English Proficiency Tests - Which One is Right For you? - Choosing Advice and IELTS Comparison

Oct 1, 2026

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Guide to selecting the most suitable English proficiency test by comparing IELTS, TOEFL, and AcEPT for different goals. Explains why such tests matter for scholarships, academic admissions, and employment, then details IELTS formats, including paper-based versus computer-based timing and speaking delivery. Includes practical IELTS skill breakdowns (listening, reading, writing, speaking) and a band-score overview describing proficiency levels and language control.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Aim and what the guide covers

Why do we need these tests?

Scholarships, admissions, employment

Sample requirements

LPDP requirements by program type

IELTS overview

Assessment, training types, purposes, costs, providers

IELTS formats

Paper-based

Computer-based

IELTS skills and timing

Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking

IELTS band scores

9 to 6 descriptions

English Proficiency Tests: Which One is Right For you? Ashika Paramita [ashparamita@ugm.ac.id](ashparamita@ugm.ac.id) Today… Aim: Help you choose the right English proficiency test • Overview: IELTS, TOEFL, AcEPT • Comparing the tests • General advice & resources • Post-test • English Proficiency Test at Pusat Bahasa UGM But first! • Have you taken any of these tests? Which one(s)? • For what purpose? • What was your experience like? Why do we need these tests? • Scholarships • Academic admissions • Employment Sample: LPDP Requirements • Master’s scholarship (domestic): TOEFL ITP 500, TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0 • Master’s scholarship (overseas): TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5 • Doctoral scholarship (domestic): TOEFL ITP 530, TOEFL iBT 70, IELTS 6.0 • Doctoral scholarship (overseas): TOEFL iBT 94, IELTS 7.0 International English Language Testing System (IELTS) • Assessment: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking (face-to-face) • IELTS General Training • Migration purposes • Everyday English • IELTS Academic • University entry • English as a medium of study • Costs IDR 3,000,000 – IDR 3,570,000 • Provider: IDP Education, British Council IELTS: Paper-based • The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are conducted on paper with a question booklet and answer sheet for each section . • The Speaking section is conducted face-to-face with an examiner. • Your results come out 13 days after taking the test . • Available mostly during the weekends. IELTS: Computerbased • The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are conducted on a desktop computer. • The Speaking section is conducted face-to-face with an examiner. • Your results come out 3-5 days after taking the test . • Generally available two or three times a day. IELTS | Skill | Time | Content | | --- | --- | --- | | Listening | 30 minutes | 40 questions: multiple choice, matching, labelling, completion, short answer | | Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions: multiple choice, true/false/not given, matching information, matching headings, sentence completion, labelling, short answer | | Writing | 60 minutes | • Task 1: 150 words; describing graphs, charts, tables, processes, etc.
• Task 2: 250 minutes; writing a clear, well-organised argument on a topic | | Speaking | 15 minutes | • Part 1: introduction and interview
• Part 2: long turn (1-min preparation, 2-min talk)
• Part 3: discussion | IELTS | Band
score | Skill level | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | 9 | Expert user | You have a full operational command of the language. Your use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and you show complete understanding | | 8 | Very good user | You have a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage. You may misunderstand somethings in unfamiliar situations . You handle complex detailed argumentation well. | | 7 | Good user | You have an operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations . Generally you handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning | | 6 | Competent user | Generally you have an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings . You can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations . |

FAQs

What are the main English proficiency tests compared in this guide?

The guide compares IELTS, TOEFL, and AcEPT, focusing on how to choose the right one for the intended purpose.

How does IELTS paper-based differ from IELTS computer-based?

Both deliver Listening, Reading, and Writing via the exam medium, with Speaking face-to-face. Paper-based results typically come out in 13 days, while computer-based results are usually available in 3–5 days.

What do IELTS band scores represent in terms of English ability?

Band scores describe proficiency levels, from Band 9 as expert-level command with accurate and fluent use, down to Band 6 as a competent user with some inaccuracies and misunderstandings in less familiar situations.

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by 404brain