On the road to pursuing the dream of studying abroad, TOEFL and IELTS are two of the most popular English language tests. Which test to choose has become a hot topic for many study abroad applicants. This article will delve into whether to study abroad to take the TOEFL or IELTS test and provide comprehensive reference and decision support for it.
Regarding studying abroad to take TOEFL or IELTS, I have compiled the following for your reference, I hope it can help you!
1.Learn the basics of TOEFL and IELTS
1.1 TOEFL
The TOEFL is a test administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to assess the listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities of students from non-native English speaking countries in an English-speaking context. The TOEFL test is available in two formats, paper-based (TOEFL PBT) and internet-based (TOEFL IBT), and is widely accepted primarily in universities in the United States and Canada.
1.2 IELTS
IELTS is a joint test run by Cambridge Assessment English, IDP Education Australia and the British Council. IELTS is mainly used to assess candidates' English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The IELTS test is available in two versions: Academic (for studying abroad) and General Training (for work and immigration).
2.Consideration of the purpose of the exam and the scope of acceptance
2.1 Study abroad in the U.S. and Canada
· TOEFL:In the United States and Canada, the TOEFL is the more mainstream test and is accepted by most schools. Especially in the United States, the TOEFL is more widely used, especially at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
· IELTS:IELTS is used relatively rarely in the United States and Canada, but it is still accepted by some schools in some specific situations, especially in certain majors and programs.
2.2 Study in the UK and Australia
· TOEFL:In the United Kingdom and Australia, TOEFL is equally widely accepted, especially at the postgraduate level. Some schools may be more flexible with TOEFL requirements, but they are usually still a recognized proof of language proficiency.
· IELTS:IELTS is a mainstream test in the UK and Australia, and is widely accepted by the vast majority of schools. Academic IELTS is more valued in these two countries.
3.Comparison of the difficulty and content differences of the exam
3.1 Exam difficulty
· TOEFL:The TOEFL test is academically biased towards reading and listening, emphasizing the candidate's understanding and use of academic English. TOEFL Speaking and Writing focuses more on the candidate's presentation and writing skills.
· IELTS:IELTS focuses more on practical communication and social contexts, especially the speaking and writing sections. IELTS Speaking emphasizes more on actual communication with the examiner, and the Writing section focuses more on the candidate's expression of views on society, culture, science and technology.
3.2 Exam content
· TOEFL:TOEFL listening and reading are mainly based on academic scenarios, covering a variety of fields such as natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Writing and speaking subjects are also mainly from the academic field.
· IELTS:IELTS listening and reading content is more relevant to everyday life and social topics, including everyday conversations, advertisements, news reports, etc. IELTS Writing and Speaking covers a wider range of topics, including society, culture, technology, environment and so on.
4.Consideration of the timing and format of the exam
4.1 Exam time
· TOEFL:The TOEFL test is long, with an overall duration of about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and includes four sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
· IELTS:The IELTS test is relatively short, with an overall time of about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and is divided into four parts: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
4.2 Exam Format
· TOEFL:The TOEFL test can be divided into a paper-based test (PBT) and an internet-based test (IBT). Most candidates choose IBT because it is more flexible and the exam frequency is higher.
· IELTS:There is only one format of the IELTS test, and it is the same content and format regardless of the country in which it is tested.
Study Abroad to Take TOEFL or IELTS?When choosing between TOEFL and IELTS, candidates should consider their study abroad goals, the acceptance of the target country, their language ability, and their adaptability to the difficulty of the test. Before making a choice, candidates are advised to plan ahead and fully understand the specific requirements of the target school or immigration agency. TOEFL and IELTS are both authoritative English language exams, and through scientific preparation and reasonable options, candidates will be more likely to achieve excellent results in the exam, laying a solid language foundation for the road to study abroad. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments and I will try to answer them.