The standardised English language exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE Academic, fall in the on-going debate of which test to take. This debate can be best answered by the following article discussing the exam pattern, structure, popularity, duration, toughness to crack the exam, prep tips, and even its relevance.
Being the universal language, English is a compulsion for students who aspire to study abroad. Universities abroad follow rules of the global education system, which judges on the basis of your score in standardized tests designed to test your language fluency. There are predominantly three standardized English language tests that are widely accepted in most foreign universities i.e. IELTS (International English Language Testing Service), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), and PTE (Pearson Test of English). While all three of them evaluate your English language skills based on four parameters of Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, the ongoing debate of which test to take has become a moot point amongst aspirants. Before landing to any conclusion, it is essential that we consider our requirements or preferences.
Related Read: PTE vs IELTS
Let us closely examine the factors to consider before zeroing in on which test to take up:
| Factors |
IELTS |
TOEFL |
PTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Versions |
- Academic - General Training |
- TOEFL iBT - TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
- PTE Academic UKVI |
| Organizer |
British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English |
ETS (Educational Testing Service) |
Pearson PLC Group |
| Fee |
INR 17,000 |
INR 16,900 |
INR 17,000 |
| Structure |
|||
| Duration |
2 hours 45 minutes |
Less than 2 hours |
2 hours |
| Score |
1 to 9 |
0 to 120 |
10 to 90 |
| Results |
|||
| Popularity |
Widely popular in the UK and Australia |
Widely popular in the USA and Canada; 100% accepted by universities in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand |
Widely recognized in many institutions of the UK, Australia, USA, and Canada |
| Acceptance |
9000+ International Colleges |
13,000+ universities, agencies, and other institutions |
PTE Academic Exam is accepted by thousands of universities worldwide, including prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, INSEAD, and Yale. PTE Academic is also accepted for visa purposes by the Australian and New Zealand governments. |
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'Which test to take?' is mostly a matter of opinion and individual preference. If you are not taking external assistance to help you decide, you may decide on the test on the basis of the location you choose to study.
For instance, if you are planning to take a test that is accepted worldwide and join universities/colleges in countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc., TOEFL is the right choice for you. The IELTS score is also accepted worldwide, with a higher acceptance rate in the European countries as well as New Zealand, and Australia. The PTE Academic Exam is also accepted in the USA, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia.
It is always recommended that you conduct thorough research before finalizing an exam. To avoid further confusion, you may always seek assistance from the study abroad experts, who with their valuable experience and expertise can help you make useful decisions.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
You might also want to read Choosing between TOEFL and IELTS: A Comparison. If already finalized, you might be interested to know When to start preparing for IELTS or TOEFL?
Also check:
The application process at the University of Manchester can change depending on course chosen and level of study. The steps to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the university are given as follows:
UG Application Process:
- Student must apply through the UCAS common application portal.
- They can go to the website and select the course that they are interested in.
- Students are required to meet the eligibility requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
- Once they have decided on the course, the important documents are to be submitted such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
- You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
- Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
- The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
PG application process:
- Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
- Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
- Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
- Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
With a 70% acceptance rate, the University of Hertfordshire is not hard to get into and follows easy selection criteria during admissions. This does not mean the university accepts all the students applying for different programs. The selection is based on academic performance, English language requirements, references, and many more. Some of the programs at Hertfordshire even demand an experience of 4-5 years. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
Pick your stage and get free guidance from counsellors who've helped thousands get into top universities.
Starting research
Shortlisting colleges
Exam preparation
SOP/LOR writing
Scholarship & finance
Visa application
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
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3 years ago
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4 years ago
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.