A standardised test that evaluates a test-command taker’s of the English language is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The main way that institutions use TOEFL results is in the admissions procedure.
People who take the TOEFL typically desire to go to college or graduate education abroad. But anyone who needs to take the TOEFL to prove they are proficient in English for academic purposes can. Anyone requesting a student visa, exchange programme, community college, or admission to a foreign high school falls under this category.
Schools and universities use TOEFL scores for admissions purposes because they are focused on how English is used in an academic environment. Instead of informal language and terminology, the TOEFL reading passages employ formal, academic language.
The International English Language Testing System is known as IELTS. People who are attempting to work or study in an English-speaking nation must take the IELTS exam, which gauges their level of English proficiency.
The TOEFL exam, another popular test of English comprehension, and the IELTS test are comparable. Your proficiency is evaluated by the IELTS in four key areas:
Reading \ Writing \ Speaking \ Listening
Difference between TOEFL and IELTS
Standardized tests like the TOEFL and IELTS are used to gauge how well English is spoken by non-native speakers. The two exams do have some significant variations, though:
- Format: The TOEFL and IELTS have different question kinds and forms. Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing are the four portions of the TOEFL, whereas there are four sections in the IELTS (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking).
- Timing: It is also variable for the TOEFL and IELTS tests. In comparison to the IELTS, which lasts for two hours and 45 minutes, the TOEFL takes four hours to complete.
- Scoring: Different scoring systems are used for the TOEFL and IELTS exams. There are four sections of the TOEFL, and scores range from 0-120. (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing). For the IELTS, four section scores—Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking—as well as an overall band score are assigned on a range of 1 to 9.
- Content: The TOEFL and IELTS have somewhat different content, as well. In contrast to the IELTS, which covers a larger spectrum of ordinary language, the TOEFL places more of an emphasis on academic English.
The format, schedule, scoring, and content of the TOEFL and IELTS are all very different, despite the fact that they are comparable in certain respects. When selecting which test to take, it’s critical to be aware of these variations.
Interesting Facts about TOEFL and IELTS
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language is known as TOEFL. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) first established it in 1964 as a tool to assess the English language competency of non-native speakers.
- The International English Language Testing System is known as IELTS. The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment collaborated to launch it in 1989.
- In English-speaking countries, colleges and universities generally accept both the TOEFL and the IELTS. Many universities use one of these exams as part of their admissions requirements for international students.
- There are other options besides TOEFL and IELTS for evaluating English language skills. Other exams, such the PTE Academic and the Cambridge English exams, are also available; certain schools will accept them.
- Colleges take into account a variety of factors when deciding who gets admitted, in addition to TOEFL and IELTS scores. A student’s grades, extracurricular activities, and essays are just a few of the other considerations that many colleges take into account.
In general, TOEFL and IELTS are crucial exams for international applicants to schools and institutions in English-speaking nations. Students should not place an excessive amount of focus on their test results because they are not the only determining factor in admissions.
