Postgraduate Nigeria brings you this rich article on English language test. There are three major English language test organisation for international students seeking admission to English speaking nations.
Masterportal.com compares the three tests and gives in-depth analysis on its structure, style and acceptance. Nigerians have some waiver for language test but still need it in many ways.
Highlights of Comparison between IELTS, TOEFL and PTE
- Structure, number of questions and time for each test
- Validity, minimum score for admission and cost
- Online free practice for the language tests
IELTS vs TOEFL® vs PTE? Which English Test Should I Take in 2022?
If you want to study abroad but English isn’t your native language, it’s very likely you will need to pass a language test to get admitted to an international university offering English-taught degrees.
But which English language test should you take? The answer depends on many factors, like which test/exam is recognised by the university where you want to apply, what exam centres are available near you, how much you’re willing to pay, etc.
It may look confusing, but don’t worry. In this article, we’ll compare 3 of the most popular English language exams:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL® iBT
- PTE Academic
Our goal? After reading this article, you’ll know exactly which exam to choose, and you’ll be ready to find a suitable exam date and register.
Before diving in, here are a few top universities that accept the English language tests listed above:
- Columbia University, the US
- King’s College London, the UK
- Tilburg University, the Netherlands
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
- KU Leuven, Belgium
Structure of English language tests
IELTS Academic
The IELTS Academic exam is structured in 4 parts:
Listening: 30 minutes. You will listen to four recordings of native speakers. Afterwards, you’ll need to answer 40 questions.
Academic Reading: 60 minutes. You will read 3 texts, and then you’ll have to answer 40 questions.
Academic Writing: 60 minutes. There are 2 tasks. For the first one, you have to describe a graph, table, chart or other visual information in your own words. For the second one, you need to write an essay as a response to a point of view, problem, or argument. You need to write in a formal style for both tasks.
Speaking: 11-14 minutes. There are three parts, during which you will talk with the examiner about yourself, you will describe or express your opinion about a particular topic and end with discussing more abstract ideas or concepts.
TOEFL® iBT
The TOEFL® iBT exam has 4 sections:
Reading: 54 – 72 minutes. You’ll read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts. Then, you’ll need to answer 30-40 questions.
Listening: 41-57 minutes. You’ll listen to 4 recordings of native speakers, and then you’ll have to answer 28-39 questions.
Speaking: 17 minutes. You need to express your opinion on a familiar topic and provide answers based on reading and listening tasks.
Writing: 50 minutes. There are 2 tasks. You’ll need to write essay responses and support your opinions.
The number of questions in the Reading and Listening sections for TOEFL® varies. Why? Because the number depends on the length, type, and difficulty of the text(s) and audio recording(s).
PTE Academic
The PTE Academic or Pearson Test of English has 3 parts:
Speaking & Writing: 54 – 67 minutes. You’ll have to complete several tasks, including introducing yourself, reading aloud, describing an image, summarising a text, writing an essay, and others.
Reading: 29 – 30 minutes. You’ll have to complete tasks like filling in the blanks, answering multiple-choice questions, and re-ordering paragraphs.
Listening: 30 – 43 minutes. You’ll have to answer a series of questions after listening or watching audio or video clips.
How long do the IELTS, TOEFL® and PTE tests take to complete?
- IELTS Academic: 2 hours and 45 minutes
- TOEFL® iBT: 3 hours
- PTE Academic: 2 hours starting from November 16, 2021 (used to be 3 hours before)
Test results and minimum grades for admission to the university
Each exam uses a different grading system. The IELTS Academic test is graded on a 0 – 9 scale. Each test part (or section) receives a score. The 4 scores are then averaged and rounded to obtain an overall score.
The TOEFL® iBT test is graded from 0 – 120. Each section has a maximum of 30 points. To receive an official score, you must answer at least 1 question in both Reading and Listening, write at least 1 essay, and complete at least 1 Speaking task.
The PTE Academic exam is graded from 10 – 90 using the Global Scale of English.
Each university or college is free to establish the minimum grade you need in order to be admitted. Most educational institutions require:
A minimum score of 6.0 or 6.5 for IELTS Academic. Some universities accept scores as low as 5.0 – 5.5.
A minimum score of 70 – 80 for TOEFL® iBT. Some universities accept scores as low as 65.
A minimum score of 55 – 60 for PTE Academic. Some universities accept scores as low as 50.
How long is each English test valid for?
All three tests (IELTS, TOEFL®, and PTE) are valid for 2 years after the results are released. If you have to prove your English skills after that period, you’ll need to retake the exam.
How much does each language test cost?
IELTS Academic
Prices are set in your local currency; therefore, costs vary depending on the country and centre where you take the exam:
215 – 240 USD in the USA
162 – 180 GBP (210 – 234 USD) in the UK
2,950 – 3,000 NOK (331 – 337 USD) in Norway
229 (255 USD) in Germany
340 AUD (236 USD) in Australia
TOEFL®
Prices vary depending on the country:
205 USD in the USA
210 USD in the UK
290 USD in Norway
255 USD in Germany
300 USD in Australia
PTE Academic
Same story. Prices will vary depending on the country in which you take the test:
200 USD in the USA
155 GBP (201 USD) in the UK
255 USD in Spain
231 USD in Germany
357 AUD (246 USD) in Australia
The prices and countries mentioned above are only given as examples. The exams are offered in many other countries and test centres around the world.
You should always use the official IELTS, TOEFL®, and PTE pages to find the closest exam centre and register. Keep in mind that prices will increase if you choose to register late.
IELTS vs TOEFL® vs PTE? Which English Test Should I Take in 2022. Turn your vision of studying abroad tomorrow into a reality. IELTS can help you get there.
Bring your tomorrow closer
If you want to study abroad but English isn’t your native language, it’s very likely you will need to pass a language test to get admitted to an international university offering English-taught degrees.
But which English language test should you take? The answer depends on many factors, like which test/exam is recognised by the university where you want to apply, what exam centres are available near you, how much you’re willing to pay, etc.
Even if you can choose between these tests, you should first see what exam dates and test centres are available near you. Travelling to another city is an option, but if the distance is too long, you might be inclined to choose a centre that’s closer to you.
You should also try free online materials and see if one exam seems easier than the others. This is an easy way to make up your mind.
Overall, it doesn’t matter if you choose IELTS Academic, TOEFL® iBT, or PTE Academic. They are all great exams which enable students to go abroad and fulfil their dreams. If you have the ambition and willpower to work hard and prepare yourself, you can ace any English proficiency test and start your international studies on the right foot.
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