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.

IELTS Academic (2 hrs 45 mts)

Listening 

40 questions - 30 mts

Multiple choice; matching; plan/map/diagram labelling; form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion; sentence completion; short-answer questions

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

Writing 

60 mts

Task 1: Describe visual info (graph/table/chart/diagram). Task 2: essay (discuss a viewpoint/argument/problem). 

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

TOEFL iBT (1 hr 54 mts)

Reading 

35-48 items - adaptive modules - 35 mts

Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage

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)

Versant Academic (approx 50 mts)

Speaking

Read aloud; Repeat what you hear; Build a sentence; Answer a question about a conversation

Listening

Conversations; Dictation

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.

IELTS Academic (2 hrs 45 mts)

Listening 

40 questions - 30 mts

Multiple choice; matching; plan/map/diagram labelling; form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion; sentence completion; short-answer questions

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

Writing 

60 mts

Task 1: Describe visual info (graph/table/chart/diagram). Task 2: essay (discuss a viewpoint/argument/problem). 

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

TOEFL iBT (1 hr 54 mts)

Reading 

35-48 items - adaptive modules - 35 mts

Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage

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)

Versant Academic (approx 50 mts)

Speaking

Read aloud; Repeat what you hear; Build a sentence; Answer a question about a conversation

Listening

Conversations; Dictation

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.