Expert: Nancy Molin Longatan - 11/1/2009

Question
hello, please tell me, what is the benefit of 'IELTS' and 'TOEFL'.

Answer
Dear Sartaj,

Thanks for your question.

The IELTS and TOEFL are examinations of the English ability of a non-native speaker - one who has studied English but doesn't speak it at home.  Scores on these tests are used as part of an application for admission to an English-medium college or university.  Generally the IELTS is more recognized by British and Commonwealth institutions and the TOEFL is more recognized by universities in the USA, however nowadays they are increasingly both recognized everywhere.  There are still some universities in the USA that require the TOEFL, but use of the IELTS there is growing rapidly.

The two tests are very similar, they both test your ability in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.  The main difference is that IELTS uses a face to face interview to evaluate speaking ability, while the TOEFL is entirely computer based.  The cost of the two exams can vary in different places, one thing to consider is what the charges will be in your location.

I hope this information is useful to you.

Nancy