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I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very phunny language! Is this how confident you feel about the language? Well, congratulations then! You’re set to fly to an abroad destination and fulfil your study dreams. The only thing between your proficiency in English and your study abroad dream is a piece of paper: A LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAM! When you plan to study in a foreign country that widely accepts English as its most used language, taking an English proficiency exam is a mandate for your application process. The most popularly accepted language proficiency exams across the globe are the IELTS (International English Language Test System) and the TOEFL (Test Of English Language as a Foreign Language). Both exams assess the candidates’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills but in different formats. Wait! Which one should you take? Which exam is easier to take? Which one will best highlight your strengths? Breathe… We have all the answers you’re searching for!
IELTS vs TOEFL
If you’re looking for a one-liner explanation of how the two exams differ, here we go: if you’re flying to the US for your studies, you should take the TOEFL, otherwise, you should pick the IELTS. Canada and the UK do not acknowledge TOEFL widely as a valid English Language test. Moreover, the Australian immigration department only recognises the lengthier version of TOEFL, the TOEFL iBT.
| FEATURES | IELTS | TOEFL |
| Conducting Body | British Council and IDP Education Ltd. | Educational Testing Services (ETS) |
| Medium | Paper based & Computer based | Computer based |
| Duration | 2.45 hours | 1.56 hours |
| Sections | Reading, writing, listening and speaking | Reading, writing, listening and speaking |
| Score | 1 to 9 | 0 to 20 |
| Average Min. Score | 6.3 | 78 |
| Exam Frequency | 48 times in a year | 50 times a year |
| Result Timeline | Within a week | With |
| Popular Destinations | Popular in Canada, the UK, Australia | Popular in the US |
| Cost | INR 16,25 | INR 16,900 |
IELTS vs TOEFL Format
The key difference in both exams is their format. Where TOEFL requires the candidate to answer MCQs, IELTS has numerous questions like fill-in-the-blanks, short answer questions, and more. Another difference is the duration of the exams; when taking IELTS, a candidate gets 2.45 hours to complete, whereas TOEFL takes 1.56 hours. IELTS demands applicants to showcase their creative thinking abilities and comprehension skills, while
IELTS FORMAT
| SECTION | DURATION | ACTIVITIES |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 |
| Listening | 30 minutes | 4 |
| Total | 2 hours 45 minutes |
TOEFL FORMAT
| SECTION | SCORING | DURATION | QUESTIONS |
| Reading | 0-30 | 35 minutes | 20 |
| Writing | 0-30 | 29 minutes | 2 |
| Listening | 0-30 | 36 minutes | 28 |
| Speaking | 0-30 | 16 minutes | 4 |
| TOTAL | 1 hour 56 minutes |
The Reading Section
The reading section for both exams involves material that candidates will encounter in their courses ahead. TOEFL will offer two reading passages to be completed in 35 minutes. IELTS will include three passages, the answers to which would be in various formats like gap filings, short answers, etc.
The Writing Section
IELTS would require you to complete two writing tasks, which would include explaining a diagram or chart and writing an essay or debate of around 250 words on a given topic. TOEFL requires you to draft a five-paragraph long essay within 350 words, along with framing a response within 250 words from a given piece of text.
The Listening Section
For the listening test in IELTS, students are made to hear an audio and asked short and long questions about the same. While in TOEFL, the listening section comes in a classroom lecture format where one has to take notes and answer MCQs in 36 minutes.
The Speaking Section
The speaking test in IELTS includes a face-to-face interview with the examiner for around 15 minutes. It can be taken before or after the other sections, as per your choice. TOEFL’s speaking test includes recording the candidate through a microphone, which would then be assessed by the examiner and will last around 16 minutes.
IELTS vs TOEFL Score Comparison
While IELTS assesses your grammar, logic, fluency, and coherence, TOEFL assesses your vocabulary range, writing style, and grammar. IELTS is evaluated on a scale of 1-9, with the total score being the average of the individual scores from all four exams. If your total average is 6.25, it will be rounded up to a final score of 6.5. TOEFL is a single test with a maximum score of 120 points.
INTERPRETING IELTS SCORES
| BAND SCORE | SKILL LEVEL |
| Band 9 | Expert user |
| Band 8 | Very Good user |
| Band 7 | Good user |
| Band 6 | Competent user |
| Band 5 | Modest user |
| Band 4 | Limited user |
| Band 3 | Extremely limited user |
| Band 2 | Intermittent use |
| Band 1 | Non-user |
| Band 0 | Didn’t attempt the test |
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which one to choose?
Choosing IELTS or TOEFL depends on several crucial factors including your goals and your proficiency level in the language. Some other key factors are:
- University preference: The first step is to check the requirements of the university you’re applying to, to ensure which proficient test is acceptable.
- Time needed for preparation: One needs around 3-6 weeks of preparation for IELTS, whereas, for TOEFL, around 2-3 months of preparation is suggested. If you’re short on time and your university accepts both tests, go for IELTS!
- Proficiency with computer: IELTS is conducted on paper and computer, while TOEFL is conducted only on computer. Thus, if your typing speed and computer literacy aren’t too great, go for IELTS.