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Most serious learners of English know about the TOEFL. But did you know that many American colleges and universities accept two major English tests? First, they accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL. And second, they accept the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS.

The TOEFL is given in 110 countries. And the IELTS is given in 120 countries. About one million people take the TOEFL and the IELTS each year. Both tests are also recognized by over 6,000 institutions and organizations around the world.

The IELTS is a paper test. But the TOEFL is given on paper only where the internet test is unavailable.  The internet TOEFL is called the iBT. And the price is different in each country. But it generally falls between $150 and $200.  For example, the TOEFL costs $150 dollars in Pakistan and $170 dollars in Japan.

Both the TOEFL and the IELTS measure all four language skills — listening, reading, writing and speaking. For the IELTS, you do the speaking test separately as a live interview. You speak with certified examiner. For the TOEFL, you speak into a microphone and record your responses. These responses are recorded and sent to certified examiners.

For the IELTS, everyone takes the same speaking and listening tests. But they can choose between reading and writing tests — either academic or general training.  The IELTS measures communicative ability in English for education, immigration, and employment.  The TOEFL focuses mainly on academic English. It is primarily designed for people who want to study abroad.