TOEFL or IELTS - what to choose

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Ekaterina Zubkova is an online foreign language teacher, blogger, writes on her website about learning and teaching English, Italian and Spanish. In a Lifehacker guest article, she explains how to choose the TOEFL or IELTS test that best suits your goals, ability and application.

You can argue for a long time about the subjective side of the choice of the test. Only when the question of submitting documents arises, you should forget about it for a while and choose the appropriate exam.

Many people prefer IELTS or TOEFL because the result is ready within two to three weeks. You just need to register at authorized centers and wait. Both tests have official websites - www.ielts.org and www.ets.org/toefl. On them you can find the nearest center, see the evaluation criteria and download demo versions.

The TOEFL and IELTS formats are not fundamentally different from each other. The structure is the same: reading, writing, speaking, listening. The difference is in the scope of the language, goals and grading system.

Objectives and duration

IELTS AM and TOEFL iBT are suitable for study abroad and in some Russian universities where instruction is in English. The IELTS academic module is also needed for some professions. General IELTS module - for work and emigration.

Both tests are valid for two years, and then you need to retake. IELTS is required in the UK, Australia and Canada, TOEFL is required in the USA. Both certificates are recognized in other European countries. Just in case, it is advisable to check with the university itself. Many institutes fight for students, show miracles of flexibility and can accept both documents.

You shouldn't choose TOEFL or IELTS just because they target different varieties of English. It manifests itself only in spelling and pronunciation. Nobody simplified the grammar there, nor did the vocabulary.

The essential difference is that TOEFL is taken over the Internet. This means that you still need to get used to the glare of the monitor and be very good at the keyboard - the timer ruthlessly counts down the time. IELTS is conducted on paper.

It is also worth remembering that IELTS is clearly divided into parts: listening, reading, writing and interviewing with the examiner. In TOEFL, reading, writing and speaking are mixed, which is closer to the real situation. If you have a year or two left, it doesn't hurt to develop integrated skills to study. In addition, you need to get used to talking with a computer, and not with a person.

Age and scope

It is better to pass exams from the age of 16. The material in IELTS AM and TOEFL is quite difficult. Topics of academic English were added to the tests: biology, geography, archeology, history and other sciences. It is very difficult to prepare for them, because such subjects in Russian can cause great difficulties.

IELTS GT comes without academic inserts, general, everyday English. In any case, it is difficult for a teenager to write an essay on an abstract topic and a complaint letter in another language. The general module is more suitable for adults.

Therefore, when preparing for these exams, one should not rush if possible.

Evaluation

In IELTS there are already legendary Bands 1-9 for each part: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. The average score is calculated based on the results of all four. The certificate contains both options. It is very good that you can roughly calculate the result according to the IELTS Guide for Teachers. It contains a description of the requirements for writing and speaking, you can find out the number of correct answers for listening and reading.

The TOEFL has Scores in all four parts (from 1 to 30) and an overall Score of 1–120 points. A detailed description is available on the website.

ETS, which created TOEFL, has published the approximate ratio of its test scores, IELTS scores, and CEFR levels. The table below is based on this data.

TOEFL Score	IELTS Band	CEFR Level
0–31	0–4
32–34	4, 5
35–45	5	B1 (intermediate)
46–59	5, 5
60–78	6	B2 (upper-intermediate)
79–93	6, 5
94–101	7
102–109	7, 5	C1 (advanced)
110–114	8
115–117	8, 5
118–120	9

»

So what should you choose?

Don't get tired of the computer, you can type quickly - TOEFL.

Have a positive attitude to the fact that you have to combine skills - TOEFL.

Don't want to strain so much, love paper, pens and pencils - IELTS.

Want to talk to a computer - TOEFL.

Would you like to talk to the examiner and sign up for a tape recorder - IELTS.

Want to see a description of the result for each part of the test - TOEFL.

It's scary to look at the description of the result, you only need scores - IELTS.

Your level is below Intermediate / B1, you need a low score - IELTS. Intermediate TOEFL materials are extremely rare. Do not torment the teacher and do not torment yourself.

Study in the USA - TOEFL.

Study in the UK, Canada or Australia - IELTS Academic.

Study in Western Europe - TOEFL or IELTS.

Going to work and live in the UK, Canada or Australia - IELTS General Training or Academic. You need to take into account the requirements for the level of language in your profession.

Whichever test you choose, just being fluent in the language is not enough. You need to get used to what exactly you have to accomplish in this or that task. So make your choice, prepare yourself, and devote enough time to it so that you will feel satisfied when calculating the points.