TOEFL vs. IELTS Comparison: Which is better for you?

Students aspiring for global education must be excellent in English language skills. That’s why universities abroad demand an English language proficiency certificate, such as the IELTS or TOEFL, to ensure non-native speakers of English won’t struggle once they are admitted to an English-taught program. The scores you will secure reflect your proficiency in the English language. 

To prove their English proficiency, students may feel confused about which test suits better for their academic goals. For fresh test-takers, making a choice between IELTS vs. TOEFL is extremely difficult as both tests are seemingly very similar in structure, content, and goal.  

There’s only one way to decide – Let’s gauge into the TOEFL vs. IELTS battle and figure out which suits you better, by comparing diverse aspects of the tests.

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Overview: IELTS vs. TOEFL

Understanding IELTS and TOEFL is crucial before opting for one. Both test your skills in English to study abroad in an English-speaking environment.  

IELTS 

• IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, an international test of English proficiency for non-native speakers of English, established in 1980.  
• It is developed and run by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English.  
• IELTS Academic is taken for academic purposes abroad, while IELTS General Training is for other immigration purposes.  
• It assesses an individual’s skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing English and rates on a band scale of 0 – 9.  
• 11,500 organizations across 140 countries accept IELTS scores, including universities, companies, government organizations and migration agencies. 

TOEFL 

• TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, tests a person’s English language skills in listening, speaking, writing, and reading for university admission abroad.  
• Although TOEFL was established in 1964, the popular TOEFL iBT was established in 2005.  
• TOEFL iBT (internet-based) is more popular than pen and paper test 
• TOEFL is conducted by Educational Testing Service (ETS), an American non-profit organization based in Princeton, New Jersey, with many for-profit subsidiaries in other countries. 
• The test is assessed on a scale of 120 which is divided into four sections, 30 marks each.  
• Institutions and visa-issuing authorities in over 160 countries across the world accept TOEFL iBT scores 

Parameters	IELTS	TOEFL
Type of Assessment	Paper-based Computer-based	Computer-based Online
Duration	2 hours 45 minutes	2 hours
Scores	0 – 9 bands	0 – 120 marks
Results Out Within	3 – 13 days	4 – 13 days
Evaluation	Human & Computer evaluation	Computer evaluation
Global Acceptance	11,500 organizations across 140 countries accept IELTS	Institutions in over 160 countries accept TOEFL iBT scores
Test Validity	2 years	2 years
Application Fee	205 USD (INR 17,000)	205 USD (INR 17,000)

IELTS vs. TOEFL: Which is easier?

Finding out the easy test among IELTS and TOEFL can be a bit confusing. Both tests look alike and assess your English proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. To find out the easy test option for you, see below the comparison of the exam pattern, syllabus and questions of IELTS and TOEFL. We suggest you go through mock tests and questions to identify your ease with these tests better.

TOEFL vs. IELTS: Exam pattern, syllabus, & questions

Here’s a comparison of IELTS vs. TOEFL test format for an overview:  

Sections	IELTS Academic	Total Questions	TOEFL iBT	Total Questions
Reading	60 minutes	40	54-72 minutes	30-40
Writing	60 minutes	2 tasks	50 minutes	2 tasks
Listening	30 minutes	40	41-57 minutes	28-39
Speaking	11-14 minutes	3 parts	17 minutes	4 tasks

See the table below for a comparison of the IELTS vs. TOEFL syllabus, test pattern, and questions asked in four sections of the assessment:  

Section	IELTS Academic	TOEFL
Reading	60 minutes long. There will be 3 lengthy texts taken from authentic sources such as magazines, journals, books, or newspapers. You need to answer 40 questions based on the texts.   Your ability to skim the text & understand the crucial points is mainly assessed.	35 minutes long. You will be asked 20 questions based on 2 passages, each around 700 words long. There is a glossy feature in case you need help with words not commonly used.  Areas of questions:  Information Inference & Rhetorical purpose   Vocabulary Sentence simplification Insert text question Prose summary
Writing	60 minutes long. There will be 2 tasks you need to write in formal tone.   Task 1 – Report writing. You will be given data, diagram, flow chart, or table showing some information and asked to explain or summarize it. You may be required to describe how something works, what are the stages of a process, or write how an event takes place. Task 2 – Essay writing. You need to draft an essay responding to an issue, argument, or viewpoint.	29 minutes long. You have 2 tasks to perform. This section analyzes your skills to present ideas in an organized form.    Task 1 – Integrated writing – 19 – 20 minutes long. Read a passage, listen to a recording, & type your response to those. You need to summarize the lecture & answer on how it connects with the passage.   Task 2 – Writing for an Academic Discussion – 9 – 10 minutes long. You need to state & support your opinion in an online discussion.
Listening	30 minutes long. Four speeches by native speakers will be presented & you need to answer questions based on what you hear. Your ability to assess the main ideas is evaluated.    Section 1: An everyday social situation & conversation between two persons   Section 2: A monologue on a simple, social subject   Section 3: Conversation of four people in an academic environment   Section 4: A monologue on an academic subject	36 minutes long. You will be asked to answer questions based on lectures or classroom discussions. English accents from native speakers in North America, the U.K., New Zealand, or Australia are included to represent the diverse accents you come across abroad.     3 lectures of each 3 – 5 minutes long & 6 questions follow for each lecture.   2 conversations of each 3 minutes long, followed by 5 questions per conversation.
Speaking	11 – 14 minutes long. This section is recorded for assessment.   Part 1: General questions concerning yourself, your family, or personal interests.    Part 2: Genral topic – You need to speak about a topic for 2 minutes. You will get 1 minute for preparation.    Part 3: Speech-based questions – The examiner will ask a few questions after your speech. You can discuss more abstract issues and ideas.	16 minutes long. It tests your English-speaking skills in and out of a classroom. You get 15 – 30 seconds prep time for each session and the answers can be 45 – 60 seconds long.    Task 1 – Independent speaking – You need to respond based on your ideas, viewpoints, and experiences.   Tasks 2 to 4 – Integrated speaking – You need to combine your speaking, reading, and listening skills to respond effectively.

The gist of differences is given below, based on the comparison of the syllabus, test pattern, and questions asked in IELTS and TOEFL:  

• IELTS: The writing test has a shorter word limit than TOEFL. The reading and listening sections are of diverse questions, allowing varied responses that can be subjective. The speaking test involves a short assessment that is done by a real human being, not a computer.  

• TOEFL: The reading section is organized for diverse skills. The writing section is like that of IELTS. The TOEFL listening section is long and involves diverse accents. The speaking section is less personal and more academic, compared to the IELTS speaking section.  

Refer to the table carefully to see which is easier for you based on your skills, priorities, and choices.

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TOEFL vs. IELTS: Which is more accepted?

 IELTS scores are accepted for admissions and immigration in 140+ countries, while TOEFL is accepted in 160+ countries. Note that TOEFL is yet to be recognized by many foreign visa officials, whereas IELTS has been accepted in many countries for student visas. This is because of its popularity over the years, compared to TOEFL. 

Conclusion: IELTS has a higher reputation and acceptance in more institutions abroad, including universities, government organizations, and professional spaces. TOEFL is accepted in more countries than IELTS and is gaining acceptance in more institutions every year. 

Differences between IELTS and TOEFL

Both IELTS and TOEFL assess the English skills of a non-native speaker. Despite similarities, the major differences between the two tests are given below:  

• Score pattern: IELTS is assessed on a scale of 0 – 9 bands and TOEFL relies on a scale of 0 – 120 marks.  
• Test duration: IELTS is 2 hours 45 minutes long, whereas TOEFL is only 2 hours long.  
• Global acceptance: 11,500 organizations across 140 countries accept IELTS, while institutions and government organizations in over 160 countries accept TOEFL iBT scores.  
• Human assessment: IELTS computer-based test involves a human evaluator for the speaking section, while TOEFL iBT relies on a complete computer-based evaluation.  
• Accents accepted: IELTS focuses on the British, American, or Australian accent, while TOEFL incorporates diverse accents such as the British, American, Australian, or New Zealand’s.  
• Taking the test at home: IELTS doesn’t offer a home version, while TOEFL offers a home edition test that you can take at your home.

TOEFL vs. IELTS scores & comparison

In IELTS, the scores range from 0 – 9 bands. Generally. A minimum score of 6.0 – 6.5 bands is mandatory for university admission abroad.  

TOEFL scores range from 0 – 120. Typically, you need a minimum of 90 – 100 for study abroad purposes. 

However, remember that the minimum score requirement for IELTS and TOEFL is decided by individual universities abroad. It can vary from university to university or for different course levels.  

See the IELTS vs. TOEFL score comparison below:  

IELTS Band Scores	TOEFL Scores
0 – 4	0 – 31
4.5	32 – 34
5	35 – 45
5.5	46 – 59
6	60 – 78
6.5	79 – 93
7	94 – 101
7.5	102 – 109
8	110 – 114
8.5	115 – 117
9	117 – 120

How will you test and find out the suitable test option for you? For that, take help from the table that compares IELS and TOEFL scores. Take IELTS and TOEFL mock tests and compare your scores using the table below to find out which suits better for you.

TOEFL vs. IELTS for different countries

The minimum IELTS or TOEFL scores required can vary significantly with universities and courses. Generally, the following range of scores are required for university admission to different countries abroad.  

Country	Minimum IELTS Score Required	Minimum TOEFL Score Required
US	6.0 – 6.5	90 – 110
UK	6.0 – 7.0	92 – 100
Australia	5.5 – 6.5	80 – 95
New Zealand	6.0 – 6.5	80 – 90
France	6.5 – 7.0	82 – 90

Top universities accepting IELTS or TOEFL

University	World Rankings 2024	IELTS/TOEFL Acceptance
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
University of Cambridge	2	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
University of Oxford	3	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
Harvard University	4	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
Stanford University	5	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
Imperial College London	6	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
ETH Zurich	7	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
National University of Singapore (NUS)	8	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
University College London	9	IELTS & TOEFL accepted
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	10	IELTS & TOEFL accepted

Equivalents of IELTS and TOEFL

Over the course of time, various English proficiency tests have evolved to serve the study abroad needs globally. Among them, prominent equivalents of the IELTS and TOEFL are listed below:  

• PTE (Pearson Test of English)
• Duolingo
• Cambridge English tests

The syllabus and pattern for these tests share similarities and variations with IELTS and TOEFL. You may consider any of these tests in case you are looking for an option other than IELTS or TOEFL.

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Which is better – IELTS or TOEFL?

Here comes the crucial question – which test is better for you, IELTS or TOEFL? The answer is highly personal as it depends on various factors, such as the choice of your institution abroad, the format you are comfortable with, the syllabus to cover, nearby test centers, and other personal preferences. Scrutinize those factors and decide your choice. 

Here are some valuable suggestions to decide your choice among IELTS or TOEFL:

• Check which test is accepted by your university abroad 
• Carefully go through the exam pattern, syllabus, and questions 
• Work out maximum questions as possible in IELTS and TOEFL to decide better, according to your abilities 
• Look for test centers near you and choose IELTS or TOEFL accordingly 

Still confused to decide? Here’s the easy solution – talk to our expert counselors and make informed decisions for your study abroad goals. Enjoy a hassle-free journey at zero cost. Connect now with Nomad Credit.