If you are thinking about studying overseas in an English speaking country or an European University, then you will probably need to take an English proficiency test. But which one should you choose?
The two most common English tests for university admission are the IELTS and TOEFL tests. This article will compare both to choose the best one for you.
Basic Information about the exams 雅思和托福的基本資訊
The IELTS exam, or International English Language Testing System, is developed by UCLES, University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES and delivered by the British Council and IDP Education Australia. The test is available in an Academic and General Training Module (only the writing and reading are different). Here, we are talking about the Academic module.
The TOEFL Test, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is developed and delivered by ETS, the Educational Testing Service, a non-profit American company that has a virtual monopoly. The test is available in a paper-based version (PBT), a computer-based version (CBT) and an Internet-Based Version (IBT). Here, we only look at the Internet-Based Test.
All are non-profit organizations – but do occasionally make money.
Cost 考試費用
The cost of the IELTS test can vary depending on whether the provider is IDP or The British Council, but currently it is NT$5,100 in Taiwan (around US$160) while the TOEFL is US$160.
How many times I can take the tests? 我應該考幾次雅思 / 托福？
IELTS test is available on 48 fixed dates a year – for specifically available dates you need to contact your local center while the TOEFL is available in any 7-day period. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the test
Acceptance 學校接受度
It used to be the case that IELTS tests were only accepted by British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian schools while TOEFL dominated in the US. How things have changed! Now, the two tests are literally competing with each other and nearly any school you wish to go to will accept both.
Difficulty 考試難易度
Students often ask which is more difficult. Unfortunately, the answer really depends on your individual situation and your learning experience. It can also depend on your learning style and how you think. In many cases, difficulty depends on the type of tasks in each test.
How are IELTS and TOEFL different? 雅思和托福的差異性？
In the IELTS exam, the speaking test is divided into three parts: (1) general topics, (2) the individual Long turn, and (3) discussion. Part one involves answering common English type questions on up to three or four topics such as flowers, the Internet, and your hometown. In part two, you are given a topic to talk about for two minutes and one minute to prepare for it. In part three, the examiner will discuss with you a variety of issues and ideas with you related to the topic. So, if you had to talk about a famous person you admired in part two, you may end up discussing the idea of fame, and whether or not famous people should consider how they influence society.
In the TOEFL iBT things are quite different. To begin with, you are facing a computer, not an examiner. You begin with 2 questions where you have to report and comment on what you hear. You then have integrated questions that require you to read some information and then listen to something. For example, you may read about library opening times, and then listen to someone talking about what they have to do that day. There is also a task that requires you to listen to someone talking about a problem and the test-taker has to summarize the situation, the problem and what they think the speaker ought to do.
Overall, many English learners prefer the Face-to-Face Interview in IELTS. You are able to ask the interviewer to clarify, explain words or repeat the question, which makes it easier to make sure that you answer the question properly. In the IELTS test, asking questions does NOT reduce your score. On the other hand the TOEFL test environment can be noisy and uncomfortable since you listen to pre-recorded questions and speak into a microphone in a room filled with other people. You also have a fixed time limit while the IELTS is more flexible.
The other thing to consider is the type of questions themselves. The biggest problem with the TOEFL speaking for some people is that it may be difficult to catch the ideas in the integrated speaking questions. That said, the TOEFL speaking questions are not as complex. IELTS questions can become quite sophisticated in part 3.
Listening 聽力考試
IELTS and the TOEFL iBT differ in question types, format, content, length and accent. First, in the iBT all questions are multi-choice format, checking or matching. IELTS, on the other hand, has a wider range of question types and it often asks you to write exactly the words you hear. Spelling is critical.
In the iBT test, apart from the first part, all are lectures or mini-lectures. While IELTS has a conversation in Part 1, a monologue on a topic of general interest in Part 2, a 2-4 person discussion in an academic context in Part 3 and a simplified lecture in Part 4.
As for accents, IELTS prides itself on the fact that it has a real range including British, Australian, and North American, while in the iBT students will hear British, American, and Canadian. Length also differs with the IELTS being considerably shorter at 30-40 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time while the iBT will be between 60-90 minutes since ETS (the test developer) may try out a new test on the tester.
Regarding content, TOEFL listenings tend to be more academically specialized. They are more likely to ask questions about cells, and molecular biology. Although IELTS listenings are also academic, they tend to be more general. The main reason why people find IELTS listenings difficult is that they require you to write down words and phrases, which is difficult because usually the keywords are synonyms or paraphrased AND you have to spell correctly! Finally, if you are used to American English, you will find the IELTS test to be a little more challenging just because of the wider range of accents.
Reading 閱讀考試
Interestingly, the IELTS and iBT reading sections are fairly similar. You will face 3 readings in the IELTS and 3-5 in the iBT – again because of ETS’ testing policy. this also means the iBT is longer at 60-90 minutes compared to the IELTS’ 60. There are a greater range of question types in IELTS including multi-choice, writing words, matching, summarizing, Yes / No / Not Given and others. The iBT tends to have more multi-choice questions. It also has checking and matching questions along with some questions that test a students awareness of a passage’s organization.
Again, the main difference is in the format of the questions. Again, the IELTS requires a much better control over your language. Some of the tasks require you to understand what types of words (verb, noun, adjective etc) could possibly fit in a space. There are also some challenging tasks – especially the Yes / No / Not Given questions! In other words, if you have a very strong passive vocabulary (you can understand the basic meanings of many words) and are good at eliminating options then TOEFL will be better for you. That said, if you have a wider general awareness of language and reading then you will understand more of the IELTS reading as the TOEFL iBT is more subject specific.
This is the part where the two exams differ the most. The TOEFL iBt requires an integrated writing task and a simple (independent) essay task while IELTS requires students to write one essay and one report based on visual information. Both are challenging and difficult in different ways.
Looking at the standard essay types first, in both cases, students are asked to write a formal essay in response to a prompt.
IELTS prompt types:
- Present and support an opinion (agree/disagree)
- Discuss problems/solutions
- Weigh two arguments
- Compare advantages and disadvantages
TOEFL prompt types
- Present and support an opinion (agree/disagree)
- Explain a preference
- Comparison and contrast
- Description and evaluation
- If / Imaginary
Generally, TOEFL questions are much easier to understand than IELTS questions. TOEFL questions need to be a little longer at 300 words to IELTS 250.
The IELTS (Academic) Task 1 question type is the one that gives many students trouble. Here, they are asked to describe a piece of factual information such as a table, chart, or process in 150 words. Students often find it difficult to work out exactly what they are supposed to be writing.
The iBT Integrated Essay is very different. Students need to listen to a speaker and read a short article that either supports or contradicts the speaker. They then need to write a short report summarizing the key points presented
The TOEFL integrated task is difficult since you need to read and listen and make notes about what you hear before writing. This can be difficult for students. However, it is balanced by the second writing task which is often much easier to understand than IELTS writing topics! In fact, the writing is nearly always the most challenging section for IELTS students, Not only do you have to master a wide range of writing styles for Task 1 where you have to describe data, you also lose marks in IELTS if you do not directly answer the question. This is a common problem!
It is also important to think about some practical matters. You currently need to handwriteyour writing in IELTS while you use a computer in the iBT. Timing is also important. In the IELTS test, you have longer and the time is more flexible. You have 60 minutes and the student is able to divide the time as they wish. In contrast, in the iBT you only have 20 minutes to complete the first task and then 30 minutes to complete the second task.
So which is better? 哪一個考試較適合我？
It really depends, both are very widely accepted and they cost about the same. The real issue is if you feel that you will do better in one format or the other. For example, if you have terrible spelling, you WILL score lower in the IELTS Listening test. On the other hand, if you are a weak speaker and need a bit of help, then the IELTS speaking format will help. So, it is up to you!
What ever your decision, good luck with your test!
轉眼間我來流利英語學苑也快半年了，還記得我來考入班考試的當天，當我看到老外準備要跟我對話時，我整個人完全呆住了，從以前到現在，我頂多在學校背背英文單字，很少會開口講英文。所以當時我只好硬著頭皮上啦。考完後我發現文法、單字錯的一蹋糊塗，那天我便開始投入IE2 英文密集班初級的課程，第一堂課真可說是一個震撼教育呀，我發現怎麼每個人都說得這麼棒呀!我便下定決心雖然我比別人晚開始，但我要比別人更認真、更努力一定可以超越其他人。還記得當時我的老師是Warwick 他是一個非常親切的老師，不管是一個字還是一句話，他總是不厭其煩地糾正我們的發音、語氣，還記得有一次下課時老師還特別留下來單獨指導我口說，像我這種毛病特別多的學生，一般老師一定都直接略過，但他竟然足足教了我半個小時，也讓我十分感動，也是他讓我有信心開口說英文。到現在我升上了IE3英文密集班中級，和一些外籍老師聊聊天對我來說已經不是一件那麼困難的事了，不久之前我在家附近的早餐店看到一群完全不會講中文的僑生，和一個年紀一大把的老闆娘點餐，我在一旁看著他們比來比去，指來指去，都沒有一個結論，我就上前去充當翻譯員，幫助他們吃到美味的早餐。不只如此，除了口說外此學苑還提共了一整櫃的英文小說，讓每個學生藉此增加自己的單字量，對我來說，學英文的目的不只是為了要應付學校的考試，英文在現今社會已經成為一個非常重要的語言，不管在職場上，還是旅遊上，語言通了，很多事情就可以簡單解決，不妨大家都抽個空來流利英文學院聽聽看，會收到意想不到的效果唷。
大家好我叫Ricky
我覺得在流利英文學習英文，比在其他的英文班上課還容易吸收，因為是小班制，每一班都不超過十個人，所以每一個人都可以被老師照顧到，不會因為很多人沒被老師照顧到，而成績下降，吸收能力下降。在流利，老師會一一的指導你，並不會讓你一個人在旁邊不知如何是好，你不會覺得自己好像被老師放棄了，而少了自信，只要老師一一的照顧並加以指導，你就會多了信心，多了學習英文的自信，就會喜歡上英文，就會覺得自己的英文程度步步高升。
很開心能到流利學習英文，在這裡有親切的職員，會時常關心我的學習的狀況，而且更有優秀的外籍老師幫助我，讓我每次上完課後，英文能力又往上提升了，並且不斷的進步。流利所使用的教材我很喜歡，因為課本除了內容有趣之外，教材還提供了線上的學習的平台，讓我不管是下班後或是休假在家，也一樣可以持續練習並增進我的英文能力。