IELTS vs TOEFL: Which One Should You Choose in 2024?

IELTS vs TOEFL: Scores of English proficiency tests are an essential part of university applications and admissions to English-speaking countries. All non-native speakers of the English language have to take these exams to complete their applications. Out of all, the popular ones are IELTS and TOEFL.

Both of them assess the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of the candidates but in different formats. Are you confused about which exam should you opt IELTS or TOEFL? If yes, then here is an insightful blog on IELTS vs TOEFL which provides you with a comparative analysis of both exams.

IELTS vs TOEFL: Overview

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an esteemed language proficiency test that is taken by candidates either willing to attain overseas education or for occupational purposes. It is accepted across 140 countries. IELTS has two variants, IELTS General Training (for working professional/ immigration purposes) and IELTS Academic (for education purposes).

On the contrary, TOEFL is an acronym used for the Test of English Language as a Foreign Language which is a famous language proficiency test also frequently opted by students aspiring to study abroad. The exam emphasises testing the abilities of applicants to communicate in classroom-based English and hence is accepted in around 130 countries.

Details	IELTS	TOEFL
Conducting Body	British Council and IDP Education Ltd.	Educational Testing Services
Medium	Online and Offline	Online and Offline (Note: TOEFL Offline has been discontinued)
Variants	IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training IELTS Indicator	TOEFL iBT
Duration	2 hours 45 minutes	1 hour 56 minutes (latest revised duration)
Breaks	No breaks during the listening, reading and writing sections, but the speaking portion can be taken up to a week before or after the rest of the test	A 10-minute break between listening and speaking sections
Sections	Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking*	Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking
Score Range	0-9	0-120
Average Minimum Score	6.3	78
Exam Frequency	48 times in a year	More than 50 times a year
Results Timeline	Results are issued 13 days after the test	Results are issued approximately 10 days after the test
Where All are the Scores Accepted	Accepted by more than 11,000 universities globally	Accepted by more than 10,000 organizations globally
Cost	INR 16,250	INR 16,900  (TOEFL iBT)

IELTS vs TOEFL: Exam Format

IELTS vs TOEFL: The major difference lies in the format of the questions as TOEFL comprises MCQs whereas IELTS would ask you to answer the questions in varied forms like fill in the blanks, short answers, etc. Along with this, one prominent distinction is the duration of both exams. IELTS has to be completed in 2 hours 45 minutes, on the other hand, it will take you only 1hr 56 minutes to complete TOEFL.

IELTS is available in two variants i.e., General Training and Academic, the applicants can choose their version of the test as per their purpose of visit. TOEFL offers only one type of exam and is mostly opted for by the students enrolled in a program abroad. IELTS demands applicants to showcase their creative thinking abilities and comprehension skills, on the contrary, TOEFL would analyze your analytical thinking and how well you can weigh their different options. Thus, this becomes one of the main features of TOEFL vs IELTS.

IELTS Test Format 

IELTS Exam Pattern: Here is an overview of the IELTS Exam Pattern. One should majorly consider this before taking the test.

Sections	Duration	Number of Tasks/Activities
Listening	30 minutes	4
Reading	60 minutes	3
Writing	60 minutes	2
Speaking	11-15 minutes	3
Total	2 hours 45 minutes

TOEFL Test Format 

TOEFL Test Format: The TOEFL exam pattern has been recently revised. We have provided the pattern based on the latest updates on the test.

Sections	Scoring	Number of Questions	Duration
Reading	0-30	20	35 minutes
Listening	0-30	28	36 minutes
Speaking	0-30	4 tasks	16 minutes
Writing	0-30	2 tasks	29 minutes
Total	120		1 hr 56 minutes

IELTS vs TOEFL: Section-Wise Difference

IELTS and TOEFL, albeit being English proficiency tests are innately different from one another. Refer to the data given below to go through the section-wise differences of both the stated exams.

Writing  

While attempting the IELTS paper, you would be asked to solve 2 writing tasks. In the first one, you will have to explain the information given in the form of a diagram, table chart, etc. However, in the second one, you will have to pen down 200-250 words on the argument or a given viewpoint. This section can be prepared well with IELTS essay analyser.

If you take the TOEFL exam, you will have to draft a five-paragraph essay within 300-350 words in the first task. For the second task, you will have to fetch some notes from a given text and have to frame a response in 150-225 words.  

Speaking 

Speaking assessment in TOEFL will be recorded through a microphone and will be sent to the examiners while the IELTS speaking test will be a face-to-face interview-type assessment for all the candidates. The duration of TOEFL would be 16 minutes while IELTS would range a maximum of 10-15 minutes. An important distinguishing factor in TOEFL vs IELTS is the option to attempt a speaking test before the other tests in IELTS whereas there is no such option in TOEFL. 

Reading 

The reading test of both exams will include texts around the lines of the ones they will encounter in their programs. TOEFL will offer 2 reading passages to be completed in 35 minutes. The IELTS test will include 3 passages in this section and the applicants will be asked to answer questions in various formats like gap filings, short answers, etc.  

Listening

The listening skill test of both exams is very different from each other. In the IELTS test, students can answer the questions while they are listening to the recording. Varied sorts of long and short questions will be there. Whereas the TOEFL test will be based on classroom lectures and applicants take notes while listening to the audio. Students have to solve MCQs in a given duration of 36 minutes in the TOEFL listening component. 

IELTS vs TOEFL: Score Comparison 

IELTS vs TOEFL score comparison: The TOEFL speaking and writing portions are assessed primarily on how they look, including your vocabulary range, writing style, and grammar. The IELTS is evaluated based on distinct marks for specific criteria like logic, coherence, grammar, and fluency.

For example, an essay with a logical flow of ideas but bad grammar may score higher on a TOEFL exam, but an essay with good grammar and vocabulary but a lesser ability to communicate a concept will score higher on the IELTS criteria.

The IELTS is evaluated on a scale of 1-9, with your total result being the average of your individual scores in all four exams. If your total average is 6.25, it will be rounded up to a final score of 6.5. TOEFL is a single test with a maximum score of 120 points. TOEFL and IELTS total scores can be broadly compared as follows:

TOEFL Band Score	IELTS Band Score
118-120	9
115-117	8.5
110-114	8
102-109	7.5
94-101	7
79-93	6.5
60-78	6
46-59	5.5
35-45	5
32-34	4.5
0-31	0-4

IELTS vs TOEFL: CEFR Score

CEFR Score: The CEFR scale, which tests European language competency in terms of letters and numbers, will be more recognisable to many European students. In general, a student who wishes to study abroad at the undergraduate level must have completed CEFR B2 level or above in the institution’s teaching language.

A CEFR level of B2 corresponds to an IELTS score of 5.5-6.5, although you can’t usually commonly use a CEFR level in place of a requested IELTS or TOEFL score.

IELTS or TOEFL Which One Should You Choose?

Which one IELTS or TOEFL is better for you depends on various other choices and requirements you have. It can be difficult to decide between IELTS and TOEFL, but it’s important to pick the test that matches your goals and English proficiency level the best. There are a number of crucial factors to take into account when contrasting these two internationally recognized English language competency tests.

Factors like difficulty level, delivery method, costs, length, speaking skills, etc. might govern your choice. In the end, which exam is best for you is a matter of personal opinion. Each exam is approved by hundreds of institutions throughout the world, and there are test dates available throughout the year.

However, you should consider the following factors before you make a decision between IETLS vs TOEFL:-

• University preference– You should first check what is the acceptable and preferred language test by the universities that you want to apply to.
• Time for preparation– On average, you need 3-6 weeks for IELTS preparation and 2 to 3 months for TOEFL preparation. If your application deadline is only a few months away, IELTS will be suitable. 
• Computer-based or written– IELTS is conducted on either paper or computer and TOEFL is conducted only on the computer. If you have good typing speed then you can go for either and if you write better on paper, you can go for IELTS. 
• Exam format– For IELTS, you can break up the sections of the IELTS papers and give them in the time span of weeks. For TOEFL, you need to take the exam in one sitting.

Remember that, IELTS or TOEFL whichever test aligns best with your assets is the easier one for you.

Quick-List of Differences Between IELTS & TOEFL

After going through the entire blog, here is a quick list of IELTS vs TOEFL differences for aspirants who are planning to pursue their studies abroad. 

• The IELTS exam is less time-consuming than the TOEFL.
• The IELTS speaking test is conducted in front of an examiner.
• The TOEFL normally mandates that you utilise solely US English or UK English throughout the exam and not a combination of the two, although the IELTS appears to be a little more lenient.
• The TOEFL is mostly made up of multiple-choice questions, but the IELTS offers a greater variety in how questions are constructed and responses must be delivered.

So that was all about IELTS vs TOEFL. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.

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