IELTS – Page 2 – English Exam Passport

For all those out there who have Germany in their sights for university, you have come to the right blog post to see what test is best for getting your English Exam Passport and gaining entry to the university you desire. German universities accept both IELTS and TOEFL as proof of your proficiency in the English language. While some universities accept other tests as proof of your communication abilities in English, IELTS and TOEFL are the most widely-accepted exams. You may be asking yourself: is there a better one of the two? Are there reasons which may lead you to take one test over another? What scores should you be aiming for? Are there other options for proving your English language abilities? Let’s explore this together to equip yourself with everything you need to get to Germany prepared! Will IELTS or TOEFL prepare me better for a German university? Some German universities have an international focus, which is probably why your courses are offered in the English language. After all, German is a lot harder to learn and less commonly spoken by people worldwide than English. English is the language that will unite you with people of all cultures and backgrounds while you are studying in Germany. For this reason, having good English communication skills is essential not only for your experience in the classroom (although that is the most important reason!), but also for your relationships with other people you get to know during your time of study! Both the IELTS and the TOEFL are perfect options for preparing for your university application. Both the IELTS and the TOEFL are perfect options for preparing for your university application. They are the most widely-accepted, as well as being the tests that are easier to access in terms of test centers and test dates. They are the most widely accepted because of their reputation for being the best two examinations for testing someone's English level. The TOEFL is made by ETS (Educational Testing Service), which is the maker of other well-known tests such as TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) and the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). ETS is also the administrator/operator of the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) used for entrance to US undergrad programs. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is also well-known across the world. In the 1980s the British Council, Cambridge, and IDP (the Australian International Development Program) developed what today is called IELTS to test students on their English capabilities for academic purposes. So which one should you take if you are going to Germany: TOEFL or IELTS? While there is no one test that is better in general for getting accepted into a German university, there are several factors that you should consider before deciding which one to take. University admissions office preference Some universities prefer one test over the other. For this reason, you should first check with the universities you would like to apply to in order to see if they have a preference. If they do, I would suggest you go with that one. Test center availability The next thing you might want to look at is where the nearest IELTS and TOEFL testing centers are. There are currently about 4000 TOEFL testing centers worldwide, while there are only around 1600 IELTS testing centers. Testing dates are also a factor to consider. Look at the testing center(s) that you are interested in, and then see how many testing dates are available. You may find that you prefer one test over another at this point. Cost As with almost every standardized test, the TOEFL and the IELTS are quite pricey and usually range from about USD 185 to USD 270 for the former, and from USD 140 to USD 300 for the latter. The price is set for each test in each country, which explains the range. Here are some exam costs by country. If your country is not listed below, you can click on the corresponding links in the last row of the table. CountryTOEFLIELTSItalyUSD 270€241SpainUSD 250€223South AfricaUSD 230ZAR 3560IndiaUSD 185INR 14000GermanyUSD 260€243AustriaUSD 270€243FranceUSD 265€239MexicoUSD 185USD 215ChinaCheck TOEFL websiteRMB 2170Other countriesTOEFL costIELTS cost Test duration Another element to consider is how long it will take you to take each of the tests. TOEFL is taken all in one sitting, and takes about 3 hours to complete. IELTS, however, takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete. Unlike the TOEFL, the IELTS is not necessarily done in one sitting. Unlike the TOEFL, the IELTS is not necessarily done in one sitting. Since the speaking portion of the test is done with an examiner in person (the TOEFL speaking portion is recorded at your testing station and graded subsequently), you may be scheduled for your speaking section up to a week before the rest of your test. This means that you may have to go to the testing center twice if you want to take the IELTS. Hopefully these elements will help you decide which is the best option for you in your current circumstances. What score should I aim for on the IELTS and the TOEFL? TOEFL and IELTS are graded quite differently. The TOEFL is graded out of 30 points for each section, and then your scores are added up to give you your comprehensive score. Therefore, the highest possible score you can receive on the TOEFL is 120. The IELTS however is scored on a scale of 1 to 9. Each section (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) is scored on that scale, and then your comprehensive score is an average of the four scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band (point). For instance, if you get a 7 in reading, a 6 in listening, a 6.5 in writing, and a 5.5 in speaking, your average score is 6.5 (the sum of the scores is 25, divided by the four sections gives you 6.25, which rounds up to 6.5). What a "good score" is depends on the university you are applying to. Some will ask for a higher score than others. This could be for a multitude of reasons such as the high academic demands of the university, or the prestige of the school. In general, somewhere between 90 and 100 on the TOEFL or a band score of 7 on the IELTS should be enough to get you into most schools. Keep in mind that some universities may ask for a minimum score in certain sections. Are there other options besides IELTS and TOEFL for German universities? While the IELTS and the TOEFL are the most widespread tests that are accepted, the university you are applying to may accept one or more of the following as well. This is not an exhaustive list, but it will give you an idea of some of the other options out there. PTE (Pearson Test of English) While the PTE is not as well known as the TOEFL and the IELTS, it is gaining traction in the world as a valid means of demonstrating your English communication skills. This exam is currently offered in 250 testing centers across 50 countries around the globe, so it may be more difficult to find a testing center in your area, especially if you are not living near or in a major city. The costs are similar to those of the TOEFL and the IELTS, and the test takes around 3 hours to complete. Cambridge English Qualifications While the TOEFL are "multilevel" tests (with one test, your level is determined by your score), the Cambridge English Qualifications are tests based on a level you are trying to certify. The levels are the following, and coincide with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A2 (KET)B1 (PET)B2 (FCE)C1 (Advanced)C2 (Proficiency) You will probably be asked for at least a B2 for university-level English, but each university will have its own requirement. GMAT While the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is not a direct verification of your English ability, some schools assume that if you are able to get a certain score on the GMAT, you will do fine in their university. This is due to the fact that the verbal portion of the test assesses your reading and writing capabilities, as well as testing your overall understanding of the written English language. As you can imagine, grammar is an important aspect of this test. There are two main downsides to the GMAT. One is that it doesn't assess your speaking or listening capabilities, which is why not all schools accept it. Secondly, the GMAT is a very difficult test, that uses your understanding of English to test your reasoning capability. Therefore, it is not just measuring your English skills. It uses English to measure other things as well. Happy learning, and good luck with your English Exam Passport!