The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is the most widely accepted English test in the world. College and university admission offices use a TOFEL score to determine an applicant's ability to communicate effectively in English. Many colleges and universities require that applicants submit a TOEFL score with an application. The TOEFL is administered in both paper and computer-based formats. Both test formats are divided into four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The TOEFL lasts approximately 4.5 hours, and is scored on a scale of 0-120 points.
Businesses, industries, governments, and educational institutions use The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) when recruiting and hiring qualified applicants. Prospective employees who are non-native English speakers take this test to assess English communication skills for the workplace. This test is divided into two sections. The first section measures listening and reading skills and the second section measures writing and speaking skills. The TOEIC is designed to verify your current level of English proficiency, which in turn can help your qualify for specific employment. It is also designed to help individuals assess their learning progress and to set learning goals. The TOEIC is a paper-and-pencil test that last approximately 2.5 hours. The scoring is based on a scale of 100-450, and each proficiency level has a list of typical strengths and weaknesses associated with the score.
The TOEFL is specifically designed to measure an individual's ability to communicate effectively in an English-speaking classroom setting. As such, major colleges and universities accept the TOEFL as an admissions assessment. The TOEIC is designed to assess English in the global workplace. This test is not commonly used for college or university admissions. As a rule of thumb, admission offices at academic institutions would like applicants to submit a TOEFL score, and prospective employers prefer to review an applicant's TOEIC score. The TOEIC assesses a wide variety of real-world contexts and situations, rather than specifically assessing a student's ability to communicate in an academic setting. The TOEIC is also shorter in both the number if written questions and duration.