What is IELTS IELTS is the International English

What is IELTS? IELTS is the International English Language Testing System Designed to assess the English language ability of people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication Close to one million people rely on IELTS every year to access opportunities in study, careers and migration throughout the English-speaking world and beyond

What is the TOEFL Test and Who Takes It? The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ measures the ability of nonnative English speakers to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings Primary reason to take TOEFL – Application for admission into universities or colleges where English is the language of instruction Also used for immigration, licensing, scholarships, and placement

Availability and Cost IELTS is a paper-based test with a speaking component, offered at specific institutions 48 times per year, usually on Saturdays and Thursdays. You can also take the IELTS as often as you like. There is no significant cost difference between the two tests. The TOEFL is an internet -based test that you can take on a number of available dates each month. You can take the test as often as you like.

Length of test: IELTS TOEFL 2 hours, 45 minutes 4 hours

Accents used: IELTS Range of international English accents. TOEFL Mostly North American English accents.

Overview IELTS Original four-skills English language test – since 1989. Since 1989, it has been trusted by both candidates and institutions to provide a secure, global, authentic test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English Trusted by institutions worldwide to provide a true indication of candidates English language proficiency IELTS is trusted and accepted by over 6, 000 education institutions and organizations worldwide. TOEFL 20 million test takers since 1964 Nearly 1 million registrations in 2007 Available in more test centers in more countries than any other English language proficiency test Recognized by more agencies and institutions than any other English language proficiency test

Overview IELTS Covers all four skills – listening, reading , writing, speaking - and includes a faceto-face speaking test to ensure that candidates can really communicate effectively in English TOEFL Delivered via the internet Administered in official, secure test centers Four sections taken in one session: Reading Listening Speaking Writing All sections reflect academic English communication skills Note taking allowed

IELTS is a truly international test in every aspect • 40 years of experience The IELTS international partnership British Council IDP: IELTS Australia University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations • Test production - item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK and the U. S. • Test content – sourced globally, covering all the main national varieties of English • Test delivery – Available in over 120 countries Test recognition- recognised by over 6, 000 institutions • using TOEFL scores Objective, valid and reliable scores Simulates actual university communication More authentic academic material Provides information universities want about your ability to communicate in English

IELTS Test Format Listening 30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items Academic Reading General Training Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items Academic Writing General Training Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks Speaking 11 - 14 minutes, 3 parts

Listening IELTS TOEFL around 30 minutes The IELTS has four listening sections. The first is a "transactional conversation" in which someone may be applying for something (eg: a driver's license, a library card) or asking for information. The second section is an informational lecture of some kind. The third section is a conversation in an academic context and the final section is an academic lecture. Question types that may be used: complete a summary, fill in a table, multiple-choice, label a diagram or picture, classify information into different categories. Answers are first written into a test booklet and then transferred onto an answer sheet later. Length: 40 -60 minutes Campus conversations & Lectures Take notes 40 -60 mins multiple choice The Listening Section presents 2 -3 longer conversations and 4 -6 lectures. The situations are always related to university life (eg: a conversation between a student and a librarian about finding research materials). All questions are multiple choice and ask you about important details, inferences, tone, and vocabulary. The conversations and lectures are spoken in very natural English and include informal English, ‘filler’ words like ‘um’ and ‘er’.

Reading IELTS TOEFL 3 passages x 20 mins 60– 100 minutes (sometimes Starts ‘easy’, gets harder. Questions are taken from academic textbooks, newspapers or magazines (all academic English). There about 15 different types of questions which IELTS may choose to use. These include: short answer, multiple choice, match a heading, True/False/Not Given, complete a summary, locate the information and others. shorter, sometimes longer). The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4 -6 academic English passages (all of the same level of difficulty) and answer multiple-choice questions about them. Questions test comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style.

Speaking IELTS Length: 12 -15 minutes. Test is recorded. The speaking module may be held on the same or different day from the rest of the test. It is conducted by a trained, live examiner and consists of 3 Parts. Part 1 is a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics (eg: the interviewer may ask about your hometown, your job, your favourite food, your hobbies, etc). In Part 2, you will be given a card with a topic and a specific question to answer. You will have to speak for 1 -2 minutes on this topic. In Part 3, the interviewer will ask you questions related to the question asked in Part 2. TOEFL Length: around 20 minutes. You sit at a computer, wearing headphones and a microphone. 6 different university-type questions are asked and recorded. Your test is assessed by an examiner on another day, after the test. Two questions will be on familiar topics and ask you to give your opinion and/or describe something familiar to you (eg: your town or your favorite teacher). Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation – you may be asked your opinion as well. Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation.

Writing IELTS TOEFL Length: 1 hour Two tasks. Answers are handwritten. For Task 1, you will need to describe information in a graph, table or diagram. You need to write 150 words. For Task 2, you will need to write an argument (eg: The solution to the pollution problem is to dramatically increase the cost of fuel) or discussion (eg: what is happiness) on a topic. You will need to write 250 words and IELTS suggests you spend 40 minutes on the answer Length: 50 minutes. Two questions. Answers are typed into a computer. The first question is an ‘Integrated task’ which involves reading a short passage (around 300 words long) and listening to a 2 -minute lecture about the same topic (the listening may support or contradict the reading). You must take notes as you listen. You then must write a 150 -225 word answer to a question about what you just read and listened to. You are given 30 minutes to plan, write and edit your essay. The second question involves writing an essay of 300 -350 words. The essay must state, explain and support your thinking on a particular issue.

Test scores IELTS TOEFL Candidates receive scores on a Four skill scores scale from 1 to 9 – these are called Band Scores A score is given for each skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). They are reported in whole bands or half bands Scores in each skill are combined to produce an ‘Overall Band Score’ between 1 to 9 Reading 0 -30 Listening 0 -30 Speaking 0 -30 Writing 0 -30 A total score: 0 - 120 Scores available 15 business days after test