Have you ever wished to study abroad and pursue your dreams? Do you have a destination already, or you’re still uncertain where you want to go? Perhaps you might want to know about TOEFL vs IELTS first.
You might be wondering by now what TOEFL and IELTS are and if they’re the same or not. Of course, the two have similarities and differences. Otherwise, they won’t be our subject for comparison in this blog.
Yes, in this blog, we will be talking about TOEFL vs IELTS. We’ll try to compare the two and see their similarities as well. So, if you wish to know further, take your coffee and scroll down!
TOEFL vs IELTS | The Definition
Studying abroad isn’t as easy as enrolling yourself in your home country. Several documents are needed to apply for a genuine temporary entrant and student visa. On top of this, you need to take TOEFL or IELTS.
TOEFL or IELTS are the two primary English proficiency tests accepted at universities globally. However, choosing between them would depend on what you’ll do in the country. So now, let’s try to define them first before we talk about their differences.
What is TOEFL?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It’s a standardized test accepted in most foreign universities where English is the medium of instruction. Also, it’s an English proficiency exam made by the US-based Education Test Service.
TOEFL tests your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in English. And its focus is on authentic communication in a classroom setting. Thereby, you’ll get materials that vary in level of competencies.
Moreover, a different version of TOEFL uses pen and paper. This kind of exam varies in the scoring mechanism. However, 90% of TOEFL takers go for the iBT or internet-based test.
What is IELTS?
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. Like TOELF, IELTS tests your capacity to read, write, listen, and speak English. However, its base is in the United Kingdom, which means you can use either British or American spellings.
Now there are two main strands in IELTS:
- Academic
- General
The academic strand in IELTS is for those who will study at a college or university. Also, this is for those who will pursue their professional career in fields like engineering and healthcare. On the other hand, the general strand is for high school students or lower level.
TOEFL vs IELTS | The Similarities
TOEFL and IELTS are similar because both are English proficiency tests. Thus, these two will check and measure your skills in the English language. Also, these two are the most popular exams if you want to study and live abroad.
On top of this, TOEFL and IELTS are both credible worldwide. Hence, they have a high degree of recognition in international institutions. Above all, these two test reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
TOEFL vs IELTS | The Difference
While both are similar in their competency areas, their structures differ somehow. We’ll give some points to help you understand the difference between TOEFL and IELTS. Hence, you’ll have an idea of which one is best for you.
Now, these are the things that we’ll include in comparing TOEFL vs IELTS:
- ideal countries for TOEFL and IELTS
- scoring system
- test formats
Which countries are ideal for TOEFL and IELTS?
Countries for TOEFL
TOEFL sets to test one’s communication skills in English. It’ll measure how you can converse in an academic setting such as colleges and universities. Moreover, this exam is more related to the USA and American institutions.
Other countries and universities in the UK and Australia accept this test. However, applicants in the UK take this for university admissions applications but not for student visas. This is due to some frauds that happened years ago.
Countries for IELTS
IELTS mainly helps those who wish to work, study, or immigrate to English-speaking countries. These include the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. Thereby, it’s recognized globally by over 10,000 employers, universities, schools, and immigration bodies.
How do they differ in scoring?
TOEFL Scoring
The overall score for TOEFL falls in the range of 0-120. Each skill – reading, writing, listening, speaking scales from 0 to 30. So, here’s a rubric of TOEFL scoring:
| TOEFL SCORING | ||
| Skill | Score (0-30) | Proficiency Level |
| Reading | 0-3 4-17 18-23 24-30 | Below Low-Intermediate Low-Intermediate High-Intermediate Advanced |
| Listening | 0-8 9-16 17-21 22-30 | Below Low-Intermediate Low-Intermediate High-Intermediate Advanced |
| Writing | 0-6 7-11 13-16 17-23 24-30 | Below Basic Basic Low-Intermediate High-Intermediate Advanced |
| Speaking | 0-9 10-15 16-19 20-24 25-30 | Below Basic Basic Low-Intermediate High-Intermediate Advanced |
IELTS Scoring
Another difference between TOEFL and IETLS is the scoring system. While TOEFL has a scoring range, the basis for IELTS is on band scores. Also, calculating its score is through averaging four sections – reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
In addition, the score for reading and listening is from 0 to 40. However, it’s converted to a band score between 0 and 9. Moreover, the writing and speaking test has a set of criteria assessed by an examiner.
For instance, you get 7 for writing and listening and 8 for reading and writing; your total score is 7.5. You just add the total band scores and divide it by the number of sections. So, here’s how the scores translate to proficiency level:
| IELTS SCORING | |||
| Correct Answers | IELTS Score | CEFR | Proficiency Level |
| 37-40 | 9 | C2 | Expert user |
| 32-36 | 8 | C2/C1 | Very good user |
| 26-30 | 7 | C1 | Good user |
| 18-25 | 6 | B2/C1 | Competent user |
| 16-19 | 5 | B2 | Modest user |
| 13-15 | 4 | B1/B2 | Limited user |
| 10-12 | 3 | B1 | Extremely limited user |
| 8-9 | 2 | A2 | Intermittent user |
| 6-7 | 1 | A1 | Non-user |
| 4-5 | 0 | A0 | Did not attempt the test |
What are the test formats?
The type of test in TOEFL is almost in a multiple-choice format. However, IELTS includes the following:
- short answer
- small essays
- gap-filling
Test format for TOEFL
Taking TOEFL has two different formats. The first is, a Paper-Based Test (TOEFL pBT), second is an Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). However, the most popular is TOEFL iBT.
Test format for IELTS
Like TOEFL, IELTS also is paper-based or computer-based. Choosing among these two depends on you and if the center has both options. Moreover, IETLS has an examiner that will ask you some questions and assess your capabilities.
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