Deciding between the IELTS or TOEFL Exam - Important Differences
Congratulations! You are now ready to take an important internationally recognized exam in order to prove your mastery of the English language. The only problem is that there are a number of exams to choose from! Two of the most important exams are the TOEFL and the IELTS. Use this guide to help you make the decision on which test is best for your needs.
There is a wide choice of English tests available, but often English students are asked to choose between the IELTS or TOEFL exam.
Often it is the students' choice as both exams are accepted as meeting the entry requirements for academic settings. However, in some cases, the IELTS is requested for visa purposes to Canadian or Australian immigration. If this is not the case, you have even more to choose from and may want to review this guide to choosing an Engish test before you decide on the IELTS or TOEFL.
As it is often up to the English test taker to decide which of these two (or three as IELTS has two versions) exams, here is a guide to making the decision. To begin with, here are some points to take into consideration before you decide whether to take the IELTS or the TOEFL exam. Take note of your answers:
Do you need the IELTS or the TOEFL for academic English?
Are you more comfortable with North American or British / UK accents?
Do you feel more comfortable with a wide range of North American vocabulary and idiomatic expressions or British English vocabulary and idiomatic expressions?
Can you type relatively fast?
Do you want to finish the test as quickly as possible?
Do you feel comfortable with a wide range of question types?
Are you proficient at taking notes?
These questions are very important because the IELTS exam is maintained by the University of Cambridge, whereas the TOEFL exam is provided by ETS, a US company based in New Jersey.
Both tests are also different in how the test is administered. Here are considerations for each question when deciding between the IELTS or the TOEFL.
Do you need the IELTS or the TOEFL for academic English?
If you need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, then keep answering these questions. If you don't need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, for example for immigration, take the general version of the IELTS. It is much easier than either the IELTS academic version or the TOEFL!
Are you more comfortable with North American or British / UK accents?
If you have more experience with British English (or Australian English), take the IELTS as vocabulary and accents tend more towards British English. If you watch a lot of Hollywood movies and like US idiomatic language, choose the TOEFL as it reflects American English.
Do you feel more comfortable with a wide range of North American vocabulary and idiomatic expressions or British English vocabulary and idiomatic expressions?
Same answer as above! IELTS for British English TOEFL for American English.
Can you type relatively fast?
As you will read below in the section on key differences between the IELTS or TOEFL, the TOEFL requires that you type your essays in the written section of the test.
If you type very slowly, I would strongly recommend taking the IELTS as you handwrite your essay responses.
Do you want to finish the test as quickly as possible?
If you become extremely nervous during a test and want the experience to end as quickly as posable, the choice between IELTS or TOEFL is easier. The TOEFL lasts approximately four hours, whereas the IELTS is significantly shorter - about 2 hours 45 minutes. Remember, however, that shorter does not necessarily mean easier!
Do you feel comfortable with a wide range of question types?
The TOEFL exam is made up of almost entirely multiple choice questions. The IELTS, on the other hand, has a much wider range of question types including multiple choice, gap fill, matching exercises, etc. If you do NOT feel comfortable with multiple choice questions, the TOEFL is not the test for you.
There is a wide choice of English tests available, but often English students are asked to choose between the IELTS or TOEFL exam.
Often it is the students' choice as both exams are accepted as meeting the entry requirements for academic settings. However, in some cases, the IELTS is requested for visa purposes to Canadian or Australian immigration. If this is not the case, you have even more to choose from and may want to review this guide to choosing an Engish test before you decide on the IELTS or TOEFL.
As it is often up to the English test taker to decide which of these two (or three as IELTS has two versions) exams, here is a guide to making the decision. To begin with, here are some points to take into consideration before you decide whether to take the IELTS or the TOEFL exam. Take note of your answers:
Do you need the IELTS or the TOEFL for academic English?
Are you more comfortable with North American or British / UK accents?
Do you feel more comfortable with a wide range of North American vocabulary and idiomatic expressions or British English vocabulary and idiomatic expressions?
Can you type relatively fast?
Do you want to finish the test as quickly as possible?
Do you feel comfortable with a wide range of question types?
Are you proficient at taking notes?
These questions are very important because the IELTS exam is maintained by the University of Cambridge, whereas the TOEFL exam is provided by ETS, a US company based in New Jersey.
Both tests are also different in how the test is administered. Here are considerations for each question when deciding between the IELTS or the TOEFL.
Do you need the IELTS or the TOEFL for academic English?
If you need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, then keep answering these questions. If you don't need the IELTS or TOEFL for academic English, for example for immigration, take the general version of the IELTS. It is much easier than either the IELTS academic version or the TOEFL!
Are you more comfortable with North American or British / UK accents?
If you have more experience with British English (or Australian English), take the IELTS as vocabulary and accents tend more towards British English. If you watch a lot of Hollywood movies and like US idiomatic language, choose the TOEFL as it reflects American English.
Do you feel more comfortable with a wide range of North American vocabulary and idiomatic expressions or British English vocabulary and idiomatic expressions?
Same answer as above! IELTS for British English TOEFL for American English.
Can you type relatively fast?
As you will read below in the section on key differences between the IELTS or TOEFL, the TOEFL requires that you type your essays in the written section of the test.
If you type very slowly, I would strongly recommend taking the IELTS as you handwrite your essay responses.
Do you want to finish the test as quickly as possible?
If you become extremely nervous during a test and want the experience to end as quickly as posable, the choice between IELTS or TOEFL is easier. The TOEFL lasts approximately four hours, whereas the IELTS is significantly shorter - about 2 hours 45 minutes. Remember, however, that shorter does not necessarily mean easier!
Do you feel comfortable with a wide range of question types?
The TOEFL exam is made up of almost entirely multiple choice questions. The IELTS, on the other hand, has a much wider range of question types including multiple choice, gap fill, matching exercises, etc. If you do NOT feel comfortable with multiple choice questions, the TOEFL is not the test for you.
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