Introduction
- Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and some of the other programs use a test to detect the candidates' ability to speak in the English language.
- There are three major English language proficiency exams for the same.
- Before, 2009, Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) were the most common medium of testing the English language.
- In 2009, one of the eminent educational companies in the United States of America launched its English proficiency exam. Since it was launched by Pearson, it is known as the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic.
- Although these three tests; IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE claim to deliver equitable results, yet, every program has its criteria for accepting the exam. For instance, not all MBA programs accept all the three exams.
Acceptance
- In general, IELTS is mostly accepted in Europe and Australia.
- TOEFL is more commonly accepted by the institutes offering MBA programs in the United States of America.
- PTE Academic is the newest of all and is being widely accepted by almost all the MBA programs worldwide.
Requirements
Requirements of Institutions
- Most commonwealth universities accept IELTS, and many universities at the United States of America have also begun accepting the IELTS.
- However, it is also true that institutions in the United States of America prefer TOEFL and over 8000 universities there accept it.
- PTE is the youngest of all the exams, and most institutions accept either IELTS or TOEFL.
- Since most MBA programs do not accept all the three, candidates must make sure that they shall take the necessary exam for the program they aspire to apply.
- On the contrary, candidates must also know which exam shall suit their testing style the best. This is suitable if a program accepts more than one of these exams.
Availability
Test Availability
- TOEFL is available in 4500 centers in 165 countries all over the world.
- In contrast to this, IELTS is available in 1100 centers across 140 countries worldwide.
- PTE is a recent invention and is available only in 250 testing centers across 50 countries across the globe.
Differences
Test-Differences
Ways of Deciding Which Test to Take
The five most crucial elements to consider while choosing between the three English proficiency test are:
| Test-Differences | Details |
|---|---|
| Answer formats |
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| Listening section samples |
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| Reading passages |
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| Recorded speaking vs. oral interview |
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| Dates of exam |
|
- Length of each test: TOEFL is the longest of the three tests as it takes almost 4 hours to complete the test. On the other hand, IELTS requires only 2 hours and 45 minutes that can be completed on two separate days. The PTE takes 3 hours to complete. The candidates who find it uncomfortable to take long tests can choose the relatively shorter test. However, it is also true that the more extended test proves to be an excellent opportunity to showcase English skills.
- Cost of the Test: The three test stand par with one another regarding the cost. The specific cost may vary depending upon the location.
- Scoring of the Test: TOEFL and IELTS use human scorers. The speaking portion of the IELTS exam is evaluated through a test proctor and incorporates a face-to-face conversation. In contrast to this, PTE uses the automatic scoring.
- The content of each test: TOEFL is a typical American style standardized test, which consists of 2 essays, lost of MCQs, and six brief spoken responses. While IELTS has a similar format, PTE avoids lots of typical standardized format.
- The format of the Exam: PTE has questions that are mostly spoken, and there is no scope for pause or re-record. This makes PTE a challenging option. Finally, applying to the best business schools may require some more work, but it can worth the effort as it brightens the chances of being chosen by the world's best business schools.