English Proficiency Tests For US Universities: TOEFL and IELTS

Almost every university you apply to in the US will want to assess your ability to speak, write, read, and understand English. The most common English proficiency tests for US universities are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Both tests are designed to evaluate your English language skills, but they differ in several key aspects.

To study in the US at the undergraduate or graduate level, English language competency is essential. To learn effectively in a US university class, you need to know the basics of writing essays, creating presentations, and speaking in public. To make sure international students are set up for success, most universities in the US have English language requirements during the international student application and admissions process.

Which English Proficiency Test for US Universities Is Best for International Students?

Choosing the best English test depends on your strengths and the requirements of the college you’re applying to. Certain US universities and colleges may require you to take specific tests or achieve a target score in certain areas of an American English proficiency test. While this means you may have limited choices, it can also make it easier for you as you have full knowledge of the areas you need to focus on. This will help you prepare ahead of time.

Here is an overview of the most popular English proficiency tests available to you as an international student for US universities.

1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS): English Proficiency Tests for US Universities

The IELTS exam is produced and managed by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English. The academic version of the test consists of listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections and lasts two hours and 45 minutes.

Each section is graded on a 0–9 scale, with zero representing a non-user or someone who skipped the test and nine representing an expert. The test calculates your scores by adding them from all sections, averaging them, and rounding the result to give you a comprehensive score.

IELTS Listening

• Question breakdown: four recordings, 10 questions each
• Time: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time)

In the listening section, you answer multiple-choice questions, matching and labeling questions and sentences, and diagram completion questions. There are four recordings you will have to listen and respond to:

• An everyday social conversation between two people
• An everyday monologue or speech
• A conversation between as many as four people in an educational context
• An academic lecture by one person

IELTS Reading

• Question breakdown: three readings, 40 questions total
• Time: 60 minutes

Reading passages on the IELTS English proficiency test can be descriptive, factual, discursive, or analytical. There are many question types in this section, from multiple choice to matching to sentence and diagram completion.

IELTS Writing

• Question breakdown: two questions
• Time: 60 minutes

In the writing section of the IELTS English language proficiency test, you will have to answer two task-based questions.

• The first question asks you to describe some visual cue, such as a graph or flowchart. You will have to write approximately 150 words in 20 minutes.
• The second question asks you to respond to a point of view or argument. You will need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.

IELTS Speaking

• Question breakdown: one oral interview
• Time: 11–14 minutes

The speaking section of the IELTS English language exam consists of three parts and assesses your spoken English skills.

• Part 1 lasts around four to five minutes and requires you to speak your answers to general questions on familiar topics.
• Part 2 requires you to respond to a topic written on a card. You will need to prepare, speak on your topic, and respond to follow-up questions from your interviewer during this session, which lasts between three to four minutes.
• Part 3 lasts about five minutes and will continue with questions related to the topic on the card in Part 2. Expect these questions to be more abstract and difficult.

Understanding the structure and requirements of the IELTS Academic test can help you prepare effectively and perform to the best of your abilities.

Find out more about IELTS at this link.

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2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): English Proficiency Tests for US Universities

The TOEFL is produced and governed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). There are different versions of the TOEFL. Nine out of 10 universities in the US prefer the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) taken on a computer, making it a popular choice among students. If you take the TOEFL iBT test multiple times, you can use your best scores on each section.

The sections are broken down as follows:

TOEFL Reading

• Question breakdown: two reading passages, 10 questions each
• Time: 35 minutes

The questions in the reading section test your ability to identify information and demonstrate basic comprehension of materials used in an academic environment.

The reading section is comprised of three question formats:

• Multiple-choice format requiring you to select the correct answer from four choices
• Inserting a sentence where it best fits in a passage from four potential choices
• A prose summary section with multiple correct answers

TOEFL Listening

• Question breakdown: three lectures, six questions each; two conversations, five questions each
• Time: 36 minutes

The listening section of the TOEFL English language proficiency test covers the following:

• Basic comprehension
• Recognizing a speaker’s attitude and the purpose of what the speaker is saying
• Understanding the importance of order, relationships, inferences, and connections

TOEFL Speaking

• Question breakdown: four tasks: one independent, three integrated
• Time: 16 minutes

The speaking section measures your ability to speak English in and out of academic settings. The four categories are broken up into independent and integrated speaking tasks.

• Independent speaking tasks require you to draw upon your ideas, experience, and opinions. There is one independent speaking task per test.
• Integrated speaking tasks require you to combine speaking with listening or reading to answer questions. The test includes three integrated speaking tasks..
• For all speaking section tasks, you will be required to use a headset with a microphone on the iBT version of the test.

TOEFL Writing

• Question breakdown: two tasks
• Time: 29 minutes

The writing section of the TOEFL English language tests your integrated and independent writing skills.

• Integrated writing tasks require you to write an academic argument in response to a prompt.
• Independent writing tasks require you to express an idea or opinion in writing.

Discover comprehensive details about TOEFL at this link.

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Where TOEFL and IELTS Are Accepted?

According to ETS, more than 12,500 universities and institutions in over 160 countries accept the TOEFL. It widely accepts everywhere in the US.

Over 12,000 organizations, including universities, companies, government bodies, and migration agencies, accept IELTS across more than 140 countries. According to its website, more than 3,400 institutions in the U.S. accept IELTS.

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