What gives the surrender of ielts. IELTS: what is it for and what prospects does this exam open? IELTS for people with disabilities

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are international exams that test knowledge of English as a foreign language. It would seem that choosing one of the two exams is not difficult, because both test knowledge of the English language. But the first impression is deceptive, and they are completely different. The question arises "What to take: IELTS or TOEFL?". In this article, we looked at the features of TOEFL and IELTS, which will help you understand which exam you need to take.

Why do I need IELTS and TOEFL

If you want to move to an English-speaking country, find a permanent job there, or get a higher education, then a certificate from one of these exams is a must for you. In addition, he will become good plus when obtaining a visa at a foreign embassy. Most countries in the world recognize IELTS and TOEFL certificates as a document confirming your knowledge of the English language.

What is the difference between TOEFL and IELTS

Why are both of these exams needed, we figured it out. Now let's see how they differ. There are two main differences that should be considered first when choosing an exam:

1. Language and country

IELTS tests knowledge of British English. That is, you will need IELTS if you want to move to the UK, Australia or New Zealand. TOEFL tests knowledge of American English. TOEFL is required for those who want to move to the United States of America or Canada.

In addition to England and America, over 130 countries accept TOEFL scores and over 145 countries accept IELTS scores. If you are going to study abroad, then with a TOEFL or IELTS certificate, the doors of 9,000 educational institutions are open to you. In addition, many American universities accept IELTS results, and many British universities accept TOEFL. Therefore, be sure to check which exam is preferable at the university of your choice.

2. Format

The exam is available in two versions: General IELTS - a test for general knowledge in English; Academic IELTS is an academic English proficiency test. In order to live and work in any English-speaking country, it is enough to have a General IELTS certificate.

TOEFL exists only in an academic version, therefore, in terms of complexity, it is equivalent to Academic IELTS. The TOEFL certificate is a must for those who want to get higher education in the US or Canada. Academic IELTS is for those who want to study or work at a university in the UK or Australia.

IELTS exists only in a "paper" version, while TOEFL can be taken in two formats: Paper-based Test (TOEFL PBT) - a written version of the test and Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) - a computer-based version. The structure of the two formats is different. In the article "" you can find out what is their difference.

Which is easier: IELTS or TOEFL

Now we have come to the question that interests everyone - "Which exam is easier: IELTS or TOEFL?". It is impossible to answer unambiguously, because there are too many parameters to take into account. We have tried to cover this issue from different angles.

TOEFL and IELTS exams are taken differently. We suggest you use the tables where we compared all the similarities and differences between the formats. This way you can determine which exam is best for you. We will consider only TOEFL iBT, since it is more popular, the "paper" version is rarely given. In addition, there are very few TOEFL PBT test centers in Russia.

Reading. Reading
TOEFL	IELTS
Number of texts: 3 to 5.	Number of texts: 3.
Tasks: 12-14 questions for each text.	Tasks: 40 questions to all texts.
The size: about 700 words in each text.	The size: 650-1000 words per text.
Time: total - 60-100 minutes, 20 minutes to work with each text.	Time: total - 60 minutes, 20 minutes to work with each text.
Complexity: academic texts of the same complexity.	Complexity increasing texts: the first is the easiest, the last is the most difficult.

You may have noticed that TOEFL Reading is less predictable. It is impossible to predict how many texts you will get and what their number depends on. Texts are taken from scientific articles, lectures, etc. The vocabulary in them is quite complex, but understandable to a person without special education.

The General IELTS module contains texts about Everyday life English. They are taken from popular newspapers and magazines, the vocabulary in them is general colloquial. In the Academic IELTS module, as the name suggests, academic texts taken from scientific or pseudo-scientific publications. The vocabulary in these texts is more complex, but understandable to a non-specialist in a particular field.

listening. listening
TOEFL	IELTS
Number of audio recordings: 2 to 4.	Number of audio recordings: 3.
Tasks: 5-6 questions for each entry.	Tasks: 40 questions to all entries.
Time: 60-90 minutes.	Time: 40 minutes.
Audio recordings: a dialogue between students or teachers in an educational institution and 1-3 short lectures.	Audio recordings: dialogue and monologue on everyday theme or academic content.

And again, it’s impossible to say exactly how many tasks you will get, you will find out about this only at the exam. But there is good news: the more texts you get to read, the fewer notes you get to listen to and vice versa. The difficulty of TOEFL Listening is that you first listen to an audio recording and only then get questions. And this means that you need to remember the content of the text well and have time to make notes. After listening to each audio recording, you are given 10 minutes to answer questions.

The advantage of IELTS Listetning is that you get the questions right away, meaning you can listen and answer in parallel. After listening to all the audio recordings, you are given another 10 minutes to transfer the answers to a clean copy.

writing. Letter
TOEFL	IELTS
Time: total - 60 minutes, 30 minutes for each task.	Time: total - 60 minutes, 20 minutes for the first task, 40 minutes for the second.
Tasks: 1. Essay of 300-350 words. 2. Task mixed type: you read a text and listen to a lecture on one topic and write an essay of 150-250 words based on this.	Tasks: 1. In the Academic IELTS module - describe a graph, table, diagram. In General IELTS - write a letter (official, unofficial). Volume 150 words. 2. Essay of 200-250 words in two modules.

As you can see, the Writing section is different in the two exams. However, the main difference between TOEFL and IELTS Writing is the way it is taken. For the IELTS exam, you write your essay by hand; for the TOEFL exam, you type it on a computer.

speaking. speaking
TOEFL	IELTS
Time: 20 minutes.	Time: 11-14 minutes.
Number of tasks: 6.	Number of tasks: 4.
Answer to every question: 45-60 seconds.	Answer to every question: 1-2 minutes.
Job types: expressing one's point of view; tasks of a mixed type, where you need to listen to a short lecture and answer a question.	Job types: answers to general issues, monologue, dialogue, discussion, expressing one's opinion.

Again, the sections are very different. In TOEFL Speaking, you "talk" to the computer: speak your answers into a microphone and the computer records them. In IELTS Speaking, you take the exam to a real person - you talk with the examiner.

Other features of TOEFL and IELTS

TOEFL lasts 4 hours, IELTS - 2 hours 45 minutes. Less does not mean easier. But physically it can be harder to think, listen, read, write for four hours.
All tasks in TOEFL are multiple choice, that is, you need to choose the correct answer from several proposed ones. There are different types of tasks in IELTS: fill in the gaps, indicate the statement is true or false, etc. That is, if the spelling is lame, then in IELTS this will be visible and the mark for this may be lowered.
The exam also reflects the fact that IELTS tests British English, and TOEFL - American. This means that the variant of the English language in the two exams will also be different. Words, expressions, idioms will meet those used by native speakers in the respective country.
The TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency certificate is valid for two years. After two years, information about the person who passed the exam is deleted from the database. Therefore, if necessary, the exam is taken again. The validity period is not infinite because your level of knowledge may change over time.

Which is better to take TOEFL or IELTS?

To understand which exam to take you need to decide on a few things.

1. Find out which exam is preferred in the country you are going to

If only IELTS or only TOEFL is required of you, then further reading of this list is pointless. If there is not much difference which exam to take, then we move further down the list.

2. Decide on the format

If you are going to live and work in an English-speaking country, then the General IELTS certificate will be enough for you even in America or Canada. For admission to the university, you need academic options for exams.

3. Use tables

Familiarize yourself with how each of the exams is taken, and you will be able to understand where you will feel more comfortable. Maybe you don't type very fast or, conversely, you forgot the last time you held a pen in your hands. You may not like talking into a microphone: you would like to talk to a person, not to technology. Or maybe you will be worried and nervous during a conversation with a "real" carrier. All these factors are purely individual, and you need to decide what suits your personality.

TOEFL and IELTS are two tickets to the English speaking world. If you want to get into this world, then a certificate from one of the exams will make it easier for you. No matter how well you speak English, in a foreign embassy parole not enough - you need to confirm your knowledge. For this, TOEFL and IELTS exams are needed, because they objectively assess knowledge of the English language as objectively as possible. And what exam to take and what world to go to - North America, exotic Australia, conservative England - you decide.

This exam was developed in 1990. It tests a person's mastery of all possible language skills, namely: reading, listening, speaking and writing. The exam lasts 2 hours 45 minutes and consists of 4 parts.

IELTS comes in General Training Module and Academic Module. The first type is taken by people who are going to emigrate to New Zealand, Australia, or those who want to be a cook, manager, etc. Then the Reading and Writing General Training Module offers tests that do not contain specific and academic vocabulary. The second one is handed over by people who want to study, work in their specialty, so the requirements are very high. Therefore, the results of this exam are recognized by all universities in New Zealand and the United States, and some universities in Denmark, Canada, and Germany. There are approximately 100 universities in America that accept IELTS results. This exam is becoming more and more popular, because all kinds of fraud are excluded, and the form of the exam is very successful. In addition, the translation of TOEFL into a computerized form has led to some inconvenience for people from countries where computers are not very common, so IELTS is becoming even more popular.

About 80% of people take the Academic Module. As for Russia, here, in most cases, people who are going to emigrate pass the test.

Grading system

When passing IELTS, there is a nine-point scale for assessing a candidate's knowledge. Each section is assigned a certain number of points, then they are summed up, and you get a point for the exam as a whole. At the same time, Writing and Speaking are evaluated up to 1 point, and Reading and Listening - up to 0.5 points.

It is difficult to say how many points you need to take, because each university determines for itself required amount points for admission. But in general, we can say that if you enter a faculty that requires a good knowledge of the language, then you need to score at least 6.5 points, if not, then 6 points will be enough.

Listening section

The first section of the test lasts 30 minutes and you have to answer 40 questions. The questions are divided into 4 blocks, while the first two are monologue and dialogue, they are aimed at discussing various everyday problems and situations, and the third and fourth relate to learning. For example, you will be offered a conversation with students about how to do this or that work correctly.

All tasks are contained on a cassette, which you can listen to only once, so you should concentrate as much as possible and not be distracted by anything else. After listening to the tape, you will have only 10 minutes, during which you will need to figure out what you wrote and transfer the answers to a special form.

Any special knowledge for successful delivery tests are not required. The complexity grows with each new part.

Academic Reading Section

There are also 40 questions in this section, but the time limit for them is already 60 minutes. You will be given 3 texts of about 2000 words, one of them may contain diagrams, graphs, pictures, it happens that they contain special terms, a special dictionary is issued for them.

For example, you will come across a text about the use of wind energy in Argentina. Then you will need to select words from the list and paste them into the summary and complete the sentences while choosing the desired statement from the list. At the same time, there is no additional time to transfer your answers to the form.

Academic Writing Section

In this section, you must write two texts, while the volume of the first text must be at least 150 words, the second - at least 250. Time is given an hour.

In the first part, you need to summarize the information that is given in the table or chart in your own words. By doing this, you must show your ability to organize and compare data, describe objects, and various events.

In the second task, you are given a specific topic, and on it you must write a report, a clear justification, or criticisms. The ability to make the right decision, to prove one's opinion, to compare evidence and proposals will be assessed. As for the first part, no special skills are needed here either. The second task has more weight than the first.

Speaking section

This section consists of a conversation with the examiner, it consists of 5 parts. The first part is the introduction to the examiner, i.e. the candidate and the examiner introduce themselves to each other. After the examiner asks a few standard questions about the life of the candidate, his hobbies, family. This is necessary in order to relieve stress from the candidate.

In the second part, the examiner asks the candidate to talk about something that he is interested in, during this he draws attention to his vocabulary, looks like a person can explain.

Then comes the "receiving information", while the candidate receives a card with a task, after which he must ask various questions to the examiner in order to obtain the information he needs to solve the problem.

Then comes "thinking". Its meaning is that the candidate must write about his plans for studying abroad.

The last part is the “conclusion”, which sums up the results.

Your entire interview will be taped, so take it easy and don't be shy.

How long does it take to prepare for IELTS?

Teachers believe that for a good preparation from the Intermediate level, you need from 3 months to 1 year, it all depends on the number of classes and their effectiveness.

If a person has very poor knowledge of English, then it takes several years to prepare for IELTS, but if you have a great desire and good ability, then 2-3 years will be enough for you.

Course preparation

Prepare yourself, in courses or with a tutor - it's up to you. Everyone has their own way, depending on your abilities, financial capabilities and desires. Regardless of which solution you choose, the first thing you need to do is get the official test booklet that gives sample questions and practice on them.

If you have the opportunity, it is best to go to the courses. First, you will be asked to take a test that will show your level of knowledge, on the basis of this you will be assigned to a group where people with approximately your level of English knowledge will study. On average, there are up to 15 people in a group. You may need to wait until a certain number of people have been reached.

During the class, you will go through each part of the exam in detail. A lot of time is devoted to communication and writing an essay, because the ability to perceive speech by ear and easily and competently express your thoughts is very important. You will complete tasks not only in the classroom, but also on your own at home, the main thing is not to neglect, do everything that is required of you.

Both native speakers can teach on courses, and not, but as for oral practice, it is better to take it with native speakers, because these are the most important points in the exam.

Of course, classes at the British Council training center will be the best and most effective, because it is he who takes the test and knows how best to prepare for it. Here you can study in a group, then individually with a teacher - it all depends on your desire and possibilities. But it is worth noting that such courses will cost you dearly.

They also present their developments various schools. The Polyglot Language Academy has compiled programs for students with a level of knowledge not lower than Upper Intermediate. The group for such classes consists of 3-5 people, 30 hours are allotted for group classes, while individual lessons are 10 hours. Classes 2 times a week for 1.5 hours. After such preparation, people generally pass the exam with 6.5-7 points, and such a result is enough to enter any institution.

Preparing for IELTS on your own

In order to prepare as best as possible for the delivery of this test, you need to solve all the tasks. You can buy special textbooks like Insight into IELTS or Passport to IELTS. You can get an IELTS preparation kit at the British Council offices, this kit includes cassettes, textbooks, as well as tasks that were given in previous years, they are called IELTS Specimen Materials.

Of course, not everyone has the opportunity to purchase these materials, so people can look them up at the British Council Library for free. You can also watch movies and listen to cassettes there.

There are tasks that will be elementary for native speakers, but will be difficult for you. For example, you will need to write down your last name, first name, prices, home phones under dictation. The data speaks pretty fast, so you need to literally memorize the numbers and letters, and for this you need someone to dictate random numbers and letters to you, or you yourself need to dictate it into a recorder.

Take the Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS collection, find several complete tests there and solve them, while not forgetting what is allocated to you for solving them certain time. Then look at your results, and if you have more than 60%, then this is a good result, but do not forget that you did it at home, and as you know, houses and walls help.

Where and how to take IELTS?

If you live in Russia, then you can take IELTS at the British Council centers located in Moscow. IELTS can also be taken in Ukraine, Poland and other countries. IELTS is accepted in 106 countries, with 224 reception centers.

As for the cost of passing, IELTS will cost you more than TOEFL, namely, it will be 70 pounds sterling. At the same time, you will not have to pay in dollars through Holland, you will pay in rubles at Sberbank. There are competitive programs of the British Council, according to which you will study and train in the UK. And if you have been selected to participate in these programs, then you do not pay for the delivery of IELTS.

Registration for the test

IELTS is accepted by the British Council, the Examination Board of the University of Cambridge and the Australian public organization IDP Education Australia. There are no clear dates for passing exams, they are held when the required number of applicants is recruited in the second half of the calendar month. To register for the exam, you need to go to any of these organizations from the 2nd to the 11th of each month. Living in Moscow, you need to come to the office of the British Council from 14.00 to 17.00 on a weekday, you will receive bank details, fill out the form. You need to bring two photos 3x4 cm. If you live in another city, then you can sign up for the exam by phone.

IELTS test procedure

The exam time will be 7.5 hours, taking into account the time it takes to change tasks and two breaks. The first and second sections go in a row, after them there will be a break, it is 20 minutes. Then comes Writing, followed by Speaking.

Eating and drinking is allowed, so if you didn’t have time to have breakfast at home, you shouldn’t despair, but it’s still recommended to eat at home so that you don’t get distracted by food during the exam.

You need to arrive early for the exam, because there are many formalities that take time. And if you have extra time, it’s even good, look around the place, get used to it a little, then it won’t be so exciting.

When all the candidates come, you will be launched into the audience, where they will check the documents. In the British Council, it is mandatory to present 2 documents that prove your identity, in addition, you must have a general passport with you.

Although all these formalities are tedious and, at first glance, seem like a waste of time, experience shows that it is precisely because of these formalities that many institutions rely on exam results.

Then you will receive Listening booklets and answer sheets, you need to note that you are choosing an Academic Module and sign.

If suddenly for some reason you decide to refuse to take the test, but at the same time you have already paid the required amount for passing it, you can take it in the next two months on any day or return 50% of the cost. But if you were unable to come to the exam due to illness, and you have a sick leave certificate that confirms this fact, then you will be refunded 100% of the cost.

How to behave on the test?

The most important thing is that you need to carefully read the tasks with concentration. Many people skim through assignments without reading them completely and end up answering them incorrectly. Also get ready for the fact that you will have to write down very quickly, you can shorten words, draw what you hear, the main thing is quickly.

In preparation for Listening, you need to listen to as many audio recordings as possible, watch films, most importantly with pure English speech.

When taking this test in Reading, you can choose the easiest tasks and do them first. After all, all tasks are evaluated equally, so do from the easiest to the most difficult.

Also, during the time given before listening to the cassette in the Listening section, usually 2-3 minutes, you can look through the questions and try to guess the answers to them.

If you are guided by the rule "the more the better", then this is not for this exam. You should not write a lot, it is better to write less, but better.

If you suddenly have a desire to peep answers from a neighbor, immediately forget about it, because if you are suspected of cheating, your results will not be counted. Is such an attempt worth the money that you paid for passing the exam ?!

Perhaps you didn’t have time somewhere or don’t know something, in which case you shouldn’t get lost and panic, it’s better to decide something else during this time or just try to guess what you don’t know.

As for the Speaking section, your grammar, speech speed, vocabulary and looseness are assessed here. Therefore, you should not be nervous, worried, afraid, it is better to just relax, and then it will be easier for you to talk with the examiner. Jokes will help you, and if you can’t joke, just show that you are a polite and confident person. At the same time, you should not turn away, look at the ceiling and somewhere else, no, you need to look the person in the eye. If you feel very nervous, take a few deep breaths and think that you will succeed.

When will the results be?

Your results will be known in about two weeks, they will be sent to you by mail. Once the results are known, you can ask the British Council to send your results to any institution.

In case your results disappoint you, do not despair, because you can take the exams as many times as you want, but only after three months. And remember that IELTS scores are valid for two years.

IELTS- international standard test, which assesses the level of English proficiency among the non-English-speaking part of the population. It was developed in 1989 and is run jointly by the University of Cambridge and the British Council. IELTS is one of the main English tests. There are two various options IELTS - academic (Academic) and general (General Training).

Academic IELTS

Academic version for those who want to enter and study at higher educational institutions, as well as for professionals (such as health workers, lawyers) who are going to work in their specialty in an English-speaking environment.

General Training

It is intended for work in other specialties, for studies outside of higher educational institutions, as well as for immigrants. IELTS scores are trusted by the majority educational organizations Britain, Australia, Ireland, more than 3000 universities in the USA and Canada.
There is no minimum threshold for passing the test. Based on its results, you are assigned a score from 0 to 9, and each organization sets its own threshold for passing. Organizations are advised not to consider test results older than two years unless the candidate demonstrates that they have worked to maintain their level. In 2012, over 2 million people took the IELTS test.

IELTS tests all 4 language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The score is set for each skill separately. The conversation is held one-on-one with the examiner with a mandatory record in case of appealing the results.

Listening

It consists of four sections of increasing complexity and lasts 40 minutes, of which 30 are allotted for listening, and 10 minutes for transferring answers to examination sheet. Each section is either a dialogue or a monologue, begins with an introductory part that explains the situation and introduces the speakers.

The candidate then has some time to look at the questions. The first three parts of the test have a break, when the candidate can again look into the questions, evaluating what should be paid attention to. Special attention when listening. Each part is played only once.

Reading Test

This part of the test lasts 60 minutes. The academic version consists of three parts - three texts, for each part - 13-14 questions, in total you need to answer 40 questions. The general version can include up to 5 shorter texts, also 40 questions.

Letter

In the academic version writing consists of two parts. In the first part, candidates describe a scheme, a graph, a diagram - some kind of process, and in the second part, they need to give arguments “for” or “against” on a given topic, that is, to emphasize the advantages and disadvantages, expressing their opinion on this issue.

There are also two tasks in the general version of the test. The first part is to write a letter or explain the situation, and the second part is to write an essay (see article). Some video tips from Oxford School English on how to write a good essay.

Talk

The conversation lasts 10-15 minutes and consists of three parts. The first part is an interview where you will have to tell a little about yourself, your hobbies, why you need to take the IELTS test, and also talk a little about common topics modern world: computers, fashion, free time, internet, family.

The second part is a conversation on a given topic. One minute is given to prepare, then you begin to tell what you know about this topic.

The third part is considered the most difficult, this is a discussion with the examiner, as a rule, of the topic that was in the second part.

Total test duration

The test lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes without a break of one day for listening, reading and writing (in that order). And the conversation is assigned separately - either before or after passing these three modules.

Test scores are scored on a scale of 0 to nine and are rounded as follows: if for any skill your result ends in 0.25, then it is rounded up to 0.5, if you get 0.75, then it is rounded up to whole.

Certificate

You receive a final certificate, which indicates the marks for each part separately, as well as the overall average rating. You can get "5" for conversation, "8" for written work, but in general it will be 6.5-7, for example. In some establishments, they look at the overall score, although in others it will be possible to write that the total is such and such, but for each individually not less than "6".

This is what IELTS, the international English language test, looks like

Interpretation of test results according to the common European assessment system:

5-6 points in IELTS - this is level B2,
6.5-8-C1,
over 8 - C2

The test is accepted in more than 500 locations in 121 countries around the world. The number of test takers is increasing very rapidly year by year.

The cost of passing IELTS in Moscow at the moment (September 2015) is $ 250, in other places it may be higher due to the need to pay agency fees, you need to check on the official website ielts.org. The delivery schedule - several times a year - is also on the website, you need to sign up in advance.

There used to be a time limit for retaking the test, but now it has been removed, so you can retake IELTS at least a few times a year.

What is the IELTS passing score needed in various organizations? For example, here are some:

Most high score- 8.5 required by the Department of Journalism at the University of Columbia, USA
Oxford University - 7 points
Cambridge - 7-7.5
Bermingham - 6.5
Essex - 5.5

But not all organizations trust IELTS, some conduct their own own testing or an interview on topics related to their line of work. In addition, there are other international systems for assessing the level of language proficiency. For example TOEIC, TOEFL, FCE, CAE.

Cambridge exams:

FCE(First Certificate in English) - this is the first Certificate in English, this is approximately the average level.
CAE(Certificate in Advanced English) is an advanced level exam, a more difficult Cambridge exam.

They can be compared to a single IELTS test that tests the same knowledge but covers a much wider range. If your level of knowledge of the language is average or below average, then the IELTS test will be very difficult for you, there is no point in wasting time and money on it.

It is worth choosing another test that is more appropriate for your level in the Cambridge Examination System and you will be more likely to pass it.

If your goal is to get a job abroad, then the FCE test may also be suitable. For example, people come to England to learn English and want to find a suitable job at the same time. Any service specialty or job in English family, child care and the like. FCE is the best fit for this.

IELTS General

You can also take the IELTS General, but this is more high level. It all depends on the job you will be doing. Some people just want their CV (curriculum vitae) - resume - to have an English grade.

American tests TOEIC, TOEFL

TOEIC(Test of English for International Communication) is more used by international corporations, most popular in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. This is a multi-choice test that only tests reading and listening skills, so it's inexpensive and fast.
TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) is also a multi-selective test, in this it is similar to TOEIC, but it also includes testing the other two skills: writing and speaking. It is used mainly by educational institutions in America.

Preparing for the IELTS test.

The best preparation for any test, according to linguists, is to develop all four language skills through long-term exposure to interesting, meaningful content.

More specific training in the form of courses may be offered by certified IELTS centers. In addition, you can prepare yourself using the examples of tasks posted on the official website in the preparation section.

There are many materials that will help you figure out what circle of knowledge is needed to successfully pass the test. There is also an information booklet on the test procedure and information on purchasing a two-volume book. practical materials on CD or DVD of your choice. They can also be ordered from your nearest IELTS center or directly from England and Australia.

You can also use to prepare a huge amount of materials from the Internet:

We wish you all successful preparation and delivery!

IELTS(International English Language Testing System) – This is an international English language testing system. It is used to test linguistics both for native speakers and for those who want to confirm their level of English proficiency.

TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) - international exam in English for those who use it as a foreign language. This examination system is no less widespread.

When the applicant is faced with the question of confirming his level of English with a certificate, he is forced to choose which test is most preferable for him.

Choosing Between Exams

The need to pass one or another English language test is usually dictated by the requirements of those organizations for which you are going to receive a certificate. However, in some cases there is no strict indication of which exam should be taken. In addition, sometimes we choose not the necessary tests according to the conditions set, but, on the contrary, the place of study / work according to the requirements that they voice.

When choosing a particular exam, you need to consider the following characteristics:

IELTS – international system testing, the certificate of which is accepted by thousands of organizations in 140 countries;

TOEFL is a linguistics testing system for non-native speakers of English;

by coverage of countries and organizations, which accept the received certificate, both exams are approximately the same;

choice must be made depending on Which English do you prefer: British or American

There is a definite difference in the structure and content of the IELTS and TOEFL tests, so if you prepare for both at the same time, you run the risk of not gaining sufficient experience in either of them.

The purpose of the IELTS and TOEFL exam

In most cases, the need to pass one of these exams is faced by people who want to study or work abroad.

Obtaining a certificate of English proficiency opens up the following opportunities for the candidate:

admission to a foreign educational institution (college, university, etc.);

doing an internship abroad;

work in foreign and international companies.

As a rule, most European and American universities give the applicant a choice between exams, accepting the certificate that he will provide. However, in some cases, the requirements are strictly limited to one or another type of testing.

An additional opportunity when passing IELTS is immigration to English-speaking countries. It is this examination system that is taken into account government bodies when moving and processing documents (residence permit, citizenship, etc.).

If both exams satisfy your goals, then when choosing, you need to carefully study the features of their structure, the degree of complexity and the most difficult aspects for you.

Structure difference between IELTS and TOEFL

Both exams are divided into 4 stages, which involve testing your knowledge in all areas of the English language.

These steps include:

the ability to listen to native speakers and perceive information by ear (Listening or Listening Comprehension);
ability to read texts of any subject (Reading);
the ability to write correctly without losing the thread of presentation (Writing);
ability to speak fluently and clearly (Speaking).

These stages in the tests under consideration differ slightly in the set and type of tasks and the grading system, but in general they are essentially the same. In preparation, you need to improve your level of the language, but at the same time focus on the nuances of the particular test you have chosen.

It should be noted that the paper version of TOEFL does not have a spoken part. Oral communication is replaced there by another written task - Structure and Written Expression.

The main difference between IELTS and TOEFL lies in the set of modules, that is, the types of examination. Modules are selected by candidates based on the needs for which they are being tested.

The IELTS test includes:

academic(academic) module– if you want to study / train abroad;

general(general) module– for immigration and work abroad.

Both types of test are given in specialized center in paper form, that is, no online or simply computer verification of your knowledge is provided.

The TOEFL exam is conducted in the following formats:

PBT- paper based test - is given in the center in paper form, like IELTS;

IBT– internet based test – taken from home. It takes a little more time and has a slightly different set of tasks from the paper version.

At the same time, there is no difference in the level of testing depending on your goals in TOEFL.

The second module - online testing - in recent times is gaining more and more popularity.

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Leading pronunciation: British or American

Philologists from all over the world work on the preparation of IELTS exam tasks, but the main organizations supervising the test are located in the UK. So, the main methodological developer is the University of Cambridge. Thus, IELTS is an "English" exam, and the preferred pronunciation in the Listening and Speaking parts is, of course, British.

The founder and curator of TOEFL testing is Princeton University, it is in the USA, New Jersey. In accordance with this, the leading pronunciation at the stages of listening and speaking will be North American.

This is even separately reported on the official website of the exam, so that candidates can tune in and prepare to work with this particular accent.

Keyboard typing

The IELTS exam system does not provide for a computer version of passing or online testing, therefore, the issue of the candidate's ability to use technical means does not concern this testing. The same applies to the TOEFL PBT module, in which testing is carried out in a specialized center in a classic, paper form.

When passing the TOEFL IBP module, which is an online Internet test of your knowledge of English, you will have to complete tasks on a computer.

This assumes some skill in the English layout.

AT this format you will have to type a short essay on the keyboard and fill in the missing words in the sentence, so it is recommended to practice a little before passing.

Otherwise, you may make a lot of typos or miss the deadline for purely technical reasons. It will be embarrassing.

Number of tasks in the test

In terms of the volume of test questions, the parts "Reading" and "Listening" of the testing system differ as follows:

IELTS Reading: 40 questions;
IELTS Listening: 40 questions;
TOEFL Reading: 30-55 questions;
TOEFL Listening: 30-50 questions.

This means that there is no fundamental difference in the number of tasks in these two exams, however, depending on your TOEFL topic, the volume may be slightly larger.

The written part in both tests is approximately the same, but the oral part in TOEFL involves completing 6 tasks versus 3 in the IELTS system.

An important difference in the content of the exams is the specificity of the test questions. In the American test, they are mostly the same type, but when passing the British version, you will have to tune in to a large number of different tasks.

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Exam duration

The delivery of all four stages of IELTS takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. Examiners do not allocate additional time for filling out forms and checking errors, so you need to carefully consider these procedures already in the testing process.

The TOEFL PBT test takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. At the same time, approximately 1 hour is allocated for the Reading stage, and you must complete all other sections of the exams within half an hour.

TOEFL IBT is the most democratic in this regard, this type of testing is carried out in total within 4.5 hours. However, it should be borne in mind that the tasks in it are slightly different from the paper version. In addition, it is important to have basic but powerful computer skills.

In the phased structure of time distribution, the Listening and Reading sections are in the lead, for which an hour and a half is allotted. You will have an hour for the written part, and only 20 minutes for the speaking part. When taking the TOEFL test, candidates are entitled to a 10-minute break.

Listening notes

In order to successfully complete the Reading and Listening stages, it will be very helpful for you to take some notes and notes on the drafts provided. This is allowed in both testing systems.

Keep in mind that when passing the TOEFL IBP, your "notes" are not only useful, but also recommended by the exam compilers. This means that they will indirectly count towards your score. If you chose the American test, be sure to pay attention to this.

Main Differences Between IELTS and TOEFL Exams

These two exams are a kind of competition when testing English knowledge of candidates around the world, so both the set of tasks and the assessment system are different in them. However, the general structure of the stages and their content remain the same.

Reading

In IELTS you must read a total of 2000-3000 words in this 3-part step and answer test questions. The style and subject of texts, their complexity for understanding is determined by the module you have chosen. You have 1 hour for this step.

In TOEFL, for both paper and online versions, the procedure is the same. The only difference is that here you will not be offered voluminous texts, but 5-6 passages that correspond to widely accepted styles of presentation. The assignments are given from 1 to 1.5 hours.

Listening

When taking IELTS here, you will need to listen to an audio recording and complete test tasks based on what you hear. This is the only stage where additional time (10 minutes) is allowed to complete the answer sheets.

In contrast, the TOFEL listening task set contains many small audio recordings: short dialogues, long dialogues, and short monologue lectures. After each piece, you must answer test questions. In IBT, the first part with short dialogues was eliminated, leaving only the other two.

Letter

In the IELTS system, this is writing 2 texts, 150 and 250 words minimum. The first text is an explanation of the information provided, the second is an essay "on my own" on a given topic. It takes 1 hour to complete.

TOEFL PBT actually has 2 written parts. In one that replaces the stage of oral speech (Structure and Written Expression), you must correctly fill in the gaps in sentences by choosing from the list provided. In the second - also write an essay on a given topic in the size of 150-250 words.

TOEFL IBP in this section is characterized by the use of an integrated approach. This means that you must write an essay based on reading some text and listening to an audio recording. In the work, you will have to support or refute the proposed statements and express your opinion.

Oral speech (Speaking)

Oral speech in IELTS, this is a 3-part conversation with an examiner. First you get to know each other, then you answer questions on a certain topic, and then you discuss this topic. This stage is the shortest, only 10-20 minutes.

TOEFL PBT does not provide this kind of test of your knowledge. At online testing IBP, you will be asked to speak into the microphone with the examiner and complete 6 tasks orally. This stage in TOEFL also takes only 20 minutes. Before passing the test, be sure to make sure that your computer is in good working order.

Choice specific system testing is based on what requirements you place on yourself and the organizations for which you are going to take the exam. By carefully studying all the aspects outlined in this article, you will be able to determine which of the exams most accurately meets your goals and needs.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System - international testing system in English). Pronounced ["aɪəlts]. This exam was created to measure the language ability of a person who wishes to live or study in a country where English is the lingua franca.

The exam tests the ability to communicate in English using four language skills: listening/listening, writing, reading and speaking. IELTS has been used since 1989. On the this moment IELTS is jointly administered by three organizations: the British Council (British Council), IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge (University of Cambridge ESOL).

The IELTS exam is used by English-speaking universities, colleges, professional organizations and immigration authorities in a number of countries (including the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand). The certificate is valid for two years.

There are two types of IELTS exam:
academic(designed for people who want to get higher education in educational institutions where training is conducted on English language) and General Training(intended for those who are planning to immigrate to English-speaking countries; who are planning to participate in educational programs, which does not provide for the issuance of a diploma and obtaining degree; for high school education).

Structure of the IELTS exam:

4 sections, 40 questions approximately 30 minutes
3 texts, 40 questions 60 minutes	3 sections, 40 questions 60 minutes
) 2 tasks 60 minutes	2 tasks 60 minutes
11 to 14 minutes
Total time exam 2 hours 44 minutes

Listening: Listening, i.e. listening comprehension. Four audio recordings with increasing material complexity; mostly dialogues on everyday topics and monologues. Seven various kinds tasks (including: tables, finding matches, filling in gaps, filling out forms and tables), which you need to answer as you listen.
For the IELTS exam, the audio material only plays ONCE. At the end, 10 minutes are given to transfer the answers to special examination forms.
40 minutes. 34-51. 0-9.

Reading:
academic
Three excerpts from original texts taken from books, magazines, newspapers. At least one of the texts contains a reasoned discussion of some issue. Ten different types of tasks, including: determining the views of the author (for example, the statement: the author argues that the punishment for a minor crime should only be in the form of a fine; answer options: yes, no, not given), finding certain information in the text.
60 minutes. 40. 0-9.

General Training
Three sections consisting of original texts taken from advertisements, flyers, newspapers, instruction manuals, books and magazines.
1. The first section is related to the issues of "survival" in an English-speaking country (for example, you need to read the instructions for any device and answer what you need to do if, for example, the electricity goes out in the house).
2. The second section is related to work in an English-speaking country and contains more advanced vocabulary.
3. The third section is the most complex and contains texts with a more complex structure.
General Training
Two tasks:
1. Write a 150-word letter in response to a situation, asking for information or explanation. Purpose: to show the ability to correspond, give facts, express one's opinion, write complaints, offer a solution to the problem. Time for the task: approximately 20 minutes.
2. In the second task, the candidate is offered a point of view, a problem. It is necessary to provide general information, propose a solution to the problem, justify your opinion and evaluate ideas, evidence or points of view. Time to complete the IELTS exam: approximately 40 minutes.
  In both assignments great importance has the right writing style.
60 minutes. 2 tasks. 0-9.

Oral speech (Speaking): One-on-one interview with a native speaker examiner. This part The exam can take place on a different day from the previous parts (a week earlier or later than the main part). Usually non-residents (those who came to the examination center from afar) try to be examined on the same day.
3 parts:
1. The examinee and the examiner introduce themselves. This is followed by questions about family, hobbies, studies, interests and other similar topics. Time: usually 4-5 minutes.
2. The dealer is given a card with a question on any topic. One minute is given to prepare, after which you need to speak on a given topic for 1-2 minutes. The examiner then asks a few follow-up/clarifying questions.
3. Discussion on abstract topics related to the topic of the card from the previous task. Time: 4-5 minutes.

Total exam time: 2 hours 45 minutes. Total score: 0-9 (with breakdown of scores for each of the sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).

IELTS Exam Results

In the IELTS exam, candidates are scored on a scale from 0 to 9 in each of the four parts of the exam (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). The results of the four parts determine the total score for the IELTS exam.

9-point IELTS scale

The score for any of the parts and for the entire IELTS exam can be expressed as an integer or intermediate (half) score (for example, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0).

9 – Expert: Fully fluent in the language: adequate, precise, fluent language with full understanding.

8 - Very good user: fully fluent in the language. Inaccuracies and inconsistencies are very rare. In unfamiliar situations can show misunderstanding. Uses and understands complex reasoning well.

7 - Good user: speaks the language good level with periodic inaccuracies and misunderstandings (in some situations). In general, he has a good command of complex structures, and demonstrates a clear detailed understanding.

6 - Competent user: generally speaks the language well, with the exception of some inaccuracies and occasional misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language constructs, especially in familiar situations.

5 - Moderate user: partially speaks the language, understanding the main meaning in most cases, although commits a large number of errors. Must be able to carry on a conversation on familiar topics.

4 - Restricted user: basic abilities are limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems understanding and expressing his thoughts. Unable to use complex language constructs.

3 - Extremely limited user: able to express and understand only the main point in very familiar situations. Frequent hitches and mistakes in speech.

2 - Unsure user: real communication not possible except in the most general way using individual words and the simplest expressions in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Available big problems with understanding of spoken and written language.

1 - Non-linguistic: no ability to use language except for a few isolated words.

0 - There was no attempt to pass: not provided a result that could be evaluated.

Good luck with your IELTS exam!