Language Tests for Studying Abroad: IELTS vs TOEFL

Today I'm going to introduce the language tests you need before studying abroad. The most common ones are the TOEFL and the IELTS, and of course there are other smaller testing organizations, such as Duolingo. In this post I'll share some information about the TOEFL and IELTS, plus my own experience preparing for the IELTS.

💯 TOEFL vs. IELTS

The TOEFL and IELTS are the most common language tests, and they're scored differently. Each TOEFL section is scored out of 30, and the final score is the total of the four sections. Each IELTS section is scored out of 9, and the final score is the average of the four sections.

Besides scoring, the IELTS and TOEFL also differ somewhat in format and content. IELTS listening includes fill-in-the-blank, true/false and matching questions, which may take some getting used to at first, so you'll need some practice. TOEFL reading has more science and academic topics, which means you may run into a lot of uncommon words🥺. The speaking sections differ too: the TOEFL is taken on a computer, while the IELTS is scored by a human examiner. Neither test is absolutely better than the other, and neither one is easier. I'd suggest trying some practice tests to see the differences for yourself before deciding which one to sign up for. As for me, I don't like memorizing vocabulary😛, and I feel I talk more smoothly with a real person than with a machine, so in the end I chose the IELTS~

Common Q&A

TOEFL for the US, IELTS for the UK?

This idea probably comes from the TOEFL being run by an American company and the IELTS by a British one, but in my personal experience most US and UK universities actually accept both.

What score is enough? Is higher always better?

Score requirements differ by school and program, so go by what each school's website says. But for schools, meeting the requirement means you can handle the teaching there, and a higher score doesn't give you any special advantage (though I've heard higher scores make it easier to get scholarships)

📚 How I Prepared for the IELTS

I took it twice, the first time during summer break and the second during winter break. Most of my prep happened during the breaks; I also spent some time preparing during the semester, but schoolwork came first. I think that schedule is about right for someone who isn't preparing full time. So I'd suggest giving yourself 3~6 months to prepare.

👂🏻Listening: watch English videos and TV shows & work through Cambridge past papers

📚Reading: work through Cambridge past papers + carefully go over your mistakes

📝Writing: for Taiwanese students, writing may be the hardest part, because you have to write a well-structured essay in a short time and be able to think independently. That takes steady accumulation and constant practice. Independent writing in particular asks you to argue your own point, so I'd suggest reading plenty of news and articles on social issues to sharpen your critical thinking. I chose to take lessons, with at least two online tutoring sessions a week. The teacher gave homework each session, then corrected it and went over it with me in the next session, telling me what I needed to improve. If you have the budget, I think lessons are a really good way to push yourself to improve. But you have to find a teacher who suits you, and I ran into quite a few bad ones along the way😕

💬Speaking: my online tutor was a foreign teacher. In each one-hour lesson, the first half was writing and in the second half the teacher gave me prompts to practice speaking. Besides practicing in class, I also found high-scoring examples on Youtube (thanks to the algorithm's recommendations): search 🔎IELTS Speaking Band 9.0/8.0 and you'll find examples at various scores, so you can learn how others say things and practice your listening at the same time.

Finally, a reminder: one person's honey is another person's poison, and someone else's study method may not suit you. I hope everyone makes it and passes on the first try~