{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "identifier": "englishaidol-exam-formats-2026-v1",
  "version": "1.0",
  "name": "English proficiency exam format comparison 2026",
  "publisher": "English AIdol",
  "publisherUrl": "https://www.englishaidol.com/about",
  "datasetUrl": "https://www.englishaidol.com/data/english-exam-format-comparison-2026.json",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-02",
  "keywords": ["IELTS", "TOEFL iBT", "PTE Academic", "TOEIC", "English proficiency exams", "test formats", "score scales"],
  "variablesMeasured": ["test delivery", "approximate duration", "score scale", "section and task structure", "speaking delivery"],
  "methodology": "English AIdol transcribed current format facts from the linked exam-owner pages. Approximate timings can vary by delivery, item mix, adaptive routing, directions and local administration. Fees, acceptance rules and score requirements are excluded because they vary by location or receiving organisation.",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "exams": [
    {
      "id": "ielts-academic",
      "name": "IELTS Academic",
      "provider": "IELTS",
      "delivery": "Computer; paper availability depends on location and the 2026 delivery transition",
      "approximateTotalMinutes": 165,
      "scoreScale": "0-9 bands in whole and half bands",
      "sections": [
        { "name": "Listening", "approximateMinutes": 30, "items": 40 },
        { "name": "Reading", "approximateMinutes": 60, "items": 40 },
        { "name": "Writing", "approximateMinutes": 60, "tasks": 2 },
        { "name": "Speaking", "approximateMinutesRange": [11, 14], "parts": 3 }
      ],
      "speakingDelivery": "Live interview with a trained examiner",
      "officialSources": [
        "https://ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types",
        "https://ielts.org/take-a-test/test-types/ielts-academic-test/ielts-academic-format-reading",
        "https://ielts.org/take-a-test/why-choose-ielts/ways-to-take-ielts"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "toefl-ibt",
      "name": "TOEFL iBT",
      "provider": "ETS",
      "delivery": "Computer at a test centre or Home Edition where available",
      "approximateTotalMinutes": 120,
      "scoreScale": "1-6 in half-point increments; comparable overall 0-120 score during the transition through January 2028",
      "adaptiveSections": ["Reading", "Listening"],
      "sections": [
        { "name": "Reading", "approximateBaseMinutes": 30, "items": 50, "taskTypes": ["Complete the Words", "Read in Daily Life", "Read an Academic Passage"] },
        { "name": "Listening", "approximateBaseMinutes": 29, "items": 47, "taskTypes": ["Listen and Choose a Response", "Listen to a Conversation", "Listen to an Announcement", "Listen to an Academic Talk"] },
        { "name": "Writing", "approximateBaseMinutes": 23, "items": 12, "taskTypes": ["Build a Sentence", "Write an Email", "Write for an Academic Discussion"] },
        { "name": "Speaking", "approximateBaseMinutes": 8, "items": 11, "taskTypes": ["Listen and Repeat", "Take an Interview"] }
      ],
      "speakingDelivery": "Recorded responses on a computer",
      "officialSources": [
        "https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/about/content.html",
        "https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/understand-scores.html"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pte-academic",
      "name": "PTE Academic",
      "provider": "Pearson PTE",
      "delivery": "Computer at a test centre",
      "approximateTotalMinutes": 120,
      "scoreScale": "10-90",
      "sections": [
        { "name": "Speaking and Writing", "approximateMinutesRange": [76, 84], "questionTypes": 9 },
        { "name": "Reading", "approximateMinutesRange": [22, 30], "questionTypes": 5 },
        { "name": "Listening", "approximateMinutesRange": [31, 39], "questionTypes": 8 }
      ],
      "speakingDelivery": "Recorded responses on a computer",
      "officialSources": [
        "https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/",
        "https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/speaking-writing/",
        "https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/test-format/reading/",
        "https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/preparation/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "toeic-listening-reading",
      "name": "TOEIC Listening and Reading",
      "provider": "ETS",
      "delivery": "Multiple-choice assessment; local delivery and registration arrangements vary",
      "approximateTotalMinutes": 150,
      "approximateTestSectionMinutes": 120,
      "scoreScale": "10-990 total; 5-495 for each section",
      "sections": [
        { "name": "Listening", "approximateMinutes": 45, "items": 100, "parts": ["Photographs", "Question-Response", "Conversations", "Talks"] },
        { "name": "Reading", "approximateMinutes": 75, "items": 100, "parts": ["Incomplete Sentences", "Text Completion", "Reading Comprehension"] }
      ],
      "speakingDelivery": "Not part of the Listening and Reading test; TOEIC Speaking and Writing are separate tests",
      "officialSources": [
        "https://www.ets.org/toeic/about/listening-reading.html",
        "https://www.ets.org/toeic/about/speaking-writing.html",
        "https://www.ets.org/toeic/test-takers/register.html"
      ]
    }
  ]
}