What are the TOEFL and IELTS?

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are two widely-accepted standardized English proficiency tests.
*In this FAQ, we refer to the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic test, as they are the go-to for applying for a higher education institution.

Do I need to take them?

Yes, they are usually part of college admission requirements for foreign students.

How are the tests different?

Exam	TOEFL	IELTS
Owned by	ETS	British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment
Test Delivery Format	Computer-based	Paper-based
Length	About 4 hours	2 hours and 45 min
Costs	Usually between 160 and 200 USD	Varies by country. Usually around 200 USD
​Scoring	0-120 (4 sections of 30 points)	0-9 (average of 4 sections)
Test sections (in order)	Reading: 60-80 min Listening; 60-90 min Speaking: 20 min Writing: 50 min (10-min break between Listening and Speaking)	​ Listening: 30 min Reading: 60 min Writing: 60 min Speaking: 11-14 min (can be taken a week before or after the rest of the test)
Speaking section format	Students speak into a headset microphone	In-person with an examiner
​Locations	4,500 test centers in over 165 countries	1,100 locations in over 140 countries
Frequency ​	More than 50 test dates per year	48 test dates per year

Which ones do different countries prefer?

• U.S.: TOEFL.
  • Even though some colleges do accept the IELTS, the TOEFL is the more common option. Depending on the college, there may be advantages to taking the TOEFL instead of the IELTS. For example, the UCLA graduate program requires a minimum score of 7 on IELTS, whereas the minimum for TOEFL is 87 (refer to Q.5 for score comparison: a 7 on the IEFLTS is the rough equivalent of 94-101 on TOEFL)
• U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada favor the IELTS ​

How does the score compare?

TOEFL Score	IELTS Band
0 - 31	0 - 4
32 - 34	4.5
35 - 45	5
46 - 59	5.5
60 - 78	6
79 - 93	6.5
94 - 101	7
102 - 109	7.5
110 - 114	8
115 - 117	8.5
118 - 120	9

How does the content differ?

Exam Section	TOEFL	IELTS
Speaking	You’ll be asked 6 different university-related questions, and you will have to express your opinion on a chosen subject/given text. ​ Your answers will be recorded and later sent to a group of six reviewers.​	This splits into 3 parts: Part 1: The examiner will ask you general questions about yourself, and familiar topics such as family, school and interest. This is like a conversation. Part 2: You will be given 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to talk about the given topic. Part 3: The examiner will ask further questions about the topic in Part 2 Your score will be determined by a single examiner, as you will only talk to one face-to-face.
Writing	There are 2 tasks: The integrated writing task will require you to read a passage, listen to a lecture, and then write an essay that uses information from both of these sources.  The independent task will ask you to use personal experience to explain an opinion that you have.	There are 2 tasks: Task 1 - you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Reading	It is multiple-choice-only. There will be three-five reading sections each drawn from academic content you’d be likely to encounter in a classroom.	This includes 40 questions of 15 question types including short answer, true/false, summary and multiple choice, from 3 long texts, taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers
Listening	You will listen to excerpts from university lectures or conversations on a university campus, and take notes whilst listening. Then you will answer a series of multiple choice questions afterwards.	You can answer questions whilst you are listening to the recordings ranging from a daily social conversation to a university lecture. It includes many question types.

Which one is easier?

Generally speaking, the content in IELTS is more closely related to daily life. Because it is less strictly academic, some people might find the IELTS easier to manage. Another advantage is that with the IELTS, you get to talk to a real person instead of a machine, thus providing a more realistic English-speaking experience. ​

Which one should I take?

The number one thing you should consider is where you are going. (Q.4 answers which one different countries prefer.)
However, if the institutions you are applying to accept both, and do not require drastically different scores, here are some guidelines:
If you

• are comfortable with computers
• are comfortable speaking extemporaneously into a microphone
• can type quickly
• prefer standard American English
• are good at answering multiple-choice questions
• are good at taking notes from a recording
• are comfortable with mainly academic content

Then TOEFL is probably best fit for you
 
If you

• are comfortable having a detailed interview in-person
• have legible English handwriting
• can understand a variety of dialects of English
• prefer tests with many question types, including multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, matching, true/false, and flowcharts.
• feel most comfortable discussing non-academic topics in English

Then IELTS is probably best fit for you
 
You should also try out the test questions and see which one you prefer and can do better in.

How long are the TOEFL and IELTS scores valid?

Both are valid for two years.

How many times can I take the tests?

There is no limit to the number of times you can take the TOEFL or IELTS, but for the TOEFL you cannot take it more than once during a 12-day period. For the IELTS, it is normally advised that you should not test more than once within two months.
Remember: Take it when you are ready for the test or when you think that you have improved from the last time you took it.

Do I have to send in all my scores?

No, choose your best scores to send to colleges.

What should be my goal for the scores?

Check the admission requirements for the schools that you are applying to. If they don't have any, aim for a minimum of the school’s recommended scores, or the average score of current students. Both should be stated on the school’s website.

When should I start preparing for/taking the exams?

Start as early as you can. These are English proficiency exams, so the more time you have to improve your grasp of the language, the better. Start early so that you can give yourself enough time.

How do I improve my score?

Remember that a language can’t be learned overnight. It takes time and practice.

• Read
  

• Get into a habit of reading. Read magazines, news, short articles or books in English frequently. This could improve your reading speed and comprehensions, expand your vocabulary, and improve your grammar. It could also benefit your speaking and writing.
  

• Listen
  

• Listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and watch some TV and movies without Chinese subtitles.
  

• Speak
  

• Don’t be afraid of speaking English. If you are too afraid of making mistakes, you will never learn how to speak. Who cares if you make a mistake? It is not your first language and you are making an effort to learn. Have a laugh and correct it.
  
• If you are fortunate enough to be in an environment where you can speak English, take advantage!
  
• If you are not, try to find opportunities, or go to a tutoring institute like Trinity Scholar. Our classes are all taught in English by native English speakers.
  

• Write
  

• Read sample essays. Analyze and see what types of essays score highly. What do they have that yours don’t?
  
• Practice writing with the essay questions as they often require a specific structure.
  
• Get an experienced teacher to read your essay and give you advice.
  

• Test prep
  

• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Other than improving English in general, you need to get familiar and comfortable with the test format. Using a prep book, hiring a tutor, and knowing the techniques will definitely make your life easier and improve your scores.
  

Any other tips?

Preparation

• Always understand your mistakes and avoid them the next time
  
• Always know what you are weak in and focus on those areas
  
• Rest well the night before the exam
  
• Eat a healthy breakfast
  

During the test

• If a question is taking too long to solve, move on and come back later.
  
• If you cannot figure out the answer, work by process of elimination.
  
• Answer all of the questions, even if you have to guess. There is no penalty for guessing.
  
• Double check your answers.
  
• Take some time to plan/outline your essay before you begin writing for real.
  
• Proofread your essay.