IELTS or TOEFL- Which one is better For USA?
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It is a requirement for international students from non-English-speaking nations who wish to enrol in institutions overseas to submit their exam results. The two most popular and generally acknowledged exams are IELTS and TOEFL. Both of these tests have the same goal, yet they are different in a number of ways.
What is IELTS?
IELTS is a standardized test that measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work in an English-speaking environment. An examination that gauges a candidate's competency in the English language is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS test is split into four sections, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Each section has its own time limits and requires different types of tasks to be completed.
The Speaking part of the test is designed to assess how well you can communicate in English. The examiner will ask you questions about yourself and your background, as well as general questions about the world around you.
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What is TOEFL?
TOEFL is an acronym for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a standardized test that assesses the English language skills of non-native speakers. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from your test date, but you can retake the test as often as you like. The TOEFL test is designed to assess proficiency in the four basic skills: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The test consists primarily of multiple-choice questions with four choices (the exception being listening comprehension).
Comparison between IELTS and TOEFL
Scope of acceptance - When compared to the TOEFL, IELTS has a larger reach. For those looking to immigrate to an English-speaking country or study abroad, it serves as a test of English competence. The only usage of TOEFL is for academic objectives. Students who want to enrol in universities with an English-speaking student body take it.
Popularity - The popularity of IELTS is higher because it does not take into account the students alone. TOEFL is primarily taken by students.
Scoring System - IELTS scores are assigned a band rating from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest). The IELTS exam uses a scale from 0 to 9 to determine overall and sectional scores. Unlike the TOEFL, which is graded out of 120 points. Each part receives a mark between 0 and 30.
Time Duration of Exam - The IELTS exam lasts for two hours and forty-five minutes. The time allotted is three hours for the Internet-based TOEFL exam and the two-and-a-half-hour paper version of the test.
IELTS vs. TOEFL, What is a respectable academic score?
For entrance to several overseas colleges, a strong GPA is necessary. Now, the issue of what constitutes "good" comes up. Indeed, it varies from nation to nation and from university to university. In the USA, the majority of the prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford admitted applicants with a minimum score of 7. It is possible to raise it to 7.5 for MIT and even to 8.5 for Columbia. However, if a student receives a 7, the majority of colleges will accept.
TOEFL more accepted in the USA
Depending on the university a student plans to enrol in, TOEFL and IELTS are each regarded differently. However, because more colleges favour the TOEFL than the IELTS, the former is more likely to be accepted. IELTS is only widely used and regarded as essential for admission to graduate school in the United Kingdom and Australia. Because they are picky, American institutions only accept TOEFL results. Before taking the test, it is advised that students review the university's requirements.
More than 11,000 colleges across 150 nations, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Germany, recognise TOEFL results. You can use a microphone to take the TOEFL speaking component of the test as it is entirely computer-based. Scores between 80 and 90 are regarded as satisfactory, and even higher numbers will look excellent on your application.
The TOEFL iBT Home Edition, which employs a live proctor, was introduced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The reading, hearing, speaking, and writing portions of the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition each consist of four timed sections.
A total score of 120 is available on the TOEFL, with a scoring range of 0 to 30 for each part. Depending on whether the TOEFL exam was taken, results are made public as soon as six business days following the test date.The test fee also covers the cost of up to four score reports, which can be submitted for free. Up to the night before the test, score report recipients can be added using the test taker's ETS account. The cost of an extra report is $20, and results are valid for two years.
How to prepare for TOEFL?
Even the fluent English speakers should take a practise exam because the test is so complicated. Test takers can get a feel for the exam's topics, structure, and regulations by taking practise exams. On its website, ETS, for instance, provides both free and paid TOEFL preparation tools. Students can enrol in, pay for, and complete a variety of courses to assist them learn the skills necessary to demonstrate their best language talents during the test.
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Q: Â Which is better among TOEFL and IELTS?
The "better" test depends on your specific needs and goals. Both TOEFL and IELTS are widely accepted English proficiency tests, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
The TOEFL exam is widely accepted in all the universities present in major study-abroad destinations such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The mode of the TOEFL exam is computer-based and it focuses more on the academic English. The exam takes 2 hours to complete in which it assesses all four skills of the test taker namely - speaking, listening, reading and writing.
On the other hand, the IELTS exam covers modeules from both academic English and general training English. However, the IELTS exam format differ entirely from that of the TOEFL exam. The IELTS exam takes a total of 3 hours to get completed in two different sittings. Students have to take the speaking section (11-14 minutes, with a real examiner) of the test up to 7 days either before or after taking the main IELTS exam in which the reading, listening and writing skills are assessed in the time frame of 2 hours and 44 minutes.
The other main points of difference between the IELTS and TOEFL exams are given below. Students can choose the exam that suits them the best based on the following and above-mentioned information.
| IELTS Vs TOEFL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | TOEFL | IELTS |
| Format | Computer-based | Computer-based or paper-based |
| Focus | Academic English | Academic or general English |
| Speaking | Computer-based | Face-to-face with an examiner |
| Scoring | 0-120 | 0-9 |
Q: Â What is TOEFL iBT Exam vs TOEFL Home Edition Test?
As the name suggests, the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) is the online version of the TOEFL test for candidates looking to appear for their exams. It is the preferred medium of TOEFL due to its ease of convenience and uses fewer resources. TOEFL iBT test centres have been authorised across the country in major cities to hold these TOEFL exams.
In response to COVID-19, ETS has launched the TOEFL Home Edition for locations where the computer-based format of the TOEFL iBT test was earlier available for the convenience of students who are required to take the English test as part of their application process for studying abroad. However, candidates need to make sure that they meet the system equipment requirements set by ETS before registering for the TOEFL exam.
Q: Â Which one is better - TOEFL Test on Paper vs TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT)?
ETS has relaunched the TOEFL iBT Test on Paper in select countries. The TOEFL iBT Test on Paper is going to test the candidate's same 4 skills but will be delivered on paper and given in two testing sessions. The TOEFL Reading, Listening, and Writing sections would be taken on paper at a test centre. The TOEFL Speaking section will have to be taken at home on the computer and monitored online by a human proctor, within three days after the paper sections. The TOEFL exam on paper is available in select countries including India. Since the Speaking section is being administered at home, test takers would be required to have the necessary environment and equipment requirements before registering for the ETS TOEFL test.
Once available in areas that had poor or limited access to the Internet, the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) evaluates the Listening, Reading, and Writing skills of the candidates. The TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) has only three sections, Listening, Reading, and Writing and does not have a speaking section due to the unavailability of equipment. However, the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) is no longer continued. Candidates should not confuse the TOEFL paper-based test (PBT) with the TOEFL Test on Paper. The TOEFL Paper Delivered test is the offline version of the TOEFL iBT Test. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based) Test is no longer offered. However, TOEFL PBT scores will remain valid for two years after your test date
Q: Â Which Centre is best for IELTS exam?
Currently, IDP has multiple IELTS test centes spread across 75 cities in India providing a seamless IELTS testing experience to candidates. The best IELTS center would be the one that is the nearest to the candidate and have his/her preferred date for the IELTS test. IELTS test centers are present in:
| Ahmedabad | Amritsar | IELTS Exam Centres in Bangalore |
| Bhatinda | Bhopal | Bhubaneswar |
| Calicut | Chandigarh | IELTS Test Centers and Exam Dates in Chennai |
| Coimbatore | Delhi | IELTS Exam Centers in Hyderabad |
| Jaipur | Jalandhar | Kochi |
| Kolkata | Kottayam | Lucknow |
| Ludhiana | Madurai | IELTS Test Center in Mumbai |
| Navi Mumbai | Patiala | Pune |
| Raipur | Rajkot | Surat |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Thrissur | Trichy |
| Vijayawada | n/a | n/a |
Q: Â What are the Similarities between the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition of the test
The similarities between the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition of the test are provided below:
TOEFL iBT® | Feature / Description | TOEFL iBT® Home Edition |
|---|---|---|
Yes | MyBest® scores: Showcase your best section scores from a given test (e.g., all scores from a TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition test; or all scores from a TOEFL Essentials test) in 2 years | Yes |
Yes | Instant Reading and Listening scores: View unofficial Reading and Listening section scores to gauge your performance immediately after the test | Yes |
Yes | Fast official scores: Receive official score reports as soon as 6 days after testing | Yes |
No | At-home testing options: Test from the comfort and safety of home | Yes |
Yes | Complete in 1 test session: Complete the entire test in one sitting — no need to schedule separate appointments for certain sections | Yes |
With extensive experience in the study abroad sector, Shikha Kumari has a keen knowledge and interest in this field. She has been associated with the education domain for a long time. Shikha holds a master's degree ... Read Full Bio
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