IELTS vs TOEFL

Widely accepted assessments of English competence, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are mostly utilized for professional, immigration, and university admissions purposes. Nonetheless, the two tests differ significantly in terms of format, scoring, substance, and structure. To help you comprehend the differences and decide which test could be better for you, we’ve included a thorough comparison of the IELTS and TOEFL below.

Test Format & Structure:

• IELTS:
  • Types of IELTS: There are two versions of the IELTS exam: Academic and General Training.
    • Academic IELTS is for those applying to universities or institutions in English-speaking countries.
    • General Training IELTS is for those migrating to English-speaking countries for work or training, or for secondary school education.
  • Sections: IELTS has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
    • The Speaking section is conducted face-to-face with an examiner, making it more interactive and personal.
    • The Reading and Writing sections are different between the Academic and General Training versions.
  • Scoring: IELTS uses a band score system from 0 to 9. Each section is scored separately, and the overall score is an average of the individual scores.
  • Type of TOEFL: The TOEFL is mainly administered as an Internet-based test, or iBT. Although it is far less popular, the PBT (Paper-based Test) is accessible in some places.
    Sections: Reading, Speaking, Listening, and Writing are the four sections of the TOEFL.
    Instead of speaking with an examiner in person, the Speaking component requires responding to prompt-based questions and recording answers on a computer.
    University-level subjects serve as the basis for the academic information found in the Reading and Listening portions.
    Score: The TOEFL has a score range of 0 to 120. Every section has a score between 0 and 30, and the aggregate of all the sections’ scores is the final score.

  • 2. Content and Focus of the Test:
    IELTS:

    Compared to the TOEFL, the curriculum is more broad and varied, covering both academic and ordinary language topics.
    Speaking: Because it entails a one-on-one discussion with an examiner, the speaking test is more participatory and may feel more natural to some test-takers.
    Reading: While the General Training reading concentrates more on common language and circumstances, the IELTS Academic reading passages may come from books, journals, and newspapers.
    Writing: IELTS writing assignments are more subjective and detailed. In the Academic edition, you must evaluate data for Task 1, compose an essay for Task 2, and write a letter for Task 1 in the General Training version.

  • TOEFL:

    The readings and listening portions on the TOEFL exam are typically taken from university-level textbooks or lectures, making it more intellectual in nature.
    Speaking: Test-takers have a certain amount of time to react to suggestions in the computer-based speaking component. Compared to the IELTS speaking interview, the speaking test may feel less intimate and more official.
    Reading: The readings are quite scholarly and concentrate on difficult topics that are usually studied at the university level.
    Writing: TOEFL’s writing tasks focus on integrated writing, where candidates must synthesize information from both listening and reading sources to complete their essays.

  • Duration of the Exam:

    • IELTS:
      • The total test time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.
      • The speaking test is usually taken on a separate day or in a different location and lasts for around 11–14 minutes.
      • TOEFL:
        • The TOEFL iBT takes about 3 hours to complete, including all four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing.
        • There are scheduled breaks in between sections.

        • IELTS is the scoring system.

          The band score system used by the IELTS ranges from 0 to 9.
          The total score is the average of the scores assigned to the Reading, Speaking, Writing, and Listening sections.
          While some universities have greater criteria, most demand a score of 6.5 to 7.0 for admission.

        • TOEFL:

          Each of the four TOEFL sections—reading, speaking, listening, and writing—receives a score ranging from 0 to 30 out of a possible 120.
          Although it may differ according on the university, a TOEFL score of 80 to 100 is normally required for admission.
          5. Examine accessibility and availability:
          IELTS:

          IELTS is available in more than 140 nations and has a larger network of testing locations, particularly in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Europe.
          Because the test is offered multiple times per month, test-takers have greater scheduling flexibility.

        • TOEFL:

          Additionally, the TOEFL is widely accessible, particularly in the US and other nations where academic institutions demand fluency in English.
          Although the test is offered on certain occasions all year round, in some places it might not be as common as IELTS. What Should You Pick?
          Select IELTS if:

          You would rather take a speaking exam in person.
          You are applying to colleges and universities in nations that frequently use the IELTS, such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and others.
          An exam that covers a wider range of topics and has both intellectual and practical components makes you feel more at ease.

      • Select the TOEFL if

        Because the TOEFL is more widely accepted in North American universities, especially in the United States, you are applying there.
        You are at ease with recorded speech responses and would rather take the test on a computer.
        Since the TOEFL typically contains more difficult and complicated academic topics, you should concentrate on academic English, especially in listening and reading.
        In conclusion, the TOEFL and IELTS are both great instruments for assessing English ability; but, which one is best for you will depend on a number of variables, including your study location, your comfort level with exam formats, and the abilities you want to concentrate on. IELTS can be a better option if you want a more involved speaking exam and require one that is accepted throughout the world. But The TOEFL may be the ideal option if you want to pursue academic courses in North America and would rather take a more standardized, computer-based test. In either case, getting a good mark on either test will need much preparation.