TOEFL is the most prominent test all over the world for the evaluation of skills in English Language. The test is carried out at more than 45,000 centers in 165 countries, and has, as yet, been attempted by approximately 25 million students worldwide. The two formats in which the test can be taken are Internet Based Test (IBT) and Paper Based Test (PBT). The understanding of difference between Internet Based TOEFL and Paper Based TOEFL is of critical importance, for the purpose of analysing the pattern of questions, structure of test and the individual benefits from the point of view of the student.
This article throws light on some of the most significant points of difference between TOEFL IBT and TOEFL PBT.
The following table is a simple reference for the comparison of the two different formats of TOEFL test i.e. Difference Between TOEFL iBT and TOEFL PBT.
| Basis of Difference | IBT TOEFL | PBT TOEFL |
| 1. Duration | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| 2. Integrated Tasks and Note Taking | Required | Not required |
| 3. Total Score | 0-120 | 310-677 |
| 4. Fourth Section | Speaking | Structure (Grammar) |
| 5. Reading | – 3-5 passages of around 700 words each- Ideal reading time is 60-100 minutes- Score scale between 0-30 | – 5 passages of around 250-300 words each- Ideal reading time is 55 minutes.- Score scale between 31-67 |
| 6. Listening | – 4-6 lectures, each of 3-5 minutes and 6 questions- 2-3 conversations of 3 minutes and 5 questions- No dialogues- Ideal time is 60-90 minutes- Score scale between 0-30 | – 3-4 mini-talks, each of 60-90 seconds and 3-5 questions- 2-3 extended conversations of 60-90 seconds and 3-5 questions- 30-40 15-second dialogues, each followed by a question- Ideal time is 30-40 minutes- Score scale between 31-68 |
| 7. Writing | – One independent task: Test of Written English | – Two tasks:Integrated- writing based on what is read and heardIndependent- Giving opinion and support on a topic |
The common sections in both, TOEFL IBT and TOEFL PBT, are reading, writing and listening. However, the fourth section is different in the two formats. Following is the difference between Internet Based TOEFL and Paper Based TOEFL in terms of their fourth section:
- The Internet based test has a Speaking section, wherein two independent and four integrated tasks are involved. In each task, 30 seconds are allotted to the students for preparation, and 1 minute for response. The total permitted time is 20 minutes. The score scale in this section is between 0-4.
- The Paper based test has a Structure section, which is mainly related to Grammar. A set comprising 40 questions is to be answered in a time limit of 25 minutes. The score is given on a scale of 31 to 68.
The setback in PBT is that it does not involve the availability of a feedback on the performance in each skill through the test taker report. This facility is present in IBT, and allows the student to assess themselves in the terms of weak and strong points, on the basis of the test. This difference between TOEFL IBT and TOEFL PBT has put paper-based tests in the background, confining them to regions where internet-based tests cannot be conducted. Now, well acquainted with the difference between Internet Based and Paper Based TOEFL, you can much more easily prepare for the test.
