Hello guys, How are you ?? I know its been a month that I haven’t posted any articles. As usual, I have another assignment from my lecture to post about the differences between TOEFL, TOEIC, TEFL, and the last but not least is IELTS. I bet that you’ve heard those before, however, do you know the differences between it? Well, lemme explain it to you.
1. TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, /ˈtoʊfəl/, toh-fəl) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.
TOEFL is a trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to institutions, for two years following the test.
1.1. TOEFL IBT® Test Scores
Your scores are based on your performance on the question test. You must answer at least one question each in the Reading and Listening sections, write at least one essay, and complete at least one Speaking task to receive an official score. For the TOEFL IBT test, administered via the internet, you will receive for scaled section scores and a total score :
· Reading Section (Score of : 0 – 30)
· Listening Section (Score of : 0 – 30)
· Speaking Section (Score of : 0 – 30)
· Writing Section (Score of : 0 – 30)
· Total Score ( 1 – 120)
In addition to your scores, your test taker score report also includes performance feedback that is a reflection of your performance level and a description of the kinds of tasks that test takers within the reported score range can typically do.
There is no passing or failing TOEFL® score; individual higher education institutions and agencies set their own score requirements. TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date and there is no limit to the number of times you can take the test, but you cannot take it more than once in a 12-day period. If you already have a test appointment, you cannot register for another test within 12 days of your existing appointment.
2. TOEIC
The TOEIC is an acronym for the Test of English for International Communication. As quoted from the TOEIC website: “The TOEIC is an English language test designed specifically to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment.” The point system ranges from 10 to 990 points and the test itself is two hours in length, multiple choice, testing listening comprehension and reading comprehension.
The TOEIC gives certificates to those who take the test, with different colors differentiating the range of advanced skills. In 2006 a new TOEIC was released with longer reading passages and also British, Australian and New Zealand English-speakers, whereas the previous test only featured American speakers.
2.1. TOEIC SCORES
2.1.2. TOEIC Listening & Reading Test
The TOEIC Listening & Reading Test is a two-hour multiple-choice test consisting of 200 questions evenly divided into listening comprehension and reading comprehension. Each candidate receives independent scores for listening and reading comprehension on a scale from 5 to 495 points. The total score adds up to a scale from 10 to 990 points. The TOEIC certificate exists in five colors, corresponding to achieved results:
orange (10–219)
brown (220–469)
green (470–729)
blue (730–859)
gold (860–990)
2.1.3.TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test
The TOEIC Speaking & Writing Test was introduced in 2006. Test takers receive separate scores for each of the two tests, or can take the Speaking test without taking the Writing test. The Speaking test assesses pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and fluency, while the Writing test examines vocabulary, grammar, and overall coherence and organization. The tests are designed to reflect actual English usage in the workplace, though they do not require any knowledge of specialized business terms. The TOEIC Speaking Test takes approximately 20 minutes to complete; the TOEIC writing test lasts approximately 60 minutes. Each test has a score range between 0-200, with test takers grouped into eight proficiency levels.
3. TEFL
“TEFL” is the acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or simply, English language instruction for non-native speakers. Also known as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English Language Teaching (ELT), and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). The field of TEFL/TESOL represents one of the fastest growing educational fields in the world. The field presents thousands of excellent professional opportunities for teaching English abroad in all corners of the globe to native and fluent English speakers who earn their TEFL/TESOL certification.
In practical terms, when these terms are applied to the field of teaching English abroad, there is little or no difference between “TEFL” and “TESOL.” They are both acronyms that essentially mean the same thing: teaching the English language to non-native speakers. Likewise, in the vast majority cases, when it comes to teaching English abroad, a “TEFL certification” and a “TESOL certification” are the same and the terms are interchangeable.
On a more technical level, TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) is the term applied to the teaching of English to non-native speakers in native English speaking countries, so those who will earn degrees and work domestically in the field in the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa and US will typically use the term “TESOL.”
TEFL or TESOL Certification and requirements for getting a job teaching English abroad
To Teach English as a Foreign Language in a foreign country (non-native English speaking country), a TEFL Certification is typically required as schools and language institutes want to hire teachers who have received proper training. You don't need to possess a degree in education, prior teaching experience, or even a college degree to get paid to teach English abroad. Private language schools abroad want to hire people who have received a certain degree of professional level training. Internationally recognized standards hold that professional-level TEFL certification must meet certain standards established by leading bodies in the field.
These standards include:
At least 100 hours of coursework;
At least 6-20 hours of practicum (live practice teaching and observation with actual non-native English speaker and NOT role-playing with fellow TEFL classmates);
An accredited curriculum from a recognized, independent organization within the field;
Instruction provided by a qualified instructor (who has an equivalent to a Master Degree in TESOL or related field);
It is also recommended that you take your TEFL certification course from an organization that provides comprehensive job search guidance.
4. IELTS Otherwise known as the International English Language Testing System, the IELTS is administered by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council & IDP Education. There are two primary versions of the IELTS: the academic version & the general training version. Basically, the academic version is meant for students who want to enroll in universities and other higher education institutions, as well as for medical professions, such as doctors or nurses who need to work or study in an English-speaking country. The general training version is meant for those looking to gain work experience or for purely immigration purposes.
Similar to the TOEFL, an IELTS score is valid for two years. While both the academic version and the general version differ in terms of content, their structure is the same, dividing the test into three parts: Listening (40 minutes), Reading (60 minutes) and Writing (60 minutes). A brand is given along with a score, ranging form the high score of an “Expert User” to the lowest score of the “Non User.” The top three countries the test is administered in are China, India and Pakistan.
4.1.IELTS SCORES
The Test Report Form provides your Overall Band Score and band scores for each of the four components: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Overall Band Score
The Overall Band Score is the average of the four component scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band. The component scores are weighted equally.
Some examples:
Some examples:
Listening
|
Reading
|
Writing
|
Speaking
|
Average of four components
(total of the four individual component scores divided by four) |
Band score
| |
Test taker A
|
6.5
|
6.5
|
5
|
7
|
6.25
|
6.5
|
Test taker B
|
4.0
|
3.5
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
3.875
|
4.0
|
Test taker C
|
6.5
|
6.5
|
5.5
|
6.0
|
6.125
|
6.0
|
If the average of the four components ends in .25, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, the Overall Band Score is rounded up to the next whole band.
Component Band Scores
Listening
The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
Reading
The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The distinction between the two tests is one of genre or text type. However, Academic Reading tests may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score.
The tables below indicate the average number of marks required to achieve a particular band score in
Listening, Academic Reading and General Training Reading.
Listening
|
Academic Reading
|
General Training Reading
| |||||
Band score
|
Raw score out of 40
|
Band score
|
Raw score out of 40
|
Band score
|
Raw score out of 40
| ||
5
|
16
|
5
|
15
|
4
|
15
| ||
6
|
23
|
6
|
23
|
5
|
23
| ||
7
|
30
|
7
|
30
|
6
|
30
| ||
8
|
35
|
8
|
35
|
7
|
34
| ||
Writing
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
Coherence and Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The criteria are weighted equally and the score on the task is the average.
Speaking
Examiners use assessment criteria to award a band score for each of the four criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
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