The only area in which the TOEFL test seems to have a distinct advantage over IELTS is the iBT. With as many as 96 % of test-takers reportedly opting to do the internet-based test( Labi), it would seem that IELTS is seriously lagging behind in having only rolled out a computer-based version of the test in a select few locations. According to Ms Meiron, however, " we ' ve found … that a lot of students and applicants prefer to take a paper test, because it is a clear measure of English-language proficiency rather than computer skills "( qtd in Labi). Although I think there is some truth in what she is saying, it is probably quite a simplistic view. There are likely many candidates who would prefer to do a computerbased test, and this is certainly one area that IELTS needs to focus on improving as a matter of priority. However, I do not think that the extraordinarily high number of candidates that do the iBT TOEFL is purely an indication of the popularity of the internet-based format. It is widely recognized that the new version of TOEFL is far superior to the paper-based one( Jaschik), not least because of the introduction of the speaking component, which goes some ways to explaining why so many test-takers opt to do it.
Despite the vast improvements made to the TOEFL test, it is obvious that IELTS is gaining ground and, according to Labi, it " claims the title of the largest test provider globally ". This is apparent when one considers that 1.7 million students sat an IELTS exam in 2011( it is impossible to compare this with the TOEFL as its number of test-takers is considered " proprietary "( qtd in Labi)). What is more, the number of universities and colleges that accept IELTS is growing too, with three thousand US universities now on the list of accredited organizations.( Peterson ' s) These include all eight Ivy League schools, as well as other top educational institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology( MIT).
With so many universities in the US and worldwide now accepting both TOEFL and IELTS scores as proof of language proficiency, it has become more difficult for students to make the choice between the two. And it is not a choice that should be taken lightly. As Labi correctly points out, " these exams can hold the key to life-altering opportunities." I hope that this discussion has opened a new door to those readers who need to take an English language test in the future but were not even aware that they had a choice beyond the TOEFL test.
If you would like more information about the IELTS test and where in Panama you can take it, please visit www. ielts. org.
SOURCES " Do you need iBT English?" TOEFL iBT Course. Web. 15 Mar 2013. http:// www. toeflibtcourse. com / need-ibt-english. htm.
" Frequently Asked Questions( FAQ) Archive," Education USA. Institute of International Education. Web. 15 March 2013. http:// www. educationusa. info / faq. php? id = 3 & iq = 381 & language = 1.
Jaschik, Scott. " Taking on TOEFL." Inside Higher Ed. Aug 2006. Web. 15 Mar 2013.
Labi, Aisha. " English-Testing Companies Vie for Slices of a Growing Market." The Chronicle of Higher Education. July 2010. Web. 15 Mar 2013.
" Which is Better, the IELTS or the TOEFL Test?" Peterson ' s. Jan 2013. Nelnet Company. Web. 15 Mar 2013.
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