TOEIC and IELTS which is more difficult? Which certificate should I study?

Surely you are no stranger to 2 keywordsIELTS and TOEIC right? However, many of you, when starting the preparation process, still do not fully understand the difference between these two exams. Therefore, with the article below, DOL will give you a specific comparison between the 2 exams and give you advice if you are still confused about which exam to take!

1. What is TOEIC and what is IELTS?

IELTS - International English Language Testing System - is considered a prestigious test, organized around the world to assess candidates' ability to use English.

This is an exam that assesses the English proficiency of candidates from countries that speak English as a second or foreign language.

There are two common  IELTS test formats:

• IELTS Academic - IELTS Academic
• IELTS General - IELTS General

TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) is a certificate for testing English in an international environment.

Currently, there are two types of TOEIC :

• TOEIC includes 2 skills: Listening and Reading
• TOEIC includes 4 skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing

IELTS

See more : Find out which country to study abroad without ielts

Link to the article: https://www.dolenglish.vn/blog/du-hoc-khong-can-ielts

TOEIC degree

2. What are the similarities and differences between TOEIC and IELTS?

IELTS is for people who want to study abroad or settle in an English-speaking country, while TOEIC is more for work and business purposes. IELTS is a popular choice for students from South America and the Middle East, while Japanese and French students often choose TOEIC.

2.1 Overview

• TOEIC and IELTS with the same score are both international certificates and are recognized on a worldwide scale.
• The two exams differ in the value of each certificate that the candidate is granted. 
• With IELTS , it is a certificate that is recognized in more countries than TOEIC. And TOEIC not only has a 4-skill test but also a 2-skill test. 
• In addition, the exam format, exam structure, grading scale and exam fees for these two exams are also different.

IELTS TOEIC certificate has many similarities and differences

2.2 Similarities

TOEIC and IELTS are both international certificates used to assess and prove candidates' English ability, which are internationally recognized. The results of the 2 TOEIC and IELTS exams are all converted to scores corresponding to specific competencies.

Maybe when you receive the results you are satisfied or not satisfied with what you show yourself. Therefore, many of you often use the phrase "target" to talk about the evaluation results of these two exams, not having the concept of passing or failing like other exams. 

The similarity is that when you have a TOEIC or IELTS certificate with a high score, it means that your ability to use English is quite good. Therefore, this is considered as a "passenger ticket" that opens up many learning and working opportunities for many candidates. 

2.3 Differences

Study object

👉   IELTS

Those of you who plan to study abroad, settle in English-speaking countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Because these countries have clear policies and requirements for IELTS when you want to study. or live here.

In addition, many universities in the country are now using IELTS as a required tool for candidate selection, outcome assessment or exemption from the English part of the study program. 

👉   TOEIC

This test will be suitable for those who want to work in foreign companies.

In addition, non-specialized students may also need this certificate if the TOEIC score with a specific score is specified at the University you are attending. 

Exam structure

Contest	Specific characteristics	TOEIC	IELTS
Reading	Time	75 minutes	60 minutes
General form	3 readings	3 readings, each reading lasts 20 minutes
Number of questions	100 questions	40 questions
Listening	Time	45 mins	30-40 minutes
General form	4 small listening sections, which include descriptions, questions, short talks or conversations	4 small listening parts, including 2 conversations and 1 presentation.
Number of questions	100 questions	40 questions
Writing	Time	60 minutes	60 minutes
General form	Essay writing, sentence writing	2 parts: Task 1 and Task 2
Number of questions	8 questions
Speaking	Time	20 minutes	~15 minutes
General form	Question and answer, drink love, discuss	3 parts: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Number of questions	11 questions

Rating scale, score conversion

👉   Rating scale

• IELTS : Overall score (overall score) of the IELTS test is the average of the scores of each skill and rounded up (to the higher and nearest 0.5), this score will be converted on a scale of 1.0 - 9.0.
• TOEIC : The maximum score of the TOEIC 2 skills test (Listening and Reading) is 990 points, with 495 points in each skill. If you take the two additional tests, Writing and Speaking, you will get a maximum of 400 points, with 200 points for each skill. 

👉 Redeem   points

The scoring rules of these two exams are not the same, so it is sometimes difficult for candidates to determine how to convert points between the two certificates. Let's see how to convert points for these 2 exams! 

Scale converted to points between certificates

• IELTS from 1.5 = TOEIC from 0 - 250 : The candidate's ability to use English is limited.
• IELTS from 2.0 - 3.5 = TOEIC from 255 - 400 : The candidate's ability to use English is at an average level.
• IELTS from 4.5 - 5.0 = TOEIC from 405 - 600 : The candidate's ability to use English is quite average.
• IELTS from 5.5 - 7.0 = TOEIC from 605 - 780 : The candidate's ability to use English is quite good.
• IELTS from 7.5 - 9.0 = TOEIC from 785 - 990 : The candidate's ability to use English at a proficient level.

Exam fee

• TOIEC exam fee : 2,780,000 VND (for students) and 3,070,000 VND (for working people)
• IELTS exam fee : 4,664,000 VND

Application of each certificate

With the IELTS certificate , the higher the band score, the more advantages you get:

• Completely exempt from the foreign language test in the final exam
• Opportunity to be prioritized for admission by Universities. 
• Search for scholarships & study abroad
• Exemption from English courses at the University
• Increase job opportunities in foreign companies.

TOEIC tests the ability to communicate in business English in an international working environment. So this certificate can be used to:

• Applying for jobs in foreign companies
• Improve comprehensive English ability
• Demonstrate reading comprehension and summarization of any readable text
• Ability to think logically and reason closely and communicate fluently despite limited vocabulary

Information comparison table

DOL has made the table below to help you visualize the differences between TOEIC and IELTS , let's take a look!

Criteria	TOEIC	I ELTS
Exam time	2 hours	2 hours 45 minutes
Exam fee	VND 2,780,000 (for students) and VND 3,070,000 (for working people)	4,664,000 VND
Assessment scale	10 – 990 won	0 – 9.0
How to do homework	On paper	On paper (Paper-Based) or computer (Computer-Based)
Organizing Committee	American Examinations Institute	British Council and Australian Council (IDP)
Assessment skills	2 skills (listening, reading) or 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing)	4 skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing)
Number of questions	200 sentences	80 questions (not including 2 skills

The IELTS exam is more diverse TOEIC in terms of form: multiple choice questions, blank text, true or false, graphs, etc. In addition, the oral ability test (Speaking) is conducted in front of the examiner. .

3. Compare TOEIC 4 skills and IELTS

Below we will compare what TOEIC 4 skills and IELTS have in common and different:

The difficulty level of TOEIC 4 skills and IELTS is different

3.1 Listening

• Same: Candidates can only listen to the audio once; This test will consist of 4 sub-parts, with increasing difficulty level.
• Is different:
  • TOEIC: Test of listening ability - understanding familiar topics in daily life.
  • IELTS: Besides "breathable" topics, sometimes candidates also encounter academic and academic topics.

3.2 Speaking

• Same: This section will usually be held at a different time from the rest of the tests.
• Is different:
  • TOEIC: Test candidates' knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and handling situations.
  • IELTS: Assesses the ability to read and understand English texts, recognize complex words and structures. 

3.3 Reading

• Like: The passages in the reading passage are divided into 3 parts.
• Is different:
  • TOEIC: Test candidates' knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and handling situations.
  • IELTS: Assesses the ability to read and understand English texts, recognize complex words and structures.

3.4 Writing

• Same: Essay format and candidates complete the work in 60 minutes.
• Is different: 
  • TOEIC: Test your ability to write and describe pictures, letter writing and reasoning skills in everyday situations.
  • IELTS: Test the candidate's ability to summarize information and close reasoning skills.

4. TOEIC or IELTS is more difficult

The content of the TOEIC test is considered easier than the IELTS test . Because the range of vocabulary used in the TOEIC test is quite practical and applied to everyday English communication, it is more common and easier to understand than the other two academic tests.

• TOEIC 2 Listening and Reading skills is a form of only multiple choice questions, so TOEIC is chosen by a large number of candidates.
• For IELTS , the content of this test includes 4 skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, so candidates must have strong English ability in many aspects such as vocabulary, grammar, knowledge in many topics.

Therefore, candidates need a lot of time to review and improve their English ability in many different skills. Therefore, this test is considered to be more difficult than the TOEIC test.

Many people wonder whether IELTS or TOEIC is more difficult

5. Should you study TOEIC or IELTS?

Many of you are still wondering between TOEIC and IELTS which one to study. In fact, depending on the needs of studying and working in specific locations, each certificate will have a certain suitability.

In addition, you also need to know your personal goals and the time to spend on revision. Ideally, learners should identify their specific needs and develop appropriate review strategies.

Some criteria for choosing between TOEIC and IELTS certificates :

Depending on the needs, learners will choose to take IELTS or TOEIC

6. Frequently asked questions

What is the passing score for TOEIC?

There is no " pass " or " fail " score in TOEIC. Instead, there will be a scale of 5 to 495 for the Listening section and 5 to 495 for the Reading section, with a total score of 10 to 990.

What is the pass score for IELTS?

There is no pass or fail score in the IELTS exam . Your test results are reported on a scale of 1.0 (lowest) to 9.0 (highest). Candidates will receive an overall score, as well as a score for each section for each of the listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections.

How many times can I take the TOEIC test?

Candidates are allowed to retake the TOEIC test as many times as they want. However, the test can only be taken once in every 28 days.

Through the above article, DOL hopes that you have grasped the necessary information about the 3 TOEIC and IELTS certificates and determined which one you should choose. Whatever certificate you choose, if you need to refer to a quality course, you can refer to the DOL courses!