Difference Between IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL: Which is easier?

Are you wishing or planning to study abroad? Going through the top internationally accepted standardized tests is the major requirement. Getting the right score and getting selected by your dream university or college abroad could be achieved by filling yourself in with a comparative study among these top tests- IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL.

The article provides a clear picture of what these tests are, their set-ups, availability in top universities or colleges with the names of a few top universities/colleges, and finally a comparison among the three.

IELTS: At Glance

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System is an English language proficiency test. It is for non-native speakers. It is used by universities, colleges, immigration authorities, and other organizations to assess the English language ability of people who want to study, work, or live in an English-speaking country.

The IELTS test is divided into four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The score of each module is calculated on a scale of 0 to 9. The overall score is the average of the four module scores.

Top 10 Universities that accept IELTS scores

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Stanford University 
3. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 
4. Harvard University
5. Yale University 
6. Princeton University
7. Columbia University
8. University of Chicago
9. Johns Hopkins University
10. Northwestern University 

PTE: At Glance

PTE stands for Pearson Test of English. It is a computer-based standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. The test is developed and administered by Pearson Education, one of the world’s largest educational publishers.

The PTE is divided into four sections- Listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

The test is accepted by universities, colleges, and other institutions in over 150 countries.

Some of the benefits of taking the PTE:

• The PTE is a globally recognized test of English proficiency.
• The test is accepted by a wide range of universities and institutions.
• The test is delivered on a computer, which makes it convenient and easy to take.
• The test results are available within 5 business days.

Top 10 Universities that accept PTE scores

1. University College London (UCL), London, UK
2. Imperial College London
3. University of Bristol
4. University of Leeds
5. University of Edinburgh
6. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
7. University of Warwick
8. University of Birmingham
9. University of Bath
10. University of Manchester

Note: In addition to the PTE score, universities will also consider other attributes such as your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statement for candidate’s admission.

TOEFL: AT Glance

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. It checks the candidate on the four parameters: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) is the most common version of the test and is taken on a computer. It takes 4 hours and includes the above-mentioned four sections.

The score range is 0 to 120 (Good Score- 80 or above) and could be used for 2 years.

Benefits of taking the TOEFL:

• Helps you to get admitted to a university or college
• Helps you in getting a successful job
• English is an internationally accepted language. TOEFL will help you in improving your English
• Helps you to build your connections around the world

Top 10 Universities that accept TOEFL scores

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

2. Stanford University

3. Harvard University

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

5. Princeton University

6. Yale University

7. University of Chicago 

8. Columbia University

9. Cornell University 

10. Duke University 

Note: Get prepared with other requirements besides the application form such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

Difference Between IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL

In terms of difficulty, IELTS and TOEFL are generally considered to be more difficult than PTE.

Factors that can help you to decide which test could be the best for you:

• The institutions that you are applying to accept.
• Your language proficiency level.
• Your personal preferences (e.g., test format, length, difficulty).
• You can also take a practice test for each of the three tests to get a better idea of which one you would be more comfortable with.

Distinctive summary among IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL

Feature	IELTS	PTE	TOEFL
Test format	Paper-based or computer-based	Computer-based	Computer-based or paper-based
Number of sections	4	4	4
Scoring	0 to 9 (Listening and Reading); 0 to 9 with half-band increments (Writing and Speaking)	1 to 90	0 to 30
Overall score	The average of the four scores	The sum of the three scores	The sum of the four scores
Validity	Well-established	Well-established	Well-established
Acceptability	Widely accepted	Widely accepted	Widely accepted

We hope you got an idea about the first step in the ladder to your dream university/college abroad. For any questions or queries regarding IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, study in Canada, study in the UK, study in the USA, study in France, etc., rely on the expert guidelines and counseling by Admissify. 

Conclusion

Proper planning and studying the application requirements is the key to scoring well in these standardized tests.  Besides, the aim should be to know where to head while preparing for these. Past patterns with current status should be analyzed to have a clear picture. Many coaching institutes can help you with their online as well as offline sessions and classes. To have more clarity, you can go ahead with a mock test of each of these tests.

FAQ

Which are the most difficult tests among IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL?

In terms of difficulty, IELTS and TOEFL are generally considered to be more difficult than PTE.

What are the factors that can help you to decide which test could be best for you?

Some factors are:

The institutions that you are applying to accept, your language proficiency level, your personal preferences (e.g., test format, length, difficulty), take a practice test for each of the three tests, etc.

What is the best way to get the best university/college abroad?

Proper planning and studying about the application requirements is the key to getting into your dream university or college.

Difference between TOEFL iBT and TOEFL?

Feature	TOEFL iBT	TOEFL Essentials
Test format	Computer-based	Computer-based
Total test time	3 hours	1.5 hours
Number of sections	4	4
Sections	Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing	Reading, Listening, Speaking
Score range	0-120	0-120
Acceptability	Widely accepted by universities and other institutions	Accepted by some universities and institutions