Candidates need to qualify any English language proficiency test to study abroad and TOEFL is one of these. TOEFL is conducted as TOEFL iBT or internet-based test and TOEFL PBT or paper-based test. Candidates are often confused about the differences between TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT. The following sections discuss exactly the same, check these out.
TOEFL iBT | TOEFL PBT |
---|---|
Conducted online through the internet | Conducted offline via paper and pencil |
Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes | Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes |
Costs INR 11468 – INR 17919 | Costs INR 12901 |
Tests reading, listening, speaking and writing | Tests Listening Comprehension and Structure and Written Expression, Reading Comprehension, and Test of Written English (TWE) |
Conducted throughout the year in 97% of the locations | Conducted only in specific locations where the internet is not available. |
Conducted on Saturday and Sundays | Conducted every month |
Score range: 0-120 | Score range: 310 to 677 |
0-30 for TOEFL reading section 0-30 for TOEFL listening section 0-30 for TOEFL speaking section 0-30 for TOEFL writing section |
31-68 for Listening Comprehension and Structure and Written Expression 31-67 for Reading Comprehension 1-6 for TWE |
Apart from these basic differences, the main difference is in the TOEFL exam pattern.
The rest of the factors are mostly the same – so, it means TOEFL PBT has a limited area of testing compared to TOEFL iBT.
Moving on to the TOEFL score, TOEFL iBT scoring is less complicated. TOEFL PBT scoring is complicated because it engages a raw score to scaled score process.
Section name | TOEFL iBT | TOEFL PBT |
---|---|---|
Reading | 3-4 reading passages Each passage with 700 words Each passage with 10 questions Total 30-40 questions 54-72 minutes Score range: 0-30 |
5 passages Each passage with 250-300 words 55 minutes Score range: 31-67 |
Listening | 3-4 lectures, 2-3 conversations 28-39 questions 41-57 minutes Score range: 0-30 |
3-4 mini-talks, 2-3 conversations 30-40 questions 30-40 minutes Score range: 31-68 |
Speaking | 4 speaking tasks 10-12 minutes Score range: 0-30 |
- |
Writing | One integrated task One independent task 50 minutes Score range: 0-30 |
One independent task 30 minutes Score range: 0-5 |
Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo DRC, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Suriname, Tanzania, and Togo allow the candidates to take both formats of TOEFL.
At present, most of the countries allow the test-takers to take TOEFL iBT only – so, candidates will only get the opportunity to take TOEFL iBT at their locations.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.