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 vs. TOEFL PBT – A Quick Comparison
| 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.
- TOEFL iBT has a speaking section – TOEFL PBT does not have the speaking section.
- TOEFL iBT writing consists of 2 writing tasks – one independent writing task and one integrated writing task, but TOEFL PBT writing (TWE) comes with 1 writing task.
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-wise comparison of TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT
| 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.
TOEFL iBT Vs, TOEFL PBT: Which one to Take?
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.
Comments