Comparison

Comparison of TOEIC, TOEFL and QPT
TOEIC is designed to measure speaker proficiency across the four skills ( reading, listening, speaking, writing) in a very specific environment – the business world. Therefore, it is most suitable for people trying to break into to business world, or individuals who would like to strengthen their credentials. The test is recognized by a large number of institutions and employers worldwide, and is available to people all other the world through the World Wide Web. The Quick Placement Test (QPT) tests students in listening, reading, vocabulary, and grammar. The fact that QPT does not assess students on speaking and writing, renders it a less complete method of assessment than the other tests. However, guidelines for the assessment of speaking and writing skills are included in the user manual. The test can be taken by students who want to enter an English language class as it is a quick way, as its name suggests, to assess what their CEFR language level is, and consequently, which class they should attend. Furthermore, since the QPT exists to assist teachers make decisions about which class to place students in, it t is a teacher-oriented rather than student-oriented test. It is recognized by ALTE levels, the Common European Framework and Cambridge ESOL Exams. The TOEFL tests by ETS assess all four language skills, and are recognized by 6000 institutions in more than 130 countries. It should be taken by individuals who want to study in English speaking Universities, preferably in the US.

TOEIC consists of four tests, one for each skill, but only two of the skills – speaking and writing – are assessed using web technologies. The IBT (Internet Based Test) of the TOEFL test can also be taken online. A significant drawback of the QPT is that it exists only in CD-ROM version and not in an online version. The TOEIC test does not generate a pass or fail mark, but rather provides the test taker with a score which equals his or her level of proficiency. Since learners are able to retake the test up to once a month (as well as take practice tests whenever they like) they are able to take control of their learning and track their progress. Neither the TOEFL nor the QTP test have this quality.

QTP is a traditional-type test because it assesses students' language skills based on what they remember. Although QPT adapts to students' skills and becomes more difficult as the questions progress, unlike the other two tests, the subject assessed is grammatical competence and vocabulary. Since QPT is not a progress test, but an entry test, it is regarded as standardized. TOEFL, like the QTP, is a standardized method of testing as most of the questions are multiple choice and it is designed to test previously learned material. The TOEIC test allows takers to generate free responses (verbal or written) to a wide variety of tasks. They may be asked to describe a picture in writing, for example, or give a solution to a specific problem orally (by speaking into a microphone). Their responses are then analyzed by qualified professional who decide, not whether they gave the right or wrong answer, but the extent to which they were able to get their point across. TOEIC is an alternative assessment method as it tests for a learners’ ability to interact with colleagues and peers in a meaningful way in the workplace.