Which one is better? IELTS or TOFEL?

Originally Answered on Quora.com: Which is better: IELTS or TOEFL? IELTS & TOEFL both are English Proficiency test. Both tests are widely accepted by almost all universities across the world. Let’s see the difference between them: **IELTS** * First and foremost, IELTS is more comfortable than TOEFL. * It’s a paper-based exam. * Test duration is 2 hours 45 minutes. * There are four sections: Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading. * **Speaking Section** : Speaking test lasts for 11–14 minutes. It is face to face interview, and there are complete three tasks. 1. Task 1: In task 1, first of all, you will give your introduction and then you will be asked questions on familiar topics such as about family, hobbies, hometown etc. Task 1 lasts around 4–5 minutes. 2. Task 2: Task 2 lasts for 3–4 minutes. You have to talk on a manageable topic such as ‘Describe a place you have visited recently.’ or ‘what you did in your recent free time?’ Etc. You will be given 1 minute for preparation, you can make notes too. Then you have to speak 2 minutes continuously about a given topic. 3. Task 3: In task 3, you will be asked questions that are related to task 2 topic. Again this task is for around 4–5 minutes. The speaking test can be taken either before, after or on the same day as the other sections. * **Listening Section** : There is a total of 4 sections in the IELTS listening test. The best part is this listening test is similar for both Academic and General module. So this test is easy and scoring section as well. A 1st and 2nd section is based on the social situation while 3rd and 4th sections are academic. There is a total of 40 questions and test lasts for 40 minutes. You listen to the recording and answer the questions for 30 minutes. After that, you have 10 minutes to transfer your answer to the answer sheet. While listening you have question paper in front of you, so you know what answer you have to find and when you get your answer you can write it over there. * **Writing Section** : There are two tasks in this section. In task 1, you have to describe a pie chart/ bar graph/ line graph/ table or diagram. Task 2 is an essay. You have a total of 60 minutes for the overall writing task. In task 1, you have to write at least 150 words and in task 2 at least 250 words. If you write less than these, you will lose band 1. There are real sample answer sheets are available, you can download it, print it and practice on it. As it’s a paper-based test, you can write it either by using a pencil or pen. While in TOEFL you have to type your essay. * **Reading Section **: Reading test is also lasts for 1 hour. It comes directly after your test. There is no extra time for you to transfer your answers on an answer sheet, you have to write your answers while reading only. There are three reading passages in the academic module. These passages are usually taken from books, magazine, and newspapers, so they are easier than that of TOEFL reading section. I didn’t appear for TOEFL, so I don’t know much about it. I heard about it from my friends. So many of my friends gave TOEFL 2–3 times and scored low. Some people might not be comfortable with the computerized test. Even I heard during a speaking section in TOEFL, Other candidates are also speaking so one may not give that much concentration to one’s speaking. Sometimes there were some technical problems. Some topics or unfamiliar or not relevant, ambiguous. In the listening section, you first have to listen to a recording and then questions will appear, so that time it may difficult to answer some questions. Well, recently I have appeared for IELTS, and my experience with it was excellent. IELTS test conducts at hotels, so the environment was great. I was made comfortable by the examiner before my speaking test, so I didn't even feel like I am here for any test and all and I scored well in my IELTS test. I hope this information helps. Good luck, Thank you.