmation of a certain level of English is a critical stage of preparation for admission to an English speaking university. Examination tests are explicitly designed for applicants for whom English is not the first language.
IELTS OR TOEFL: WHAT TO CHOOSE
At first glance, everything is simple: compare the tests and choose the easier option. But, the difference between TOEFL from IELTS is not only in the name, grammar or the pronunciation of the American and British versions of English, but also in the relevance of the results for different countries.
To make the right choice, we take into the account:
- Which country is chosen for admission: for the US and Canada is recommended to take TOEFL; when moving to the UK, New Zealand, or Australia – IELTS results are needed;
- University requirements – you can clarify on the university’s website that many American higher educational institutions are accept TOEFL, but there are also those for which an IELTS certificate will be needed;
- The difference in the test format: TOEFL is carried out online, so if you do not like to type text on the keyboard and talk in the microphone, it is better to choose IELTS for its classic offline format.
If there is no fundamental preference, but there are doubts about whether TOEFL or IELTS is better, trial testing will help.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TOEFL AND IELTS
Differences begin with the form of testing. When choosing TOEFL, the applicant has only one option. It is called academic and is suitable for entering universities in the United States. The exam consists of individual blocks; according to the results, it becomes clear how freely a person can speak, write, read, and perceive foreign language. Each task is evaluated in points. When checking American English, the maximum number of points is 120.
IELTS can be two types. General is a lighter version of the test; it is taken for employment abroad. Academic is an academic version; there is no difference in complexity with TOEFL. It should be taken by a person who wants to be a student of a higher educational institution in an English speaking country. Testing on the system of evaluating your knowledge according to the IELTS system also consists of separate modules; points are counted. The best 9 points result indicates the knowledge of the language at the expert level.
Which type of test is needed for an American university? It is worth checking the website of the educational institution in advance. Even though most US universities accept TOEFL testing results, some may require an IELTS academic version certificate. The requirements for language knowledge are also different; if at one university you need to have a maximum score, for others, there are enough skills at the level of an intermediate user.
IELTS AND TOEFL: WHAT IS EASIER
The degree of complexity of tasks in tests is approximately the same, but there are differences in the functions and the method of passing the test. When choosing IELTS, get ready to pass the exam in a classic form with a personal presence. But TOEFL can be taken in writing: PBT is an online and on paper. Modern universities prefer IBT — a fully online version of the test.
Depending on the chosen version of the English TOEFL and IELTS examination, there are differences in some tasks:
- During the In person testing, the ability to speak is evaluated by the examiner in the course of personal communication; for the virtual option, the text in the microphone has to be said. Subsequently, the entry is evaluated in a specialized verification point.
- When taking a “paper” version, you need to write by hand, but for a computer option, you have to type an essay on a computer.
- When submitting a “paper” version, you need to write by hand, but for the computer version you should print an essay on a computer.
Testing time is the same – 4 hours are given to finish the test. There is a slight difference in the organization of the exam. If TOEFL is passed on one day, IELTS should be taken in two days- the last 15 minutes of speaking are transferred to the second day of testing.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MODULES
Which is better personally for you, TOEFL or IELTS, can be determined by the difference between the exam blocks.
LISTENING
The perception of the language by ear allows to listen to dialogue, lectures, and answer to the questions. You need to answer 31-54 questions for TOEFL by filling out the table or selecting the correct answer from all possible options. When listening to IELTS, there are 40 tasks. In addition to tables and tests, it will be necessary to work with the diagram, add some sentences or write a brief answer.
In TOEFL, questions can be seen only after listening to the material, but for IELTS, the tasks are known immediately. This will help many to concentrate on those parts of the audio recordings in which there are answers to essential questions.
READING
3-4 texts to check your reading skills; for TOEFL, it is popular science literature, for a person who takes IELTS, there will be analyzation of materials from magazines and books. After reading, you need to answer questions and complete the tasks to search for information between text parts. The answers must be entered correctly with the question/answer pairs when tested. An additional difference in the allowed time for TOEFL can be increased for 20 more minutes.
WRITING
A written English assessment has 2 stages. For the American version:
- reading a short text with listening to the attached audio recordings with the subsequent presentation of its point of view on the connection of two materials in the form of a resume;
- writing an essay on any given topic.
The British version also consists of 2 blocks:
- a description of the graphic drawing (from 150 words) and a short essay (from 250 words).
- reading a short text with listening to the attached audio recordings with the subsequent presentation of its point of view on the connection of two materials in the form of a resume;
- writing an essay on any given topic.
SPEAKING
IELTS TOEFL What is the difference when checking oral speech? This block consists of several parts:
- There are two parts in during TOEFL: 2 of them – an expression of their opinion on the topic, the rest of the category of answers to questions in a previously listened lecture;
- Three for the British version: conversation on familiar topics, a compilation of a story on a given issue, and interviews.
During TOEFL, you will be given 20 minutes, and the duration of speaking for IELTS is 11 minutes.
CONCLUSION
Only you can determine what is better for you, TOEFL or IELTS. Knowing the difference and evaluating your capabilities based on the results of a trial exam, the last step is just to choose the correct option. But first of all, you should pay attention to the university’s requirements, prepare well and show the best result.
