PreplyHomeEnglishShould I take TOEFL or IELTS exams?
Pavlo
Pavlo

Should I take TOEFL or IELTS exams?



Which one is most valued by employers?

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9 Answers

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name
English Tutor
Tutor

They're both good for 2 years, so it really doesn't matter if your school/company isn't telling you that you have to take a specific one. They just have different questions and strategies.

The answer is:

name
English Tutor
Tutor

The IELTS exam is a better choice for attending English speaking universities.

Shyma
Shyma
English Tutor
Certified tutor (General English,exam and interview preparation),TESOL certified from Trinity College.

Hey, you can go for both, indeed. However, I would suggest you take the IELTS exam if you choose to attend the test for academic purposes.






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name
English Tutor
Tutor

Hey Pavlo,

This really depnds on what you need the exam for and where you want to use it. The TOEFL and IELTS are the two most commonly administered English language proficiency exams. Both test the same four areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, but the tests vary in terms of format and the way they test skills.

The TOEFL is more commonly accepted by American institutions, while the IELTS is more commonly accepted overseas, but many schools accept scores from either exam. ... Generally speaking, the majority of United States schools surveyed stated they preferred TOEFL scores over scores of other English-language tests.

In the debate of TOEFL vs. IELTS, ask yourself the following four questions to figure out which exam is best for you:

Which exam does the schools you’re interested in accept? Which test plays more to your strengths? Is one easier to get to? Is one cheaper?

TOEFL vs IELTS: Which is harder? This is probably the question you’re most concerned with, but it’s pretty difficult to compare the TOEFL and the IELTS directly. A better way to find the answer to this question is to ask yourself a few questions. Answer the following questions with a simple “yes” or “no.”

I am comfortable with computers. YES/NO I am comfortable speaking extemporaneously into a microphone. YES/NO I can type quickly. YES/NO I prefer standard American English. YES/NO I am good at answering multiple-choice questions. YES/NO It is easy for me to take notes from a recording. YES/NO The authentic English sources I read/listen to/watch are usually intended to inform rather than entertain. YES/NO If you answered YES to most of these questions, the TOEFL is probably the best fit for your skill set.

I am comfortable having a detailed interview in-person. YES/NO I have legible English handwriting. YES/NO I can understand a variety of dialects of English. YES/NO I prefer tests with many question types, including multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, true/false, and flowcharts. YES/NO I feel most comfortable discussing non-academic topics in English. YES/NO The authentic English sources that I read/listen to/watch are usually made to entertain. YES/NO If you answered YES to most of these questions, then you might find the IELTS to be more up your alley.

Again, it's quite hard to say which one is better. Research them both and decide what you need it for and decide from there. For example, if you want to live in America or work for an american institution, then it's probably better to do TOEFL. If you want to live or work in Europe, then the IELTS is better.

I got my information from magoosh.com and prepscholar.com

Hope I've helped a bit!

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Tebah
Tebah
English Tutor
Conversational English Expert , IELTS/TOEFL/FCE specialist with 6 years of experience.

Both exams are accepted in any institution you want to get into. Some schools especially, specify which is required for their application process. With TOELF usually require a score at least 7.5 + while IELTS a score of 8+ is the prerequisite. In my experience preparing students for both exams , I find TOELF a little bit more difficult which explains the lower score. But on the bright side the both have the same formats in the exams

The answer is:






name
English Tutor
Tutor

Hi Pavlo

You've had a good response to this question from other English experts.

HOWEVER, these are exams which are required by learning institutions such as universities (IELTS in the UK) and not necessarily employers

If you're looking for a qualification which is recognised by employers then consider the Cambridge Exams instead.

Send me a direct message and we can discuss this in detail :)

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Christine
Christine
English Tutor
Speaking with natives can be scary so let's build your confidence so that you can live your dream life! ✅TEFL and TEYL Certified Teacher. ✅Research Based Natural Language Acquisition

An newcomer to the exam field is Duolingo. Their exam is only $50usd and accepted by a large and growing list of institutions and organizations. The test is online and the results are delivered in just two days!

https://englishtest.duolingo.com/home

Best wishes!

The answer is:






Ewang
Ewang
English Tutor
Certified language Tutor with over 6 years Experience in Teaching and Translator

Hi Pavlo

Advantages of IELTS

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is popular worldwide with speakers of English as a second language as proof of their proficiency. IELTS is jointly owned and managed by the British Council, Cambridge English Language Assessment and IDP Education Australia. If you plan to enrol at a university or college, apply to business organisations, or register for a visa from government agencies in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, the IELTS test can help you reach your education, career or life goals.

However, both of them are very important

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Leonah
Leonah
English Tutor
Experience - IELTS, OET, CAEL, CELPIP, TOEFL, CAE, FCE, C2, PTE, SAT, DIGITAL SAT, TOEIC, APTIS, GMAT, DUOLINGO. BUSINESS + TRAVEL ENGLISH, from BEGINNER

Hi Learners Feel free to sign up with tutors here at Preply and they will help you achieve your learning goals. Best Regards

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Nyasha
Nyasha
English Tutor
Certified English tutor: Master English with Me: Start Today!

They are both recommended, and they are both useful for the same things just different structures and questioning. You just have to decide or research which one is more accepted by institutions or which will enable you to learn more. Otherwise I don't think you will face any issue choosing either.

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Augusto
Augusto
English Tutor
Interactive, Experienced & Certified English Tutor.

Depending on your objective: if you are willing to enter a University that is part of the Commonwealth IELTS may be a better option. Since I have taken both tetst I can tell you that IELTS has a slightly higher difficulty and with that also a slightly higher value

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