Which Test Should You Take: TOEIC or TOEFL?

1. Summary of the TOEIC test

Executives and students alike can take the TOEIC, or Test of English for International Communication. The test may be necessary as part of a student's academic journey (for example, while applying for a Master's degree), as part of an employer's hiring process, or as part of a prospective employee's career. The TOEIC exam measures a candidate's proficiency in business English.

Participants in the TOEIC exam will have 120 minutes to finish the entire test. The only abilities examined by the TOEIC test are listening and reading. The TOEIC is regarded as being simpler than the TOEFL primarily because of this. The final TOEIC score, which ranges from 5 to 990, evaluates a candidate's ability to communicate in English in a professional setting. The TOEIC solely covers themes related to the workplace, unlike the TOEFL.

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2. Overview of TOEFL test

The TOEFL, which stands for the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is used mainly by students. Students who attend exchange programs or study abroad in English-speaking countries usually have to take the test. Mexican or Chinese universities also require the TOEFL to make sure that their future students possess sufficient English competence to enroll in degree courses.

The TOEFL test takes about 4 hours. On the test, your ability to understand, speak and write in academic English will be tested. The final score which ranges from 0 to 120 will decide whether an individual would be able to take English academic courses. Topics related to university life (sociology, sciences, history, etc) and students’ daily life are often contained on the TOEFL test.  

3. Reasons why you should take the TOEIC exam  

The TOEIC is one of the most popular English – language tests in the world. It measures a candidate’s English language level in the workplace.  

The TOEIC test comprises two sections: Listening and Reading. Other versions of the TOEIC exam, for instance, the TOEIC Bridge, are aimed at lower- level students.  

Now, let’s take a look at advantages and disadvantages of the TOEIC test. When talking about advantages and disadvantages of the TOEIC test, it’s essential to look at them from your points of view. You should ask yourself:

• Is the TOEIC test the most suitable for your professional/ academic targets?
• Is the TOEIC certificate accepted by your target companies/ institutions?
• Can you access the TOEIC test at an appropriate site and time?

Once answering these questions, you will find it easier to deal with the TOEIC and TOEFL conundrum.  

If you are seeking a position in an international company, you will gain a lot of benefits from the TOEIC test since it concentrates on business and workplace English. Topics such as meetings, workplace conversations and professional communications are often included on the TOEIC exam. Nevertheless, the TOEIC exam may be a disadvantage for those who want to study abroad in arts programs.  

A potential drawback of the TOEIC test is that compared to other English – language tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, it is not quite as widely accepted as proof of English competence. If you want to use the TOEIC certificate to apply to a degree program or university without business focus, it’s recommended to check whether they would accept the TOEIC certificate.  

4. Reasons why you should take the TOEFL exam

The TOEFL is another popular English – language test. The test is designed mainly for non-native speakers who desire to pursue university-level study. The TOEFL test has a quite different aim and format compared to the TOEIC. Here is the details about format of the test:

• Comprises 140 multiple-choice questions
• Composed of three sections: Listening, Reading and Structure & Written Expression
• The total time: 115 minutes
• Score ranging from 310 to 677 points  

Now, let’s consider benefits and shortcomings of the TOEFL test:

Firstly, the TOEFL test is created to evaluate a candidate’s English language level in an academic context. The TOEFL is considered an ideal test demonstrating your ability to use English in academic programs. For those who wish to apply to university programs in an English-speaking country, the TOEFL will be the most suitable. This can be said that if you are looking for a position in an international company and want to use your English in the working environment, the TOEFL test is less appropriate.  

Another advantage of the TOEFL test is that in addition to testing examinees’ listening and reading skills, the test checks your written expression including grammar and structure. If you want to show your ability in this skill to your future university or employers, the TOEFL test may be an ideal choice.  

5. Differences between TOEIC and TOEFL test

If you are still wondering which test you should choose between TOEIC and TOEFL, consider the following two things:

• Reasons why you want to sit for the test. If you want to seek a position in an international company, choose the TOEIC. If you want to open a few doors for yourself academically, opt for the TOEFL.
• Your own preferences. The TOEIC and TOEFL are different. Choose the one that you feel more confident in, you will be more likely to attain higher scores.  

Below are several main differences between TOEIC and TOEFL:

• Who takes the test most often?

TOEIC

Job applicants, employees, business and economics students

TOEFL

Prospective students, students in academic programmes

• What is the test most useful for?

TOEIC

Evaluating English in the workplace  

TOEFL

Evaluating English for academic study

• What kind of language does the test focus on?

TOEIC

Workplace and business vocabulary

TOEFL

Language across multiple topics used in academic contexts

• What kind of institutions ask for test scores?

TOEIC

Recruiters, HR departments and international companies

TOEFL

Colleges and universities

• What skills does the test focus on?

TOEIC

Listening and Reading

TOEFL

Listening, Reading and Writing.

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