Comparing TOEIC to TOEFL

What's the difference between the TOEIC® and TOEFL® tests? See the table.
TOEIC IP(Test of English for International CommunicationTM)
TOEFL ITP(Test of English as a Foreign LanguageTM)
Purpose
Evaluates English proficiency for the global workplace
Evaluates English proficiency for those pursuing academic studies
Primary uses
For corporations
To make decisions about recruiting, promoting, and deploying employees overseas
To determine readiness to participate in technical training conducted in English
To demonstrate learning progress in corporate training.
For English language programs/schools, especially for academic-track students
Placement test
Assessment of progress from beginning to end of course
Measurement of program effectiveness
Exit test and measurement of readiness for academic programs.
Other uses
For English language programs/schools, especially business-track students
Placement test
Assessment of progress from beginning to end of course
Measurement of program effectiveness
Exit test
Practice for secure TOEIC
Professional credential
For institutions of higher education
To fulfill language requirement or graduation requirement
To screen for scholarship and exchange programs
Practice for TOEFL or other multiple-choice tests
Professional credential
Who takes the test?
Employees in international corporations
Job applicants
Students in business, vocational, and trade schools, community colleges
Students in the business track of English language programs/schools.
Students in the academic track of English language programs/schools
Students in colleges or universities that have a language requirement
Applicants to scholarship and exchange programs.
Who uses the results?
Training managers
Human resources managers
Recruiters
Employees
English language programs/schools
English language programs/schools
College and university administrators
Directors of scholarship and exchange programs
Students
Formats and proficiency levels tested
TOEIC Bridge — high beginning to intermediate
TOEIC IP — low intermediate to advanced.
Pre-TOEFL ITP — high beginning to intermediate
TOEFL ITP — low intermediate to advanced.
Language context
Language used in the global workplace
Language used in academic contexts
Test format
200 multiple-choice questions
140 multiple-choice questions
Score scale
10 – 990 Total
5 – 495 Listening Comprehension
5 – 495 Reading Comprehension.
310 – 677 Total
30 – 68 Listening Comprehension
30 – 68 Structure and Written Expression (grammar)
30 – 67 Reading Comprehension.
Length of test
120 minutes
115 minutes
When test is given
Available on demand for any date
Multiple forms for testing throughout the year
Two forms of security
semi-secure — administered on-site by own staff, trained by TOEIC staff
secure — administered on-site by TOEIC staff. NOTE: Maximum-security TOEIC Open Test is available in some countries.
Available on demand for any date
Multiple forms for testing throughout the year
One form of security
semi-secure — administered on-site by own staff. NOTE: Maximum-security TOEFL CBT and PBT are available in most countries.
Score reports
Individual score reports
Score roster
Certificates (may be available for an additional fee)
Individual score reports
Institution score reports and roster
Turnaround time for score reports
Usually 3 to 5 days
Rush reporting on request for an additional fee.
Usually 3 to 5 days (7 days in the U.S.)
Rush reporting on request for an additional fee.
Test prep
For a list of TOEIC test preparation products, contact your local ETS representatives.
Available on TOEFL Web site:
Sample Test, 6th Edition
TOEFL Test Preparation Kit, 2nd ed.
TOEFL Practice Tests, Vol. 2.
See also: