TOEFL
is not the only test of English ability.
The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) also tests
proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English.
TOEFL,
or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the widely accepted tests
the world over for non-native English-speaking people. Most of the universities
and colleges use the TOEFL score to evaluate the ability of a non-native
English-speaking candidate who wants to get enrolled.
TOEIC,
or Test of English for International Communication, is mainly used by business
and industry houses, educational institutions, and governments for evaluating
the English skills of non-native English-speakers before they are hired or
recruited. Prospective employees mainly take the test which is for evaluating
the English proficiency.
Differences
between TOEFL and TOEIC
Test Taker
The
TOEFL measures the test-taker's ability to function in an English-speaking
academic environment. The target test-taker for the TOEFL is a candidate for
higher education in an English-speaking country. The TOEIC, on the other hand,
measures the ability to function in a general work environment. This test is
used in nonacademic settings as a measure of the ability of a current or
potential employee to communicate effectively in English in a variety of
business settings and situations.
Test Formats
The
TOEFL is a four-section test that includes sections for reading, listening,
speaking and writing. It is taken exclusively on the computer. The TOEIC is
broken into two separate but complementary exams: the Reading and Listening
Test, which is a paper-and-pencil test, and the Speaking and Writing Test,
which is taken on a computer. The exams are broken up in this way so potential
employers can choose to measure an employee's reading and listening or speaking
and writing skills only, or all four language skills. The Reading and Listening
Test will take about two-and-a-half hours to complete, and for the Speaking and
Writing Test, the speaking section will last about 20 minutes, and the writing
section will take 60 minutes to complete.
Test Content
In
the TOEFL, the test-taker is measured on his ability to function in an academic
environment. In this regard, the vocabulary on this test is academic in nature
and is similar to the vocabulary used in college text books. The topics of the
reading and listening passages are similarly academic. You may read a passage
on bird migration, for example, or listen to a lecture from an economics
course. The TOEIC, on the other hand, measures the test-taker's ability to
function in a business environment. Topics may range from dining out in a
restaurant to presenting in a budget meeting.
Test Scores
On the TOEFL, the maximum possible score is 677, and for
TOEFL iBT is 120. There is no “passing score” and colleges and universities
will have their own requirements for admission. The TOEIC Reading and Listening
test gives the test-taker score of 10 to 990, which corresponds to bands in
Common European Framework measure of English proficiency. A test-taker will
receive scores of 0 to 200 for Speaking and Writing test separately, again
which corresponds to the CEF standards of English language proficiency
measurements.
TOEFL and
TOEIC
TOEFL
and TOEIC are similar tests that measure the test-taker's ability to function
to read, listen, and write English. They are both administrated on the computer
at the test-taker’s convenience at a designated test center. Also, they both
have scores available within several days of taking test.
The
important difference between TOEFL and TOEIC is the TOEFL tests English in an
academic or university setting, while the TOEIC tests English used in business
setting. Those who take TOEIC do so primarily to have an objective measure of
their English proficiency for their resumes to prove to employers or potential
employers that they are proficient in English. So, if
you are applying to the academic programs in the United States or another countries,
you should take the TOEFL. If you are not planning to attend a college or
university and just want proof that you speak English well enough to succeed at a job requiring
English fluency, you should take the TOEIC.
Sources:
Belkin, Janet. 1997. The Best Test
Preparation for the TOEIC: Research and Education Association
Rollins, Elizabeth. 2013. The Complete Idiot's
Guide to the TOEFL: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
http://education.seattlepi.com/differences-between-toefl-toeic-1513.html
