Know what is better for you- IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL make a right choice

If you plan to study abroad, the first thing you need to do is to make sure that you can fulfill all the requirements of the application process. An adequate score in English Proficiency tests is one of those prerequisites that aspirants need to fulfill.

There are many language tests that you can take to apply to your desired university or country. But choosing the most suitable test could be a very confusing decision to make. It can land you in a situation where you may make a decision that doesn’t reflect well on your dreams of studying abroad. However, whatever choice you make you must demonstrate fluency in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding English to be able to score well in tests like IELTS, PTE and TOEFL.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Educational Testing Service (ETS) is responsible for conducting TOEFL, an international, non-profit organization. You can choose either a paper and pen test (TOEFL PBT) or an internet test (TOEFL IBT) when taking TOEFL.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

You can take the IELTS exam to study or work in those countries where English is the primary language for communication. Two versions of IELTS are available, General Training and Academic.

PTE (Pearson Test of English)

It is a computer-based test having four sections: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. PTE also offers PTE General and PTE Academic. The former can be used for immigration, whereas the latter can be used to apply for education.

Below we have compared these tests on different criteria to make it easier for you to make the right decision.

Test Duration

• IELTS Academic: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

• TOEFL® iBT: Three hours for a computer-based test. There is no Speaking section in the revised TOEFL® paper-delivered test, so it takes 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete.

• IELTS Academic: 3 hours

Test Difficulty

The PTE is computer-based wherein a computer program marks the Test, making it fairly unbiased. Additionally, there is no waiting time between sections in PTE, so it is faster and consumes less time. However, due to that very same reason, you might not have the time to get your thoughts in line. In contrast, IELTS offers the option of writing down your essay, but the score might vary as it will include human rater. The TOEFL test is a multiple-choice test with a medium difficulty level.

Countries that accept these tests

• Thousands of institutions accept IELTS in over 140 countries. IELTS is especially popular in Australia, South Africa, and the UK.
• Approximately 10,000 universities and other organizations in 150 countries accept TOEFL®. US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, French, and German universities typically prefer TOEFL®.
• Many universities around the world accept PTE Academic. In Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, it is prevalent.

Fees for giving each Test

• IELTS-
  It costs INR 12,650 for IELTS Academic

• TOEFL
  -The fee for the TOEFL iBT is 11,265 rupees
  -The fee for the TOEFL PBT is 12,577 rupees

• PTE
  -INR 13,300/- for PTE Academic
  -Late Booking: INR 16,625/-

Now that you have all the information that you would need for making the most optimal choice, the next steps to ponder are your preparation strategy. EnglishBuddy helps you make the most of your efforts during your preparation with guidance from our experienced mentors and expert resources.