IELTS vs TOEFL: Which Is Easier For Students? - Aptech Visa

The success of your visa application depends on your ability to convince officials from English-speaking nations of your language skills. If you perform well on your language test, you will be welcomed as a suitable employee or student.

This is because speaking the language allows you to communicate with people from two very different cultures, demonstrating your capacity to adapt to a foreign environment.

What is the IELTS exam?

The IELTS Academic and the IELTS General Training are the two different IELTS language tests. Both of them use the same format and identical scoring methodologies. There are four categories: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.

This test of language proficiency is widely acknowledged. The four portions of the test are broken up over two test days and last for two hours and 45 minutes.

There is a maximum of 9 points for each section. The average of the four components makes up the final score.

What is the TOEFL test?

The TOEFL and IELTS exams are quite comparable. The tests are administered on the same day, with intervals in between the Listening and Speaking components, unlike the IELTS. Additionally, there are four sections: speaking, reading, and writing.

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Another well-liked exam is the TOEFL. You receive a grade out of 120.

Various IELTS sections

The following categories make up the IELTS test:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Given
Listening	40	30 minutes
Reading	40	60 minutes
Writing	2 tasks	60 minutes
Speaking	3 tasks	11-14 minutes

Four recorded conversations are played throughout the test's listening section. While the other two are in an educational context, two of them are in a social one. Each tape is followed by 10 questions that assess your comprehension of the conversations that were heard. There are various tests involved in this, ranging from multiple choice to sentence completion.

Three paragraphs are provided for you to read, and then there are a series of questions. These sentences are excerpts from written works like novels, newspapers, and journals. Before taking your real test, it is a good idea to take a few practice tests. Even though the passages vary with each new test batch because these tests are all standardized, the skills being tested do not.

There are two writing components on this test. The first examines your capacity for understanding data visualizations. The second examines your capacity for persuasion.

Participants in the test must analyze the data for the visual representation and write at least 150 words about it. It is advised to finish it in no more than 20 of the allotted 30 minutes.

Write an argumentative or discursive essay of at least 250 words for the second section of the exam.

This portion evaluates how well the student understands and responds to questions and the English language. Although you have 60 minutes to complete this segment, it is advised that you devote 20 minutes to the first and 40 minutes to the second. Here, your vocabulary breadth is also put to the test.

Speaking Section: A live chat between you and the examiner will take place. It doesn't matter if you use British or American English; the important thing is to communicate clearly and properly. You'll be on tape.

You will engage the interviewer in a light conversation about the various facets of your life. This is a part of the exam to gauge your ability to hold a conversation in the real world. At this point, we will talk about your job, your studies, and your family.

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Your ability to talk on spur-of-the-moment issues is tested in the second section of the exam. After a minute of preparation, you must be prepared to launch a discussion on the assigned subject.

The first section of the English exam is continued in the third stage. More specifics are covered in the conversation.

Different sections of TOEFL

The following are the different sections of IELTS:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Given
Reading	36-56	60-80 minutes
Listening	34-51	60-90 minutes
Speaking	6 tasks	20 minutes
Writing	2 tasks	50 minutes

The section on Reading: You will be given a few texts to read and respond to questions on. The exam will be college-level and based on English-language textbook discussions. After that, a series of inquiries will be made. Many of them will be multiple-choice or sentence-completion exercises.

The listening component, like the IELTS exam, consists of a few recordings that you must pay close attention to. You will hear excerpts from lectures, class debates, and daily living. You will be required to respond to multiple-choice questions about these recordings.

Speaking Section: In the first two phases of this test, you will be required to talk on predetermined subjects. These are autonomous speaking exercises.

Reading, listening, and speaking will all be included in the test's last four sections. You might be asked to read, listen, and speak after that. You'll be required to talk first, then listen. These will mostly concern your viewpoint on what you just heard or any unanswered questions.

The Section on Writing: Here, Integrated Writing, and Independent Writing are separate areas. You will read a piece and listen to a recording for the first section. After that, you will have 20 minutes to organize your data and compose a section contrasting these two sources of knowledge.

The next step is fairly easy. On a specific subject, you must go into more detail. You have 30 minutes to complete the task.

• IELTS test fees
• IELTS costs around Rs 14,000 to take.
• TOEFL test fees
• The TOEFL examination costs about Rs 13,000 (US).

When do you receive the IELTS results?

If you took the computer-based test, you will get your IELTS Academic results 3 to 5 days after taking the test.

If you took the test on paper, you will get your results 13 days later.

When do you get the TOEFL results?

Six days after taking the test, you will get your TOEFL results. Within eight days of taking the test, you can view and download your results.

IELTS or TOEFL: Which should I choose?

Picking one or the other depends on a few things:

Which exam allows you to highlight your strengths?

Speaking and listening may not come more naturally to you than reading and writing. There may be some areas where you struggle and others where you excel. You must choose between IELTS and TOEFL based on this.

You may wish to stay away from the IELTS exam if you are not particularly skilled at writing. For several of the IELTS questions, you must write brief responses. There are a few written responses on the TOEFL, but they are all rather simple. In contrast to the IELTS exam, you also get prompts. The TOEFL has multiple choice questions for the majority of the questions, therefore if your writing is weak, select this option.

Which exam is easier for you to take?

The TOEFL test is for you if you have a fast-typing speed. They operate on computers. IELTS is a better option if you write more quickly on paper because they provide both paper-based and computer-based exams. Additionally, you could discover that IELTS offers more test sites than TOEFL. If you reside in a large city, you should have equal access to both tests.

Which text will you find easiest to read?

While the IELTS exam also includes passages from magazines and newspapers, the TOEFL exam exclusively includes academic materials. This basically means that the text you will be reading on the TOEFL test is harder to understand and will only be simple for you if your level of English is university level.

If you're unsure about your reading level, use the IELTS test instead because the provided content is simpler to understand with a smaller vocabulary.

• Are you at ease conversing with someone in real time?

Some people may find it difficult to communicate with an examiner, which could affect their performance. Choose the TOEFL exam if you are uncomfortable speaking to someone face-to-face during the speaking portion of the examination.

You can use a microphone to take the TOEFL speaking component of the test since it is entirely computer-based. However, the IELTS asks you to engage in real conversation.

Choose the exam that feels the simplest and most natural to you.

• Which test does your intended institution or nation prefer?

It's critical to understand which test your institution favours. IELTS is more popular in some nations than TOEFL is. While other nations favour IELTS, the US prefers the TOEFL.

Ideal IELTS score

The IELTS exam considers any result over 7 to be satisfactory. It is feasible to receive a perfect score, and it will look fantastic on your application.

TOEFL score target

Scores between 80 and 90 are regarded as satisfactory, and even higher numbers will look excellent on your application.

Conclusion

Both the IELTS and the TOEFL are excellent exams for demonstrating language skills. Based on the following criteria, you ought to pick one above the other:

• Highlights your advantages
• Is more practical
• Is favoured by the institution and nation of your choice.
• The breadth of your vocabulary

With the correct preparation, you will perform well on either test despite a few minor changes in format and content. Contact us right away to learn more!

Various FAQs

• Is one exam more affordable than another?
• The costs of the two tests were roughly equal.
• How are the portions of the IELTS divided?

They are split into the following categories:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Given
Listening	40	30 minutes
Reading	40	60 minutes
Writing	2 tasks	60 minutes
Speaking	3 tasks	11-14 minutes

How is the TOEFL divided into sections?

They are split into the following categories:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Given
Reading	36-56	60-80 minutes
Listening	34-51	60-90 minutes
Speaking	6 tasks	20 minutes
Writing	2 tasks	50 minutes

What are the main distinctions between the TOEFL and IELTS in terms of score range and time allowed?

The primary variations in score range and time allotted are as follows:

TOEFL	IELTS	Column1
Total Test Time	3 hours and 30 minutes	2 hours and 45 minutes
Score Range	0-120	0-9
Sections (in order)	Reading	Listening
	Listening	Reading
	Speaking	Writing
	Writing	Speaking
Number of Institutions That Accept These Tests	Over 9,000	Over 9,000

How should IELTS and TOEFL candidates prepare?

You have access to a variety of online resources that can help you study for your exams. Additionally, you can enrol in coaching sessions that will help you get ready for these tests particularly.