IELTS vs. TOEFL: What’s the Difference?
If you’d like to go to school in Canada but aren’t from an English-speaking country, you’ll need to take an English test for proficiency in English. The two most sought-after tests worldwide include IELTS as well as TOEFL. What is the distinction between IELTS and TOEFL?
IELTS
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests your ability to write, read, listen and communicate in English. While IELTS is located within the United Kingdom, you can make use of either British as well as American spellings. There are two significant aspects of IELTS:
- Academic
- This strand is designed for those taking classes at the university or college level in a country with an English-speaking population or seeking a career job in health and engineering.
- General
- This is mainly for students who are in high school or less, as well for those who want to work in an English-speaking country.
If you’re unsure of the best option for you, The best option is Academic. The Academic track is more beneficial for those coming to Canada for post-secondary training. It has more graphs, diagrams, and illustrations compared to those on the General test. However, it is still focused on the real-world skills of communication.
Reading, listening, and writing are completed on the same day in the same exam, conducted without interruptions. Speaking can be taken up to a week before or following the rest of your exam. It comprises an 11-14 minute recorded interview with an examiner. You’ll engage in a dialogue. The entire test can be completed in less than 3 hours.
IELTS utilizes bands that range from 1 to 9, with scores for each of the four sections that are averaged to give you a final score. The overall score will be adjusted to be within the closest half-band.
TOEFL iBT
This Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) will test your writing, reading, listening, and speaking abilities in English, focusing on authentic communication within a classroom environment. The test will cover high-level content as when you’re at a college. The TOEFL test can be described as an American test but, as with IELTS, allows the use of both British or American spellings.
The TOEFL test is comprised of four sections which are weighted equally and are entirely computer-based. It will require listening and reading, followed by writing and speaking, which means you’ll need to combine your skills to succeed. The entire test should take approximately four hours, with a brief interruption.
Be aware that alternative versions of TOEFL are written on paper, with different scoring mechanisms. However, more than 90% of those taking the TOEFL write the iBT, so we’ll focus on that.
TOEFL iBT is only one score, which ranges between 0 and 120 points. The four areas -writing, reading, and listening- are valued at 30 points, and you’ll receive the score for each section along with your overall score.
What are the Differences?
Primarily similar and having four core areas of proficiency, The structures of the tests vary significantly. The TOEFL tests are mostly multi-choice, whereas IELTS tests offer a variety of questions, including small essays, short answers, and gap-filling exercises to help you complete the missing words.
IELTS test for speaking is conducted in person with the examiner, which is nerve-wracking. Additionally, being computer-based, you don’t need to talk to a human. Writing tasks are the same, but TOEFL will require you to use a keyboard, whereas IELTS is written by hand. For length, the IELTS as compared to. The IELTS essay is slightly shorter at 250 words in TOEFL exams, compared to TOEFL’s 300.
In the listening section, TOEFL will have you take notes in a lecture from university classes or snippets from on-campus conversations. You’ll then utilize your notes to answer multiple-choice questions. For IELTS, students listen to audio recordings and then answer questions in the course of their study across a range of familiar but different questions.
Which to Choose?
To begin, you must decide on the test(s) the institution that you’re interested in accepting. If you’re not restricted, think about which test suits you the best for you, TOEFL or IELTS.
The TOEFL test is more extensive but entirely computer-based; therefore, it might be a good choice if you’re anxious about your handwriting or your English speaking with an English-speaking native. IELTS is a smaller and possibly more challenging test, offering a more excellent range of tasks and questions, including speaking directly to an examiner.
The TOEFL test can cost anywhere between $200 and $325 in CAD, whereas IELTS could be more costly with a price of $260-CAD 390. If you’re working on a budget, this could be an issue.
It is important to note that the IELTS and TOEFL tests are standard for Canada. Each test is recognized by a variety of institutions around the world and has test dates all through the year. You can choose if the institution you’re interested in takes either test. Once you’ve chosen what you’d like to learn, it’s time -but that’s a topic for another day! Ultimately, the test that is best for you depends on your preferences.
