Hello everyone! There are many exams out there for students to choose from depending on their needs and that of the institution or country of immigration.
The CEFR or Common European Framework is a useful indicator if the institution does not specify a specific score or type of exam.
The IELTS and TOEFL are probably the most taken of the tests and these use differing marking systems.
Both exams test the 4 main English disciplines namely-
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speaking
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writing
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listening
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reading
but the similarities end there. IELTS speaking is an interview with a real person with 3 sections to the session. The middle section requires you to speak for up to 2 minutes on a given topic and the writing test has to be handwritten which may be a difficult area for some.
However, the TOEFL is entirely computer based so there is a need to be in a quiet environment for the listening even with noise-canceling headphones. A past IELTS student of mine took the PTE and failed twice due to the uncomfortable sound system being unable to understand her Ukranian accent. Compare this to a real person and you see why the IELTS scores higher in my opinion.
There are 2 versions of the IELTS exam-
IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is generally required by universities in English-speaking countries. It is also the test favoured by professional bodies for registration purposes.
It is also VERY important to understand that if you need the IELTS Academic exam there is an Academic visa exam and a normal Academic exam. Incredibly these are the SAME exam but the way it is done for the visa application is different and is explained by the British Council as follows on their site-
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-ukvi/test-takers-faqs#How is IELTS different?
Separate sessions will be held for UKVI applicants. You must ensure you register for an “IELTS for UKVI” test date at the locations listed here.
The IELTS test for UK visa purposes is designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specific to UK Visas and Immigration. Test Report Forms will be slightly different, to show that test takers have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session.
There are no differences in the test format or questions. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.
IELTS for UKVI (Academic) delivered on computer is now available at a number of locations in the UK, China, Malaysia, Japan, India, Hong King, Brazil and Nigeria. Test takers who choose the new option will take their Listening, Reading and Writing components using a computer. The Speaking test will remain face to face.
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training focuses on an individual’s language skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It is typically used by those who are going to English-speaking countries to undertake secondary education, work experience or training programs, to migrate to the UK and for those wishing to train or study below degree level.