The table below compares the new TOEFL iBT, IELTS and Versant exams. For more information and online study links, see the sections for IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo proficiency tests under the table.
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IELTS Academic (2 hrs 45 mts) |
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Listening |
40 questions - 30 mts Multiple choice; matching; plan/map/diagram labelling; form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion; sentence completion; short-answer questions |
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Reading |
40 questions - 60 mts Multiple choice; True/False/Not Given; Yes/No/Not Given; matching information/headings/features/sentence endings; sentence completion; summary/note/table/flow-chart completion; diagram label completion; short-answer questions |
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Writing |
60 mts Task 1: Describe visual info (graph/table/chart/diagram). Task 2: essay (discuss a viewpoint/argument/problem). |
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Speaking |
11-14 mts Part 1: intro & interview; Part 2: long turn from a written prompt (1 mnt prep time); Part 3: follow-up general questions related to Part 2 topic |
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TOEFL iBT (1 hr 54 mts) |
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Reading |
35-48 items - adaptive modules - 35 mts Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage |
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Listening |
30-40 items - adaptive modules - 36 mts Listen and Choose a Response; Listen to a Short Conversation; Answer Questions about Announcements/Academic Talks |
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Writing |
12 items - 30 mts Build a Sentence; Write an Email; Write for an Academic Discussion |
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Speaking |
11 items - 13 mts Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview (no prep time) |
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Versant Academic (approx 50 mts) |
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Speaking |
Read aloud; Repeat what you hear; Build a sentence; Answer a question about a conversation |
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Listening |
Conversations; Dictation |
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Writing |
Passage Reconstruction - from a short written paragraph; Summary and Opinion - from longer text |
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Reading |
Reading aloud (w/speaking); Sentence completion (gap fills); Summarizing a text (w/writing) (mostly tested in an integrated activity) |
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Order Summary |
Part A: Read Aloud (Speaking + Reading; 2 items) Part B: Repeat (Speaking; 16 items) Part C: Sentence Builds (Speaking; 10 items) Part D: Conversations (Listening; 12 items) Part E: Typing (Typing speed/accuracy check; 1 item) Part F: Sentence Completion (Reading; 20 items) Part G: Dictation (Listening; 16 items) Part H: Passage Reconstruction (Writing; 3 items) Part I: Summary and Opinion (Reading + Writing (summary 25-50 words; opinion 50 words, 18 mts total); 1 item) PS. The test is incremental (the level increases in increments, whether the students answer correctly or not) Students cannot take notes. |
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IELTS Academic (2 hrs 45 mts) |
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|
Listening |
40 questions - 30 mts Multiple choice; matching; plan/map/diagram labelling; form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion; sentence completion; short-answer questions |
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Reading |
40 questions - 60 mts Multiple choice; True/False/Not Given; Yes/No/Not Given; matching information/headings/features/sentence endings; sentence completion; summary/note/table/flow-chart completion; diagram label completion; short-answer questions |
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Writing |
60 mts Task 1: Describe visual info (graph/table/chart/diagram). Task 2: essay (discuss a viewpoint/argument/problem). |
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Speaking |
11-14 mts Part 1: intro & interview; Part 2: long turn from a written prompt (1 mnt prep time); Part 3: follow-up general questions related to Part 2 topic |
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TOEFL iBT (1 hr 54 mts) |
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|
Reading |
35-48 items - adaptive modules - 35 mts Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage |
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Listening |
30-40 items - adaptive modules - 36 mts Listen and Choose a Response; Listen to a Short Conversation; Answer Questions about Announcements/Academic Talks |
|
Writing |
12 items - 30 mts Build a Sentence; Write an Email; Write for an Academic Discussion |
|
Speaking |
11 items - 13 mts Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview (no prep time) |
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Versant Academic (approx 50 mts) |
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|
Speaking |
Read aloud; Repeat what you hear; Build a sentence; Answer a question about a conversation |
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Listening |
Conversations; Dictation |
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Writing |
Passage Reconstruction - from a short written paragraph; Summary and Opinion - from longer text |
|
Reading |
Reading aloud (w/speaking); Sentence completion (gap fills); Summarizing a text (w/writing) (mostly tested in an integrated activity) |
|
Order Summary |
Part A: Read Aloud (Speaking + Reading; 2 items) Part B: Repeat (Speaking; 16 items) Part C: Sentence Builds (Speaking; 10 items) Part D: Conversations (Listening; 12 items) Part E: Typing (Typing speed/accuracy check; 1 item) Part F: Sentence Completion (Reading; 20 items) Part G: Dictation (Listening; 16 items) Part H: Passage Reconstruction (Writing; 3 items) Part I: Summary and Opinion (Reading + Writing (summary 25-50 words; opinion 50 words, 18 mts total); 1 item) PS. The test is incremental (the level increases in increments, whether the students answer correctly or not) Students cannot take notes. |