IELTS and TOEFL: A Quick Comparison
Ownership & Administration
- IELTS: Managed by the British Council, Cambridge Assessment English, and IDP: IELTS Australia.
- TOEFL: Administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service).
Test Format
- IELTS: Offers paper-based and computer-based tests.
- TOEFL: Mostly computer-based, with a paper option available where there’s no internet.
Duration
- IELTS: Takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes.
- TOEFL: About 3 hours.
Scoring
- IELTS: Uses band scores from 0 to 9.
- TOEFL: Scores range from 0 to 120.
Result Processing Time
- IELTS: You get results in 5 to 7 days for computer-based tests.
- TOEFL: Scores are available online about 6 days after the test.
Test Components Comparison
| Component | IELTS | TOEFL |
| Listening | 30 minutes, various accents | 60-90 minutes, North American accents |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 3 long texts | 54-72 minutes, 3-4 passages |
| Writing | 60 minutes, 2 tasks | 50 minutes, 2 tasks |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes, face-to-face interview | 17 minutes, 4 tasks, speaking into a microphone |
IELTS vs. TOEFL Test Format
IELTS Test Format:
| Section | Duration | Numberof Activities/Tasks |
| Listening | 30 minutes | 4 tasks |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 tasks |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks |
| Speaking | 11-15 minutes | 3 tasks |
| Total Duration | 2 hours 45 minutes |
TOEFL Test Format:
| Section | Duration | Numberof Questions |
| Reading | 60-80 Minutes | 36-56 Questions |
| Listening | 60-90 Minutes | 34-51 Questions |
| Speaking | 20 Minutes | 34-51 Questions |
| Writing | 11-15 Minutes | 3 Tasks |
| Total Duration | 4 Hours |
In IELTS, the listening, reading, and writing sections have specific durations, and the speaking section involves 3 tasks within a given timeframe.
For TOEFL, the duration varies for each section, with reading, listening, and speaking having a range of questions, and the writing section consisting of 2 tasks. The total test duration for TOEFL is 4 hours.
IELTS vs TOEFL – Which One to Choose?
Both IELTS VS TOEFL are well-respected exams, but they have distinct differences in their methods, formats, and content. Therefore, it’s crucial to carefully consider which one aligns better with your goals.
Firstly, both TOEFL and IELTS assess all aspects of the language.
Source: https://quickenrols.com/difference-between-ielts-vs-toefl-exam/
