TOEFL vs.

IELTS
OVERVIEW AND TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS

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TOEFL EXAM

About four hours long

Computer-based

Pros (no writing by hand, harder to make a mistake while copying)

Cons (other people speaking, eyes may get tired, cannot interact with paper exam)

Four sections: Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing (in that order)

Each section is worth 30 points for a total of 120

Common minimum scores for various institutions range between 80-105, with the
average being around 90 points

Score valid for two years

TOEFL
Format
*Some questions
may be
experimental
and thus do not
count towards
your score. You
will not know
which are
which!

Section

Time Limit

Questions

Tasks

Reading

60-80 minutes

36-56 questions

Read 3 or 4 passages
from academic texts
and answer questions

Listening

60-90 minutes

34-51 questions

Listen to lectures,
classroom discussions
and conversations
and then answer
questions

Break

10 minutes

Get some water and

have a snack!

Speaking

20 minutes

6 tasks (2
independent, 4
integrated)

Speak about familiar

topics, speak based
on reading and
listening tasks

Writing

50 minutes

2 tasks (1
independent, 1
integrated)

Write based on
listening and reading
tasks, express opinion
about a topic in
writing

TOEFL READING

3-4 passages about academic

topics (humanities or science)

Between 12-14 questions per

passage

Average of 20 minutes per

passage

You can skip around within the

passage and come back to
questions later

TOEFL Reading Question Types 1-5

Question type

Frequency

Difficulty level

Tips

1) Factual Information

3-6 per set

Low-medium

Rephrase into a
question, scan for
answer

2) Negative Factual
Information

0-2 per set

Medium-high

Use answer choices as

checklist

3) Inference

1-3 per set

High

Make sure the answer

you choose is 100%
supported by text

4) Rhetorical Purpose

1-2 per set

Medium

Memorize purpose
vocab and phrases

5)Vocabulary

3-5 per set

Low

Answer in head first

with alternate word

TOEFL Reading Question Types 6-10

Question type

Frequency

Difficulty level

Tips

6) Reference

0-2 per set

Low

Find the pronoun and

answer in head first

7) Sentence
Simplification

0-1 per set

Medium

Cut out unnecessary

words and watch for
meaning

8) Insert Text

1 per set

High

Read the sentence

before and after

9) Prose Summary

0 or 1 per set

High

Eliminate answers that

are either wrong or
too specific

10) Fill in a Table

0 or 1 per set

High

Use process of
elimination

Tips for
TOEFL
Reading

1.

Do not read the entire passage. Spend only three

minutes maximum reading.

2.

Answer low difficulty questions first, then medium

and save hard difficulty level questions for last.

3.

When possible, answer the question in your head first

in order to avoid trick answer choices.

4.

Watch the time and spend no more than 20 minutes

on each section.

5.

If you have extra time at the end, go back and

check your answers or look over any unanswered
questions.

6.

If you really dont know an answer, eliminate some

options and make a guess. Do not leave any
answers blank because there is no penalty for
wrong answers.

TOEFL LISTENING

Conversations including office hours and

service encounters

Lectures from any university class (can have

interruptions from students in class)

At least one general question per lecture or

conversation

Specific questions will never be too specific

Practice both taking notes and not taking

notes and see which strategy works best for
you.

Dont bother with small details such as dates

and names; look for big picture concepts and
understanding.

TOEFL LISTENING
Why does the student go to see the
professor?
a.

To prepare for her graduate

school interview

b.

To get advice about her

graduate school application

c.

To give the professor her

graduate school application

d.

To find out if she was accepted to

graduate school

TOEFL - SPEAKING
Task #

Question

Prep time

Speaking time

Talk about a familiar topic.

15 seconds

45 seconds

Give your opinion or preference.

15 seconds

45 seconds

Read a paragraph then listen to two people

discussing the topic. Summarize their opinion.

30 seconds

60 seconds

Read a paragraph then listen to a professor talking

about the topic. Summarize the topic.

30 seconds

60 seconds

Listen to a conversation and then summarize the

situation and give your opinion.

20 seconds

60 seconds

Listen to a lecture and then summarize the lecture.

20 seconds

60 seconds

Tips for
TOEFL
Speaking

1.

Use the time where the computer reads the

question to start preparing.

2.

Speak naturally, not too fast or too mechanical.

3.

Develop your topic with relevant examples; avoid

repetition.

4.

Practice with time. There are good free apps for

your phone.

5.

Practice pronunciation so that the evaluator doesnt

have to strain to understand you.

6.

Be aware of grammar but do not get caught up if

you realize you made a mistake. They grade on
overall performance, not error by error.

TOEFL - WRITING
Integrated Task

Read a passage about an academic topic

for 3 minutes.

Listen to a lecture about the same topic.

Write and essay that summarizes the points

in the lecture and explain how they relate
to specific points in the reading passage.

20 minutes

Aim for 150-225 words

Independent Task

Respond to a question in essay form.

Example: Do you agree or disagree with the

following statement? Always telling the truth
is the most important consideration in any
relationship. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.

There is no right or wrong answer. What

matters is how you express yourself.

30 minutes

Aim for 300 words

Tips for
TOEFL
Writing

1.

Develop the topic with details and examples.

2.

Spend 5 minutes organizing and brainstorming

before writing.

3.

Use transitions (therefore, first of all, next, etc.)

4.

Make sure your organization is clear.

5.

Leave two minutes at the end to proofread

although they understand there will be minor errors.

6.

Be straightforward and avoid redundancies and

flowery language.

IELTS EXAM

About two and a half hours

Written, paper-based exam

Be careful when copying answers to answer sheet

Four sections: Listening, Reading and Writing (in that order). Speaking is a private
interview that takes place either in the week before or after your written exam.

You receive a score out of 9 for each section (half point increments) and then
an overall average score out of 9.

A good solid score on the IELTS is a 6.5.

IELTS
Format

Section

Time Limit

Questions

Tasks

Listening

Approximately 30
minutes

40 questions

Listen to 4
conversations or
monologues and
answer questions
while listening.

Reading

60 minutes

40 questions

Read 3 passages
from academic
texts and answer
questions about
them.

Writing

60 minutes

2 essays

Describe a chart or
graph, express
opinion about a
topic

Speaking

11-14 minutes

3 parts in private
interview

Speak about
familiar topics with
the interviewer.

IELTS LISTENING

4 listening items, mix of conversations and monologues.

2 academic and 2 service or lifestyle items.

You have the questions in front of you and must answer as you go.

You have a few seconds to look at the questions before you hear the track. You should use this
time to predict answers.

If you miss one question, let it go and keep on track because it can ruin the other questions for
you.

Be careful of British and Australian accents, especially how they pronounce numbers and letters.

Spelling counts.

IELTS LISTENING

IELTS LISTENING
Answers:

Tips for tricky accents:

-Watch BBC
-Listen to talk shows from the UK and Australia
-Watch YouTube videos about the difference in
vowel pronunciation across different English
accents (American, Canadian, British, Australian,
Irish)

6) 17th October

7)12:30

8) Thomson

9) AC936

10) 3303 8450 2045 6837

IELTS READING

Passages are similar in difficulty level to TOEFL

Questions are less predictable in TOEFL. There are about 20 question types and
you do not know which ones you will see.

Skim questions first to help you predict what is coming so you know what to look
for while reading.

Write and underline words and phrases in the text to help predict answers.

All other TOEFL reading tips apply to the IELTS.

IELTS - WRITING
Task 1

Task 2

Summarize information from a graph,

Respond to a question in essay form.
picture or chart by selecting and reporting
Task 2 is worth 2/3 of your writing score so
the main features, and making comparisons
spend more time.
where relevant.
Similar to TOEFL independent task.
Dont elaborate or add your opinion.
Budget about 40 minutes
Use transitions and comparison words.
At least 250 words
Budget about 20 minutes.

At least 150 words

IELTS WRITING - EXAMPLES

Task 1

Summarize the information by selecting and

reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant.

Task 2

In some countries the average weight

of people is increasing and their levels
of health and fitness are decreasing.

What do you think are the causes of

these problems and what measures
could be taken to solve them?

Give reasons for your answer and

include any relevant examples from
your own knowledge or experience.

You will receive

a card with a
topic. You will
have to talk
about a topic
for 1-2 minutes
without
stopping. You
have one
minute to
prepare.

Part 3

Familiar topics
such as
yourself, your
home, work or
studies and
other familiar
topics related
to yourself or
your country.

Part 2

Part 1

IELTS - SPEAKING
The examiner
will ask some
follow-up
questions about
your Part 2
answer. Then
you will discuss
topics that are
more in-depth
and less
familiar.

Tips for
IELTS
Speaking

1.

Speak in a friendly, familiar manner.

2.

Watch the examiners body language to see if your

response may have been too short.

3.

Answer the questions honestly. Draw on personal

experience to make it easier to talk about.

4.

If you dont know what to say, try saying things like

good question, let me think about that instead of
um.

5.

If you didnt understand the question, ask for the

examiner to repeat it or rephrase it; it wont affect
your score.

Conclusion and Q&A

Take a diagnostic exam to see which

exam is best for you.

Download free materials at

www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org.

Know what to expect before going

into either exam.

Good luck!

If you would like more

information about my classes
and services, feel free to e-mail
me at
amy@gradschoolguru.com!