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Is TOEFL Harder than IELTS?

by Rhonwen

For anyone who wants to pursue quality education or find job opportunities in English-speaking countries, demonstrating your English proficiency is an essential part. The two most popular English proficiency language examinations that are accessible are IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Both assessments measure your proficiency in speaking, writing, listening, and reading, but they do it in different ways and with distinct formats.

Foreign institutions, colleges, and organizations widely accept the two exams due to their accuracy and objectivity in determining an individual’s level of English ability. To help you determine which test could be best for you, this article will look at the similarities, difficulties, and ease of use of each. Knowing these differences is vital especially if you are trying to enroll in the best TOEFL institute in Indore or the best TOEFL institute in Delhi.

TOEFL vs.IELTS: Understanding the Differences

Differences in Test Structure and Format

The TOEFL and IELTS tests are designed to assess your English language skills in all aspects. Nevertheless, their evaluations of these skills are quite different. TOEFL is primarily internet-based (iBT) and is structured around four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. The total duration of the test is approximately three and a half hours. The test is in academic style with readings and assignments that are comparable to those found in a university.

IELTS offers two versions: Academic and General Training, each with four sections. The test time is a little shorter, approximately two and a half hours. IELTS is valued for its real-life context, making it a bit more applicable for daily use.

Differences in Reading and Listening Sections

In the Reading module, IELTS offers three lengthy passages with various kinds of tasks that are supposed to check your reading skills. However, TOEFL presents passages with subsequent questions that gauge your academic text comprehension.

In IELTS, the Listening section involves recordings of native English speakers in different situations, whereas TOEFL’s listening tasks include lectures and classroom discussions, reflecting the North American academic environment.

Differences in Speaking and Writing Sections

The Speaking section of IELTS is a person-to-person interview with an examiner, which can be more difficult for some candidates but also provides for a more natural conversation. Speaking tasks of TOEFL are performed by speaking into a microphone, and the examiners later evaluate the examinees’ responses.

In Writing, IELTS Academic and IELTS General include writing tasks that check your capacity to write in an academic environment. In one IELTS task, you have to explain a chart or diagram, and in the other, you have to make an argument. TOEFL’s writing section incorporates an integrated task, where the candidates have to read and listen to a passage before writing the answer, along with an independent essay.

TOEFL Vs IELTS

Whichever test is simpler for you – the TOEFL or the IELTS – will primarily depend on your individual preferences and strong points. The TOEFL can be your best option if you prefer an intellectually oriented test. IELTS, on the other hand, would be a better choice if you want to take a test that evaluates your English proficiency in a setting that is more relevant to everyday life.

In addition, the requirements of the institutions where you are applying for admission play a critical role. Some colleges favor one test over the other, while most of them accept both. Western Overseas provides complete professional assistance and training for both tests so you can make the correct decision and prepare for any test.

To Conclude

For excelling in both the exams, preparation is extremely important. Registering with an institute such as Western Overseas, which is known as the Best TOEFL institute in Indore and Delhi, has a great effect on your test results. Their customized preparatory approaches, well-versed faculty, and exhaustive study materials aim to address the individual needs of every student.

Ready to conquer the English language proficiency test? Discover how Western Overseas can guide you towards achieving your highest score. Visit Western Overseas for expert advice and top-notch preparation courses.

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