Choosing between IELTS vs TOEFL: A serious crossroad

Your IELTS or TOEFL scores are one of the most important prerequisites of your university applications. So the question of the hour is: IELTS vs TOEFL- Which entrance exam should you attempt?

Although each of these tests- IELTS and TOEFL, demonstrate your level of knowledge regarding the English language, they both do so in different ways. Most universities give value to one or the other depending of the subject you would like to study and the country you choose. So before you decide which exam to choose between IELTS vs TOEFL, there are a few important aspects that you should consider. Read along to find out more details about each test and which one is the most fitting for you to take!

IELTS: Diverse, in paper and in person

The International English Language Test System (IELTS) helps several purposes, such as occupational, educational and immigration matters. It is accepted by all the universities in Australia and the United Kingdom, more than 3,400 institutions in the United States. Not only that but the IELTS exam scores are accepted by 10,000 institutions in more than 140 countries around the world.  In any of its 2 versions, you will see different forms of questions, even short essays to write down. This test can be done is less than 3 hours and is entirely done on paper.

The speaking part is taken in person with only one examiner in front of you, who will be in charge of evaluating you. This part may take place on a different date than the rest of the test, and it displays a variety of accents in the English language. The listening part implies answering questions of diverse lengths whilst you simultaneously listen to some recordings of lectures or carefully planned conversations for that purpose.

The IELTS is graded from 1-9 and the overall score is taken from the result of the four-part written test. This test gives a lot of consideration given to Grammar and is arguably the most important test.

The TOEFL: Specific, analytical and American.

The Test Of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL as it is commonly called is an examination process managed by the Education Testing Service located in the US.  It is conducted in American English, and most American institutions prefer it as an English evaluation system.

This test as whole has multiple-choice items to be answered, so applicants have to be very analytical of each choice in order to pick the right one for each question. It focuses on evaluating your skills when communicating in English in detailed settings like academic, classroom-located and university environments. 8500 institutions worldwide (including some in Australia, the UK and 128 more countries) accept it as a valid proof of your ability.

The TOEFL is attempted by typing all the answers in a computer. During the speaking part, six reviewers are in charge of checking your recorded answers. This takes 20 minutes and it’s performed the same day as the rest of the evaluation.

In the writing part, you are expected to write a 350-word essay containing five paragraphs for the first task. For the second one (lasting 20 minutes), you’ll be asked to create a 225-word response to the excerpt of a lecture from which you previously took notes while listening to it. This is also applicable in the 40-60-minute long listening part of the test. Comprehension is what the TOEFL evaluates most stringently, with a scoring system from 1-120.

iSchoolConnect connects you to the right school… Anywhere!

All these parameters and information mentioned above should help you decide upon which entrance exam to choose between IELTS vs TOEFL. Once you’ve decided, all you have to do is find the perfect universities based on your scores, apply to all of them, and voila, you’re ready to fulfill your study abroad dreams! But finding the university that’s a perfect fit for your budget and scores isn’t as easy as it sounds. iSchoolConnect helps you browse thousands of schools across the globe! Now that you know what IELTS vs TOEFL is all about, you will be aware of what to expect when your desired school request any of them from you!

Akanksha Vora

Bright, bold, and bubbly, Akanksha Vora is a writer at iSchoolConnect. She writes creative and curious blogs that help students with their life and studies abroad.