Mauricio Miraglia

About comparing both tests, TOEFL and IELTS, many test takers perceive TOEFL as a bit more difficult. That’s up to you to decide. Their main similarities are:

• Both tests are composed of 4 sections

• They measure Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing skills.

• They do not measure grammar in a sepate section.

• They exhibit some English varieties(TOEFL presents speakers with at least 4 different regional accents within the US, IELTS presents speakers with mostly British accent but it also includes varieties from Australia, New Zealand, and The United States)

• Their writing tasks include a report based on data presented where you need to be accurate to the sources and information provided AND an essay where you need to express your ideas based on an essay question.

Differences!

• TOEFL is Internet based, hence the name TOEFL iBT

• IELTS in most countries is still paper based

This format difference has a number of implications. Get a sample of the tests and see for yourself. For example:

• TOEFL expects you to record your speaking tasks / responses in the computer. IELTS measures Speaking by means of a face to face interview. Some students might perform better at either one of these tools. If you really CAN choose, think about this difference. The Speaking section accounts for 25% of the test grand total score!

• As for the Reading sections, I would say that TOEFL reading passages seem longer, you read and answer on the computer screen which can be tiring and eye soring. IELTS will be easier here for you if you’re more used to reading on paper, not to mention the fact that on paper you can (more) easily make notes and marks as you read.

• Finally about the Listening section, in TOEFL you’ll take notes on what you hear and then you’ll see the questions to move forward with your answers. In the IELTS you can see the questions before you listen, that can make a huge difference for some test takers making IELTS easier if you can use the questions to zoom in on those areas of the conversations / lectures where the answers are.

Hope this answer helps. Good luck in your test! Which ever you need to take.

Source(s):

toefl.org, ielts.org. toefl.nlc.cl, ielts.nlc.cl, foro.nlc.cl

Related Links

Why / How much did TOEFL change?

The answer is available at estudiosusa.com (written by Maite Exposito and Mauricio Miraglia, May 2006)

Written by Mauricio Miraglia
Teacher, trainer and IT manager
Nova Language Consultants
Tel. (56-2)2429504 ext 16
Santiago de Chile.

Hi Mauricio,

I’m an ESL teacher, and I run the websites http://www.GoodLuckTOEFL.com and http;//www.GoodLuckIELTS.com. Over the past few years, I’ve seen more and more students frustrated by the IELTS. Though the TOEFL iBT has its share of problems, I’ve seen more students whose English is good have problems with the IELTS than with the TOEFL. This is sometimes due to confusing instructions or wording on the exam, or often due to accents that are hard to decipher in the Listening section.

I think TOEFLiBT does not trully measure candidate’s speaking capability because test takers interact with the machine (computers) that cannot grasp non-verbal communication which is an integral part of communication.

If you ask me to choose between the two tests, I’ll pick IELTS because I will be interacting with a human being who will be able to correctly evaluate my language skills.

Trav

Thanks Trav and John for your comments!
About IELTS, just one thing I wonder is why they have not made their rubrics public. I do have a “version” which should be the official, yet I have not found the real McCoy…uh… do u have some info to this effect?

Neither IELTS nor TOEFL can be a problem for test takers if they are well prepared, anywhere in the world. In East Asia, many cram schools known as buxiban even teach skills to guess right answers in the multiple-choice questons. This is psychology which has a lot to do with training speaking, listening, writing and reading skills.

In my opinion, good preparations start with English reading. Writing skills are powered by extensive reading. Listening is another form of reading, with the mind’s ears and the mind’s eyes, respectively. Likewise,speaking in sound to express sense is not unlike sending meaning messages by writing in silence.

Learners of English as a foreign language in China, Taiwan, Hongkng, South Korea and Japan have a harder time than their
peers in Chile because of bigger cultural differences.

I would like to suggest that test takers learn from English native speakers, although CDs, DVDs, online orientations also can help, especially in the listening and speaking parts. Reading may well be self-learning. Writing exercises may be done with the guidance of an experienced instructor, but necessarily a native speaker.

About me. Spanish is my everyday language. My native tongue is
Mandarin Chinese. English syntax is my hobby. I enjoy reading
in English with the fun of syntax.

I would be happy to share the oriental experiences in ESL tests with students in Chile. As a retired businessman, I have time, and I need some fun, too. leehsieh@hotmail.com