MBA applicants whose first language is not English but who want to apply to a business school in an English speaking country are often required to take a standardised test in order to prove their proficiency in the English language. Two standardised tests are generally accepted for this purpose: the TOEFL and the IELTS. But what are the differences between these two tests and which one should you take: the TOEFL or IELTS?
What the TOEFL and the IELTS have in common
Both tests test four different main language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The cost for taking the test is also similar, as they both cost between USD 150 and USD 250 to take, but the price may vary depending on where the test is taken. The score for both tests is valid for two years and expires after that time has passed.
| TOEFL | IELTS |
| About four hours long | Two hours and 45 minutes long |
| Available at over 500 locations in the US, more than 4,500 worldwide | Available at 59 locations in the US, about 900 worldwide |
| Cost is usually between USD 160 and USD 200 | Cost varies widely even within the same country; usually is about USD 200 |
| Score on a sliding scale from 0 to 120 | Score at any of 9 “bands,” or levels of proficiency |
TOEFL
The TOEFL focuses on academic English while the IELTS offers both an academic version of the test and a general version of it. However, even the academic version of the IELTS has a more general part for listening and speaking, so many experts say the IELTS has more of a real world feel compared to the TOEFL.
Additionally, test takers who have knowledge mainly in American English may find parts of the vocabulary in the IELTS slightly unfamiliar, while those who have studied British English for the most part may feel the same about the TOEFL.
Differences in the speaking section
The biggest difference between the tests can be found in the speaking section, as this is done by recorder for the TOEFL but in person in the IELTS. That means that you may be asked to clarify your answers in the IELTS, while this is of course not possible for the TOEFL.
The speaking part in the TOEFL requires you to answer six questions and lasts for around 20 minutes, while the same part in the IELTS consists of three different sections and lasts for around 15 minutes. The sections are: 1. Familiar topics, such as your studies, your job, your family etc. 2. A specified topic that you will have to prepare a monologue about. 3. Questions about part 2 and clarifications related to the monologue given.
Differences in the writing section
There are some noteworthy differences in the writing section as well. Namely, you will be typing everything on a keyboard when taking the TOEFL but when you take the IELTS you will be writing on paper instead.
(Editor's note: The IELTS can also be taken on computer. The test report form, content, timing, and structure of the test is the same whether you take the test on paper or on computer. You can check here if the computer-delivered IELTS is available in your country.)
Differences in the listening section
The listening section in the TOEFL will require you to listen for 60 minutes, while the IELTS will require you to listen for 30 minutes. In order to see if you have understood what you have heard, you will be given multiple choice questions in the TOEFL while the IELTS will have a range of different types of questions for this part, including sentence completion, choosing “True”, “False” or “Not Given” etc.
It is also important to note that the IELTS may include a range of different accents from different English speaking countries, such as Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia, Great Britain and the United States but the TOEFL will always be in standard American English.
Differences in the reading section
Again, the TOEFL will only give you multiple choice questions to answer, but a range of different types of questions may show up in the IELTS. Test takers who like multiple choice questions therefore often opt for the TOEFL but there are also a lot of people out there who believe that it is easier to get a high score if there are a range of different questions in the test and therefore prefer the IELTS.
The TOEFL reading material is significantly longer than the IELTS material and therefore it is sometimes suggested that the TOEFL text requires
more concentration.
Other things you should know about the tests
Not all business schools will accept both the IELTS and the TOEFL, so if you already know which business school you are applying to, you may want to contact them in order to ask them which one of the two they accept, or if perhaps both are accepted. This information can often be found on the university’s website as well.
This article first appeared on aringo.com, an MBA admissions consulting company.
Check out: IELTS vs TOEFL: What are the differences?
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