International students from non-native English-speaking countries who want to study at a university in abroad must take an English language proficiency exam. [TOEFL or IELTS]. Both have a high level of credibility and acceptance by institutions that want to evaluate a person's English. They both assess reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities.
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TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, and it is an English language competence test developed by the ETS company in the United States (Education Test Service).
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The International English Language Testing System is abbreviated as IELTS. IDP Australia, The British Council, and Cambridge Examinations own and operate the test.
Although the goal of these tests is the same, they vary in a number of ways. Thus, if you're not sure which to take, read our guide to grasp the differences between IELTS and TOEFL and select the best one for you.
Structure of the IELTS and TOEFL Exams
The table below compares the differences between all portions of both exams:
Section
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TOEFL
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IELTS
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Reading
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- 3 - 5 20-minute reading assignments.
- Academic reading materials are available.
- Multiple-choice questions
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- Three reading options of 20 minutes each.
- The materials are academic in nature.
- There are several types of inquiries (gap fill, matching, etc.)
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Listening
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- The listening choices differs greatly from that of IELTS.
- You will get 40 to 60 minutes to listen to lectures or campus dialogues.
- Make notes and answer multiple-choice questions.
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- A broader range of question kinds, as well as exercises of various durations
- As you go through the test's listening section, you will be asked questions.
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Writing
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- Task one requires you to write a five-paragraph essay of 300 to 350 words.
- In the second activity, you have to take notes from both a reading in a textbook and a lecture on the same subject.
- You will next be required to react using notes by composing a 150-225 word selection that incorporates both the reading and listening selections.
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- The first assignment is a 200-250 word essay.
- The second IELTS writing problem requires you to examine an information graphic, such as a graph or chart, and describe the information offered.
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Speaking
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- You are requested to record 45–60 second computer replies to six different questions based on brief descriptions or conversations.
- The test's speaking component lasts 20 minutes.
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- The IELTS speaking portion lasts 12 to 14 minutes and is administered by an examiner rather than a machine.
- A brief warm-up exercise consists mostly of casual conversation, then a response to some kind of visual stimulation, and finally a more in-depth talk about something related.
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Students can find out their TOEFL score 6–10 days after taking the test. The IELTS test results are available online a week after the test or in paper form 13 days after the test. If you're still perplexed, try reading IELTS vs. TOEFL.