Ever wonder the difference between the three famous English proficiency tests which are TOEFL, TOEIC, and IELTS? These three are the most common English tests administered at this time. No matter how fluent a speaker you are, if you want to study in an English-speaking country but come from a country that does not recognize English as its national language, you will need one of those exams to prove your skills.
TOEFL, also known as the Test of English as a Foreign Language is currently the most common for non-native English speakers. TOEFL is often a requirement at most colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and other English-speaking countries. Businesses or scholarship programs might also require TOEFL. You also have to note that the TOEFL score is valid for two years and then subject to re-evaluation after a two-year period.
There are two most common forms of the test, the Internet-based Test (IBT) and the Paper-based Test (PBT). IBT is comprised of four sections which are reading, listening, speaking, and writing, while PBT is made up of four sections which are Listening, Structure & Written Expression, Reading Comprehension & Writing. The IBT has a total of 120 points, whereas the PBT ranges between 310 up to 667 points. Every school, university, or company will have their own requirement for the minimum point you have to reach on the test. The most common minimum point is 550-600 on the PBT for applying for a scholarship or to a certain company.
Let’s move to TOEIC. TOEIC stands for Test of English for International Communication. This test is to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment. The test itself is 2 hours in length, multiple-choice with listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. The point system ranges from 10 to 990 points, and again, every institution will have its own requirement for the minimum point you have to reach.
Last but not least is IELTS, otherwise known as the International English Language Testing System. IELTS is administered by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council, and IDP Education. This test has 2 primary versions which are the academic version and the general training version. The academic version is meant for students who want to enroll in universities or higher education institutions, as well ass for medical professions, while the general training version is meant for those looking to gain work experience or for purely immigration purposes.
Similar to TOEFL, an IELTS score is valid for two years. The test is divided into 3 parts, which are listening, reading, and writing. A brand is given along with a score, ranging from 1-9, with 9 being ‘expert’ proficiency.
Now you understood the differences, you can decide which test you should take depends on your needs. Good luck!
Source:
https://www.studyinternational.com/news/ielts-toefl-cambridge-toeic-whats-difference/
https://www.manhattanreview.com/blog/english-tests-toefl-ielts-pte-toeic-the-differences/