Reading: IELTS vs TOEFL
IELTS as well as TOEFL, both of these are the test of English language. The module of reading is one of the main modules in both tests. Before deeply understanding about reading module, let us have a bird eye to understand IELTS vs TOEFL in short.
An introduction about IELTS and TOEFL
These language proficiency tests are used to go abroad where the primary language to speak is English. Academic and general training are the two types used in IELTS. Academic test is used to fulfil the aim of study while general training is for the purpose to work, immigration or study below degree level in English speaking countries.
There are 2 hours and 44 minutes to complete the test of IELTS.
Summary of IELTS vs TOEFL
TOEFL is used for the study purpose only while IELTS is used for work, immigration and study. TOEFL is a test in which you can face multiple choice questions while in IELTS, you face multiple types of the questions. Modules are same in both of the tests. The main difference between the test of IELTS and TOEFL is about question types and test pattern.
If I talk about the nature of the questions, there are different types of questions. You will not face all of the question types, but most of the kinds of questions can be possible to face. While TOEFL is also a test used to go to English speaking countries for academic purpose only. The time duration of IELTSS is 1 hour and 56 minutes according to latest revised schedule. The question type of TOEFL is multiple choice questions, ranging from 1-120.
IELTS is conducted under the care of Cambridge English Assessment, IDP Australia and British Council. While TOEFL is associated with Educational Testing Services (ETS). IELTS is one of the very common tests mostly accepted by United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, while TOEFL is commonly used in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and in British.
The common question by the candidates is asked that which one is easier for us to appear. As per my experience, some of the candidates do not like multiple choice questions, it is good for them to do IELTS. If I talk about the other students, TOEFL is best for them.
Reading module for IELTS and TOEFL
There are four modules in IELTS as well as in TOEFL.
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
Reading module is one of them. The reading module is different in IELTS and in TOEFL. The question types, exam pattern and time duration; all are different in both types of tests- IELTS and TOEFL. Resources are also different for IELTS as well as for TOEFL.
There are 3 passages in the module of IELTS reading. These types of passages are adapted from articles, journals, books, newspapers and from the magazines. There are 40 questions, you can face multiple types of questions in reading just like filling gaps, sentence completion, matching headings etc. You will have 1 hour to solve this one of the modules from IELTS.
In TOEFL, the reading module contains 2 passages. As this test is based on academic purpose, the passages in the test are taken from university level textbooks. This test is lengthy and you have to concentrate and need good mental strength to get good marks in TOEFL reading. The total number of questions in TOEFL reading are 20.
These total questions are in the form of multiple-choice questions; even whole test will be in the form of multiple-choice questions. 35 minutes are given you to solve the reading test of TOEFL.
The difference in the reading section for IELTS and TOEFL is about types of questions and the format of the test.
In IELTS, the raw scores for reading module are 40 by carrying 1 score for 1 correct answer while in TOEFL, the raw scores are 30 in which each question carry 1-3 scores. Obtained scores are converted into scales or bands.
Comparison table for TOEFL vs IELTS
| TOEFL reading scores | IELTS reading score |
| 0-2 | 0-4 |
| 3 | 4.5 |
| 4-7 | 5 |
| 8-12 | 5.5 |
| 13-18 | 6 |
| 19-23 | 6.5 |
| 24-26 | 7 |
| 27 | 7.5 |
| 28 | 8 |
| 29 | 8.5 |
| 30 | 9 |
Other three modules (listening, writing and speaking) of IELTS vs TOEFL
As there are four sections for IELTS and TOEFL- listening, reading, writing, and speaking respectively. I discussed reading section above, so let’s discuss others one by one.
In the listening section of TOEFL, you will have to listen lectures and conversations. The language will be campus based. In the listening, there will be 3 lectures and 2 conversations to solve. 28 questions are there in the test and have to solve within 36 minutes.
There are 4 recordings in IELTS listening in which 2 of them belong to social perspective and the others are based on education. You have half an hour to complete the listening task. You can face multiple types of the questions like summary completion, sentence completion or maps etc.
The writing section of TOEFL analyzes your abilities that how well you write in English and analyze situations in an academic context. It is specifically based on two tasks and you are required to complete this section in 29 minutes.
IELTS writingis directly associated with task 1 and task 2.You have to solve task 1 with the minimum word limit of 150 and task 2 is written in 250 words.
IELTS speaking seems like an interview. You have to answer the questions asked by examiner who is in front of you. The conversation will be face to face. There are 11-14 minutes for this task. It is conducted after or before the other sections of IELTS.
In the speaking section of TOEFL, there will be 4 tasks and 16 minutes. The purpose to add such type of task is to analyze the ability of candidates to speak and understand the situation.
In a nutshell
The major difference of reading: IELTS vs TOEFL is about the kinds of the questions and the structure of the test. The other three sections are also different with each other in the test of IELTS and TOEFL, not as a major difference.
