You may not like it, but learning English is necessary if you want to succeed abroad. Not just that, you have to show your knowledge of the English language on one of the two major English proficiency (水平) examinations: the IELTS (雅思) or the TOEFL (托福).
Which test you should take depends on your goal. The TOEFL remains the top exam in the US. But the IELTS is popular in the US but it is already the liked better test in the UK and Australia.
There are also differences in the examinations themselves. They both measure (测试) the four main language requirements: speaking, reading, writing and listening. However, the exams are very different in their form and methodology (方法).
“Compared with the TOEFL, the IELTS test requires you to actually have a grasp (掌握) of the language and an ability to use it, rather than simply being well prepared for the test,” explains IELTS examiner Julian Fisher.
The key reasons for this are that the IELTS exam requires fill-in answers as opposed to (相对于) multiple choice (选择题), and its speaking section is done with a real examiner instead of a computer. The examinee is given a topic related to daily life.
“The face-to-face interview with a trained speaker of English allows for communicative interaction (交流互动), which reflects (反应) real academic (学术的) and workplace situations,” said senior exam marketing officer Pang Shuai.
What scores do I need?
For the IELTS, a band score of 5 to 7 is fine for the majority of undergraduate and post-graduate programs. For top schools, you will probably need at least a 7.
When it comes to the TOEFL, there is a range (范围). It all depends on the colleges. Mediocre (普通的) schools will let you get by with a score as low as 60. For a top-tier university, on the other hand, you will need to score upwards of 100 points on your TOEFL.
32. What does Paragraph 2 suggest?
A.In the US, the TOEFL score is not as important as it once was. |
B.IELTS is more widely accepted than TOEFL by US schools. |
C.The TOEFL score is liked better in Australian universities. |
D.Universities in the UK mainly see students’ IELTS scores. |
33. Which of the following is a difference between the TOEFL and the IELTS?
A.The TOEFL checks four English skills, while IELTS doesn’t. |
B.The IELTS tests focus more on test-taking skills. |
C.There are no fill-in answers in the TOEFL tests. |
D.The IELTS interview s test-takers on the computer. |
34. What does Pang Shuai think of the face-to-face interview?
A.More exams should take this exam form. |
B.It is a useful skill in one’s studies and at work. |
C.This exam form can make test-takers more relaxed. |
D.A test-taker can score high simply by preparing well. |
35. If you want to go to a top university in the UK or US, ________.
A.a 7 on the IELTS is probably a must |
B.a score of 60 on the TOEFL is enough |
C.you should take both the TOEFL and IELTS |
D.you need a 7.5 on the IELTS for post-graduate programs |