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IELTS vs TOEFL

See below a comparison table between the IELTS and the TOEFL exam.

General information IELTS vs TOEFL

IELTS GENERAL / ACADEMIC TOEFL
English Style of Reference British American
Overall Duration 160 minutes 240 minutes
Scoring System Graded on a band system from 1 to 9 with an overall score being an average of the four separate scores in all four test. The overall score is rounded to the nearest half-band. Single test graded out of 120 points.
Cost Both around $150 – $250 depending on the country where the exam takes place.
Click here  to know more specific details about the IELTS exam.

Exam details IELTS vs TOEFL

Listening

Methodology Duration / Structure Type of Questions Comments
IELTS ACADEMIC

/

IELTS GENERAL

Paper-based 40 minutes /

4 SECTIONS

40 questions

– Multiple choice

– Matching

– Plan/map/diagram labelling

– Form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion

– Sentence Completion

– Short answer questions

Sections 1 and 2 deal with every day, social situation. There is a conversation between two speakers in Section 1. Only one person speaks in Section 2.

Sections 3 and 4 deal with educational and training situations. In Section 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers. In Section 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject.

TOEFL Digital/Computer 60 – 90 minutes /

34 – 51 questions

– Multiple choice Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations.

Reading

Methodology Duration / Structure Type of Questions Comments
IELTS ACADEMIC Paper-based 60 minutes /

3 SECTIONS

Total text length is 2,150–2,750 words

40 questions

– Multiple choice

– Identifying information (true/false/not given)

– Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given)

– Matching Information

– Matching Headings

– Matching Features

– Matching sentence endings

– Sentence completion

– Summary/note/table/flow chart completion

– Diagram label completion

– Short-answer questions

Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources, written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level. The texts may be written in different styles, for example, narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts use technical vocabulary, then a simple dictionary definition is provided.
IELTS GENERAL Paper-based 60 minutes /

3 SECTIONS

Total text length is 2,150–2,750 words

40 questions

– Multiple choice

– Identifying information (true/false/not given)

– Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given)

– Matching Information

– Matching Headings

– Matching Features

– Matching sentence endings

– Sentence completion

– Summary/note/table/flow chart completion

– Diagram label completion

– Short-answer questions

The texts in Section 1 deal with everyday topics, and they are the sort of texts that a person would need to be able to understand when living in an English-speaking country. You will need to pick out important information, e.g. from notices, advertisements and timetables.
The texts in Section 2 focus on work topics, for example, job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training materials.
The text in Section 3 deals with a topic of general interest. The style of writing in Section 3 is generally descriptive (containing detailed information) and instructive (telling you how to do something). This Section 3 text is longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, books and online resources.
TOEFL Digital/Computer 60 – 80 minutes /

36 to 56 questions

– Multiple choice 3 or 4 passages from academic texts.
The instructions will indicate how many passages the student will receive and the amount of time to respond to questions for those passages

Writing

Methodology Duration / Structure Type of Questions Comments
IELTS ACADEMIC Paper-based 60 minutes /

2 Tasks

Task 1: 150 words description of visual information (a graph, table, chart or diagram)

Task 2: 250 words Discussion of a given point of view, argument or problem

Scoring: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
IELTS GENERAL Paper-based 60 minutes /

2 Tasks

Task 1: 150 words response to a given situation by a writing letter

Task 2: 250 words Discussion of a given point of view, argument or problem

Scoring: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
TOEFL Typed 50 minutes /

2 Tasks

Task 1: 5 paragraph essay (300-350 words)

Task 2: 150-225 word response in relation to a text and lecture excerpt on the same topic (taking notes required)

Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing.

Speaking

Methodology Duration / Structure Type of Questions Comments
IELTS ACADEMIC

/

IELTS GENERAL

Face to Face with an examiner 11 – 14 minutes /

3 parts

Part 1: Introduction and interview: general questions on some familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies or interests.

Part 2: Long turn, task card. Talking about a particular topic addressing the points include in the card. There is one minute to prepare the talk

Part 3: Discussion: discussing issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth.

The test is not necessarily on the same day of the rest of the exam.
The score is determined by 1 examiner.
TOEFL Recorded (use of a microphone) 20 minutes /

6 tasks

Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. On the same day of the rest of the exam.
The score is determined by 6 reviewers.

Band scores equivalent

English Language proficiency level Test component IELTS TOEFL iBT PTE Academic CAE OET
Functional Average/total/overall across test components only 4.5 32 30 147 n/a
Vocational Listening 5.0 4 36 154 B
Reading 5.0 4 36 154 B
Writing 5.0 14 36 154 B
Speaking 5.0 14 36 154 B
Competent Listening 6.0 12 50 169 B
Reading 6.0 13 50 169 B
Writing 6.0 21 50 169 B
Speaking 6.0 18 50 169 B
Proficient (for points tested Skilled visas) Listening 7.0 24 65 185 B
Reading 7.0 24 65 185 B
Writing 7.0 27 65 185 B
Speaking 7.0 23 65 185 B
Superior (for points tested Skilled visas) Listening 8.0 28 79 200 A
Reading 8.0 29 79 200 A
Writing 8.0 30 79 200 A
Speaking 8.0 26 79 200 A

English Language Tests reference:

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