See below a comparison table between the IELTS and the TOEFL exam.
General information IELTS vs TOEFL
| IELTS GENERAL / ACADEMIC | TOEFL | |
|---|---|---|
| English Style of Reference | British | American |
| Overall Duration | 160 minutes | 240 minutes |
| Scoring System | Graded on a band system from 1 to 9 with an overall score being an average of the four separate scores in all four test. The overall score is rounded to the nearest half-band. | Single test graded out of 120 points. |
| Cost | Both around $150 – $250 depending on the country where the exam takes place. | |
Exam details IELTS vs TOEFL
Listening
| Methodology | Duration / Structure | Type of Questions | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS ACADEMIC/
IELTS GENERAL |
Paper-based | 40 minutes /4 SECTIONS
40 questions |
– Multiple choice- Matching
– Plan/map/diagram labelling – Form/note/table/flow chart/summary completion – Sentence Completion – Short answer questions |
Sections 1 and 2 deal with every day, social situation. There is a conversation between two speakers in Section 1. Only one person speaks in Section 2.Sections 3 and 4 deal with educational and training situations. In Section 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers. In Section 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject. |
| TOEFL | Digital/Computer | 60 – 90 minutes /34 – 51 questions | – Multiple choice | Listen to lectures, classroom discussions and conversations. |
Reading
| Methodology | Duration / Structure | Type of Questions | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS ACADEMIC | Paper-based | 60 minutes /3 SECTIONS
Total text length is 2,150–2,750 words 40 questions |
– Multiple choice- Identifying information (true/false/not given)
– Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given) – Matching Information – Matching Headings – Matching Features – Matching sentence endings – Sentence completion – Summary/note/table/flow chart completion – Diagram label completion – Short-answer questions |
Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources, written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level. The texts may be written in different styles, for example, narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts use technical vocabulary, then a simple dictionary definition is provided. |
| IELTS GENERAL | Paper-based | 60 minutes /3 SECTIONS
Total text length is 2,150–2,750 words 40 questions |
– Multiple choice- Identifying information (true/false/not given)
– Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given) – Matching Information – Matching Headings – Matching Features – Matching sentence endings – Sentence completion – Summary/note/table/flow chart completion – Diagram label completion – Short-answer questions |
The texts in Section 1 deal with everyday topics, and they are the sort of texts that a person would need to be able to understand when living in an English-speaking country. You will need to pick out important information, e.g. from notices, advertisements and timetables. The texts in Section 2 focus on work topics, for example, job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training materials. The text in Section 3 deals with a topic of general interest. The style of writing in Section 3 is generally descriptive (containing detailed information) and instructive (telling you how to do something). This Section 3 text is longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, books and online resources. |
| TOEFL | Digital/Computer | 60 – 80 minutes /36 to 56 questions | – Multiple choice | 3 or 4 passages from academic texts. The instructions will indicate how many passages the student will receive and the amount of time to respond to questions for those passages |
Writing
| Methodology | Duration / Structure | Type of Questions | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS ACADEMIC | Paper-based | 60 minutes /2 Tasks | Task 1: 150 words description of visual information (a graph, table, chart or diagram)Task 2: 250 words Discussion of a given point of view, argument or problem | Scoring: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. |
| IELTS GENERAL | Paper-based | 60 minutes /2 Tasks | Task 1: 150 words response to a given situation by a writing letterTask 2: 250 words Discussion of a given point of view, argument or problem | Scoring: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. |
| TOEFL | Typed | 50 minutes /2 Tasks | Task 1: 5 paragraph essay (300-350 words)Task 2: 150-225 word response in relation to a text and lecture excerpt on the same topic (taking notes required) | Write essay responses based on reading and listening tasks; support an opinion in writing. |
Speaking
| Methodology | Duration / Structure | Type of Questions | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS ACADEMIC/
IELTS GENERAL |
Face to Face with an examiner | 11 – 14 minutes /3 parts | Part 1: Introduction and interview: general questions on some familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies or interests.Part 2: Long turn, task card. Talking about a particular topic addressing the points include in the card. There is one minute to prepare the talk
Part 3: Discussion: discussing issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth. |
The test is not necessarily on the same day of the rest of the exam. The score is determined by 1 examiner. |
| TOEFL | Recorded (use of a microphone) | 20 minutes /6 tasks | Express an opinion on a familiar topic; speak based on reading and listening tasks. | On the same day of the rest of the exam. The score is determined by 6 reviewers. |
Band scores equivalent
| English Language proficiency level | Test component | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | CAE | OET |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functional | Average/total/overall across test components only | 4.5 | 32 | 30 | 147 | n/a |
| Vocational | Listening | 5.0 | 4 | 36 | 154 | B |
| Reading | 5.0 | 4 | 36 | 154 | B | |
| Writing | 5.0 | 14 | 36 | 154 | B | |
| Speaking | 5.0 | 14 | 36 | 154 | B | |
| Competent | Listening | 6.0 | 12 | 50 | 169 | B |
| Reading | 6.0 | 13 | 50 | 169 | B | |
| Writing | 6.0 | 21 | 50 | 169 | B | |
| Speaking | 6.0 | 18 | 50 | 169 | B | |
| Proficient (for points tested Skilled visas) | Listening | 7.0 | 24 | 65 | 185 | B |
| Reading | 7.0 | 24 | 65 | 185 | B | |
| Writing | 7.0 | 27 | 65 | 185 | B | |
| Speaking | 7.0 | 23 | 65 | 185 | B | |
| Superior (for points tested Skilled visas) | Listening | 8.0 | 28 | 79 | 200 | A |
| Reading | 8.0 | 29 | 79 | 200 | A | |
| Writing | 8.0 | 30 | 79 | 200 | A | |
| Speaking | 8.0 | 26 | 79 | 200 | A |
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