I am a Jordanian young man and I want to study in America ‘m a young man from Jordan, and I started seriously considering pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the United States.
The first thing that came to my mind was: Should I take the TOEFL or the IELTS? Honestly, I didn’t know the difference between them, nor how to begin preparing. So I started researching and asking questions, and I wanted to share my experience and advice with you, hoping it might be helpful to anyone considering studying in the United States.
First question: Do I really need to take TOEFL or IELTS?
The short answer: Yes, most people ask for one of them , especially if you studied in Arabic schools and your education was not in English.
So what’s the difference? Which is easier?
I was confused between TOEFL and IELTS , and this simple comparison helped me choose:
🧠 TOEFL:
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The entire exam is on computer.
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Even the speaking part is recorded by yourself, there is no live interview.
🗣️ IELTS:
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The reading, writing, and listening sections are done on paper (or sometimes computer).
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Section of talking to a person, face-to-face interview.
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Its questions are a bit simpler than the TOEFL for some people, especially the listening part.
Personally, I felt comfortable with the TOEFL because it’s all done on the laptop and there’s no interview, but some young people prefer talking to a real person, so they chose IELTS.
1. I tried to take a placement test.
I went online to websites that provide sample tests and checked my level. I discovered that I have a listening weakness.
2. I made a simple study plan.
An hour a day – not too much!
One day you practice reading, one day you practice writing, and so on.
3. I used free apps and resources.
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Magoosh (Excellent for TOEFL)
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E2 IELTS YouTube Channel (Excellent Explanation)
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Short videos on how to respond smartly.
4. I registered for an exam appointment in advance.
This gave me the motivation to study hard, and I started doing full mock exams to get used to the pressure and time.
Advice from the heart
Don’t listen to everyone who scares you. It requires a bit of commitment, but it’s not complicated.
Start early, try both (TOEFL and IELTS) and see what makes you feel comfortable, and take it step by step.
