Thursday, July 23, 2009

TOEFL vs. IELTS

It's obligatory to prove your English proficiency when you admit a course at one university. This refers to people whose mother tongue language is not English. Yeah, Indonesia is not country which it's language is English, but Bahasa Malay... hmm, I mean bahasa Indonesia.. hahaha..

You know, sometimes I think why we were not colonised by British so we can communicate in English fluently, at least like Malaysian (LOL). However, okay, we have to face this reality that we must be prepare an English proficiency evidence that show our ability on understanding expressions for our academic purposes.

In line with this issue, we can consider at least two choices ways to show our ability in English. Generally we recognise TOEFL as a test to measure English proficiency. Now, TOEFL is provided in two ways of tests, they are paper based test (PBT) and internet based test (iBT). As we know usually we have to reach at least score about 550 on PBT to succeed our eligibility to study abroad. This score is equivalent about 79 in iBT. Maybe others institution set a higher standard, especially in English speaking countries such as US.

TOEFL is usually used when we apply to American universities. When you think to be educated in Europe, especially Great Britain, or Australia, taking IELTS is preferred. Whereas TOEFL, especially PBT, only checks your ability in listening, reading comprehension, and structure & written expressions, IELTS tests you on four abilities in language, they are listening, reading, writing and speaking. Actually iBT TOEFL now also tests our speaking ability, but IELTS is assessed as more real one because when speaking test we will meet a native speaker who will make a 10-15 minutes conversation with us unless on iBT we'll only speak in front of a computer. IELTS is also regarded as more suitable to tests English for academic purpose, especially if we take academic module (there are two modules, another is general training module). As same as standard stated before, IELTS score recognised for admissions is 6 or 6.5 in higher standard.

Costs of these test ranged more than USD 150, exactly IELTS about USD 180 and iBT about USD 165. Wow.. this is felt an expensive price for us, isn't it? However, TOEFL also provide ITP (institutional test) whose it's price only USD 27.5 - 30. Unfortunately, it cannot be used for admissions directly to universities, except some universities. Whereas TOEFL provide institutional test unless can not be considered for admissions, IELTS only provide international test.

Wheww.. however, I have to reach this requirement, both TOEFL and IELTS. I plan the next semester to take an IELTS preparation class, so I can intensively improve my English proficiency, especially enhance my ability to speak and make conversations and also build my ability on brilliant writing. Ya!! I can do it!!

TOEIC TOEFL
Paper
TOEFL
CBT
TOEFL
IBT
IELTS VEC
Online Score
Approximate
VEC Level
0 - 250 0 - 310 0 - 30 0 - 8 0 - 1 0 - 34 2
310 - 343 33 - 60 9 - 18 1 - 1.5 35 - 38 3
255 - 400 347 - 393 63 - 90 19 - 29 2 - 2.5 39 - 45 4 - 5
397 - 433 93 - 120 30 - 40 3 - 3.5 46 - 53 6 - 7
405 - 600 437 - 473 123 - 150 41 - 52 4 54 - 57 8
477 - 510 153 - 180 53 - 64 4.5 - 5 58 - 65 9 - 10
605 - 780 513 - 547 183 - 210 65 - 78 5.5 - 6 66 - 73 11 - 12
550 - 587 213 - 240 79 - 95 6.5 - 7 74 - 81 13 - 14
785 - 990 590 - 677 243 - 300 96 - 120 7.5 - 9 82 - 100 15
Top Score Top Score Top Score Top Score Top Score Top Score Top Level
990 677 300 120 9 100 15



2 comments:

  1. Ya benar... kadang aku rasa menyesal juga, kok Indonesia gak dijajah Inggris aja ya biar kita generasi sekarang ini pinter bahasa inggris... :(
    Hahaha..konyol yah..
    Kok ga di-update lagi nih blog??

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  2. Nice blog, thanks for sharing the information. I will come to look for update. Keep up the good work.

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