American Association of Foreign Educated Nurses

Either IELTS or TOEFL iBT is acceptable for the CGFNS certificate. Which one is better?

aafen wrote:Either IELTS or TOEFL iBT is acceptable for the CGFNS certificate. Which one is better?

both english exams are accepted by CGFNS. I took TOEFL last Aug. But I guess IELTS is much easier.

Is is generally accepted that IELTS is easier than TOEFL, or just your "gut feeling?" Did you take the internet based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT), or the written? What did you consider tobe the most difficult section?

it is generally accepted that IELTS is easier than TOEFL IBT.

They say that IELTS is easier because it has fewer questions with more time for you to answer compared to TOEFL-IBT.

LISTENING PART: in IELTS, you can read the questions while listening thus you will be able to answer the questions along with the passage. in TOEFL, you have to listen to the passage first and take down notes then after the passage was played, that's the only time you will be able to see and answer the questions. BOTH will let you hear the passage only ONCE.

READING PART: in IELTS, there are i think only 2-3 articles to read and you can write on the article (underline key words). Plus, the articles are shorter compared to TOEFL, which you have i think 4-5 articles that are longer plus you cannot underline keywords. You have to be used to reading long articles on the computer.

WRITING PART: BOTH ask you to write 2 essays. in IELTS, one essay is on describing a graph or table composed of at least 150 words. The 2nd essay is about you opinion on something which should be composed of 250 words. in TOEFL, the 1st essay asks you to discuss about a familiar topic composed of 200-250 words. The 2nd essay will also ask for your opinion but it should have at least 300 words.

SPEAKING PART: in IELTS you will be interviewed by an examiner. there are 3 parts in the interview. 1st, he will ask something about yourself like describe the place where you live or something else. 2nd, he will give you a topic that you should discuss for 1 min. 3rd, he will have follow up questions regarding the topic that you discussed.

in TOEFL, you will have 6 parts and will record your answer on the computer. the 1st two part will ask you about a topic that is familiar with you like discuss your favorite hobby. The second two parts will ask you to summarize a passage that you heard in connection with the article that you read. the last two parts will ask you to compare the passage that you heard and the article that you have read.

SO, people say that IELTS is easier BUT it really still depends on the person on what his/her weaknesses and strengths. i know some people who are shy to talk to other people thus they fail only the speaking part of the IELTS so i suggest that they try to take the TOEFL-IBT because you will only talk on the computer and no one will hear what you are saying but of course you have to talk clearly and coherently. You don't have to dress up and look confident in the eyes on the examiner because no body sees you.

i hope i was able to help those people who are wondering what exam to take! it doesn't really matter what exam you take..whatever you choose..you have to be prepared to take the exam! Good luck fellow nurses!

I passed my toefle with 105 points (out of 130) But my friend failed it 3 times. Than she prepared for the IELTS and passed on the first try. Her problem was that she can't speak with a computer!!
And in IELTS she could speak with a man and that helped her a lot.