TOEFL VS IELTS 2022

First things First

What are these tests? In a layman term, it is the English language proficiency test to assess non-native English speakers. Both tests assess the same skill sets but in their own questioning type. 

So, let’s get down to the basics. To begin with, what these abbreviations mean. 

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language. 

IELTS – International English Language Testing System. 

Who owns these names: 

TOEFL is owned and administered by ETS – Education Testing System, USA.

IELTS is owned and administered by IDP – International Development Program, Australia. 

What is the purpose: 

 There are lot of English language assessments But why these tests. Many countries like India, China, Korea, African Countries, Middle east are not native English-speaking countries. Though people move to the English-speaking countries for their education or employment or for Immigration purposes. These could be thousands or lakhs of applications in a year. 

To screen the applications, the VISA office needs a holistic and comprehensive testing tool to put the applicants from different parts of the world in a single standard. To get their visas processed, the applicants also need to prove their proficiency in English language. 

So, the tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE become standardized tests wholly accepted worldwide for their robust assessment model and created unbiased testing tool. 

Now, we know little more than about the tests and their purposes. Let’s dive into the commonalities and differences they have with each other. 

Common features: 

1)    Test Modules: Both IELTS and TOEFL assesses the same four skill sets such as Listening, Writing, Speaking and Reading in the test taker.

2)    Purpose: Both these tests are taken for similar purposes such as Education, Employment, and Immigration in English-speaking countries. 

3)    Acceptance: These tests are accepted worldwide by more than 8500 educational institutions, Immigration offices, Visa Offices of several countries. 

4)    Test Dates: In a year, both IELTS and TOEFL are conducted on multiple dates. 

5)    Validity: The validity for these tests are 2 years. 

6)    Speaking test: In both tests, speaking is conducted on a separate date with Listening, Reading, and writing tests on a same date. 

7)    Test Mode: You can take both tests in one of the three formats such as 

a.    Computer Based test in a test Centre

b.    Paper Based test in a test Centre

c.     Computer Based test at Home 

8)    Score Reporting: At the end of both tests, the test taker has the choice of sending the scores to any 4 universities of their choice. 

Differences:

1)    Duration: IELTS test is taken for 2 hours and 45 minutes whereas TOEFL is taken for 3 hours.

2)    Speaking test: IELTS speaking can be scheduled within 6 days before or after the actual test date. For TOEFL it is 3 days window. 

3)    Scoring: TOEFL is scored between 0 – 120 with 0-30 for each module. IELTS is scored between 0 – 9 with each module scored between 0 – 9. 

4)    Fees: TOEFL fees is Rs.14240 in India where as IELTS costs Rs.15500/- If cost is one of your key-deciding factors, this can be considered well. 

5)    IELTS offers different variants of the test for different purposes, such as IELTS General for employment/work visa, IELTS Academic for education, UKVI IELTS for immigration/employment. While TOEFL offers single variant for all the purposes.

What’s new in TOEFL: 

Since 2019, ETS has introduces lot of changes in their TOEFL tests. TOEFL has re-defined its testing systems. 

1)    Mode of Tests: Now the test takers can take TOEFL in one of the 3 modes: Online iBT, Paper Based test and Home Edition. 

2)    Duration: TOEFL test duration is reduced to 3 hours which was 3.45 hrs earlier. 

3)    Also, ETS has introduced a fabulous and interesting feature in TOEFL known as “My Best Score” . This feature enables the test taker to showcase the best scores in each module in all the tests that they have taken in the last 2 years. 

4)    ETS has also localised the test registration process through their authorised consultant to support the test takers in every city. 

To get the best training on both these tests, log on to www.galaxytraining.in 

All the best,

Team - Galaxy Academy,