What is IELTS?

to assess the English language ability of people who intend

to study or work where English is the language of communication
Close to one million people rely on IELTS every year to access opportunities in study, careers and migration throughout the English-speaking world and beyond

Test of English as a Foreign Language™ measures the ability

of nonnative English speakers to use and understand English as it is spoken, written, and heard in college and university settings
Primary reason to take TOEFL – Application for admission into universities or colleges where English is the language of instruction
Also used for immigration, licensing, scholarships, and placement

component, offered at specific institutions 48 times per year, usually

on Saturdays and Thursdays. You can also take the IELTS as often as you like. There is no significant cost difference between the two tests.

The TOEFL is an internet-based test that you can take on a number of available dates each month. You can take the test as often as you like. 

used:

it has been trusted by both candidates and institutions to

provide a secure, global, authentic test which measures true to life ability to communicate in English
Trusted by institutions worldwide to provide a true indication of candidates English language proficiency
IELTS is trusted and accepted by over 6,000 education institutions and organizations worldwide.

20 million test takers since 1964
Nearly 1 million registrations in 2007
Available in more test centers in more countries than any other English language proficiency test
Recognized by more agencies and institutions than any other English language proficiency test

Overview

- and includes a face-to-face speaking test to ensure that

candidates can really communicate effectively in English

Delivered via the internet
Administered in official, secure test centers
Four sections taken in one session:
Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
All sections reflect academic English communication skills
Note taking allowed

Overview

international partnership
British Council
IDP:IELTS Australia
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations

Test production -

item writers in Australia, New Zealand, UK and the U.S.
Test content – sourced globally, covering all the main national varieties of English
Test delivery – Available in over 120 countries
Test recognition- recognised by over 6,000 institutions

40 years of experience using TOEFL scores
Objective, valid and reliable scores
Simulates actual university communication
More authentic academic material
Provides information universities want about your ability to communicate in English

is a "transactional conversation" in which someone may be applying

for something (eg: a driver's license, a library card) or asking for information.
The second section is an informational lecture of some kind.
The third section is a conversation in an academic context and the final section is an academic lecture.
Question types that may be used:  complete a summary, fill in a table, multiple-choice, label a diagram or picture, classify information into different categories. Answers are first written into a test booklet and then transferred onto an answer sheet later.

Length: 40-60 minutes Campus conversations & Lectures
Take notes  40-60 mins multiple choice The Listening Section presents 2-3 longer conversations and 4-6 lectures.
The situations are always related to university life (eg: a conversation between a student and a librarian about finding research materials).
All questions are multiple choice and ask you about important details, inferences, tone, and vocabulary.
The conversations and lectures are spoken in very natural English and include informal English, ‘filler’ words like ‘um’ and ‘er’.

Listening

from academic textbooks, newspapers or magazines (all academic English).
There are

about 15 different types of questions which IELTS may choose to use.  These include: short answer, multiple choice, match a heading, True/False/Not Given, complete a summary, locate the information and others.

60–100 minutes (sometimes shorter, sometimes longer). 
The TOEFL Reading section asks you to read 4-6 academic English passages (all of the same level of difficulty) and answer multiple-choice questions about them.
Questions test comprehension of the text, main ideas, important details, vocabulary, inferring, rhetorical devices and style.

Reading

on the same or different day from the rest of

the test.  It is conducted by a trained, live examiner and consists of 3 Parts. 
Part 1 is a brief introductory conversation followed by some short questions about familiar topics (eg: the interviewer may ask about your hometown, your job, your favourite food, your hobbies, etc).
In Part 2, you will be given a card with a topic and a specific question to answer. You will have to speak for 1-2 minutes on this topic.
In Part 3, the interviewer will ask you questions related to the question asked in Part 2.

Length: around 20 minutes. You sit at a computer, wearing headphones and a microphone. 6 different university-type questions are asked and recorded.  Your test is assessed by an examiner on another day, after the test.
Two questions will be on familiar topics and ask you to give your opinion and/or describe something familiar to you (eg: your town or your favorite teacher).
Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a text and a conversation – you may be asked your opinion as well.
Two questions will ask you to summarize information from a short conversation.

Speaking

will need to describe information in a graph, table or

diagram.  You need to write 150 words.
For Task 2, you will need to write an argument (eg: The solution to the pollution problem is to dramatically increase the cost of fuel) or discussion (eg: what is happiness) on a topic.  You will need to write 250 words and IELTS suggests you spend 40 minutes on the answer

Length: 50 minutes. Two questions. Answers are typed into a computer. 
The first question is an ‘Integrated task’ which involves reading a short passage (around 300 words long) and listening to a 2-minute lecture about the same topic (the listening may support or contradict the reading).  You must take notes as you listen.  You then must write a 150-225 word answer to a question about what you just read and listened to.  You are given 30 minutes to plan, write and edit your essay. 
The second question involves writing an essay of 300-350 words.  The essay must state, explain and support your thinking on a particular issue.

Writing

– these are called Band Scores
A score is given for

each skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). They are reported in whole bands or half bands
Scores in each skill are combined to produce an ‘Overall Band Score’ between 1 to 9

Four skill scores
Reading 0-30
Listening 0-30
Speaking 0-30
Writing 0-30
A total score: 0-120
Scores available 15 business days after test

Test scores