Most of the US universities and community colleges require international applicants whose native language is not English to take an English proficiency test (IELTS or TOEFL).
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IELTS vs TOEFL at a Glance
TOEFL | IELTS |
| Test Time | |
| 240 minutes | 174 minutes |
| Format & Content | |
| 4 sections: – Reading: 60-80 minutes | 4 sections: – Reading: 60 minutes |
| Question Style | |
| Mainly multiple-choice questions | Questions vary in structure |
| Scoring | |
| Total score: 0-120 – Reading: 0-30 | Overall band score: 1-9 – Each of the section scores is equally weighted. The overall band score is the average of the 4 section scores |
| Speaking Section | |
| – Student have to answer 6 question into a microphone. No face-to-face contact with the examiner – Held on the same day with the written tests | – Student have to take the test with an examiner face-to-face – The test may be held before or after the written tests |
| Acceptance | |
| Widely accepted by US universities. Also accepted by many universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand | Widely accepted by universities in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. Also accepted by many US universities |
| Test Schedule | |
| Up to 4 times per month | |
| Characteristics | |
| – Comfortable with Americna English – Type fast as to handle the writing section | – Not exclusive for British English – Comfortable with face-to-face speaking |
| Registration | |
| Registration 3-4 months before the test date is recommended | Registration opens 3-4 months before the test date. |
| Score Available | |
| 13 days after the test | |
| Fee | |
| US$ 210 (exams taken in Hong Kong) | HKD$ 2,010 |
More Information about IELTS:
- Information for Candidates Booklet
- Notice to Candidates
- Test Day Flow Chart
- Arrangements in Case of Bad Weather
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Test Venues
- British Council, 3 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong
- Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East, 3 Tong Tak Street, Tseung Kwan O, NT
- Eaton Hotel Hong Kong, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon
- Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
- New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel, 72 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon
- Regal Kowloon Hotel, 71 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon
- Regal Riverside Hotel, 34 – 36 Tai Chung Kiu Road, Shatin, NT
- Royal Plaza Hotel, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon
- The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
- Dates and Fee
Free Online Resources for IELTS Preparation
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Road to IELTS
- 10 hours of free IELTS online preparation course. More about Road to IELTS…
- Practice and Prepare