In this article
- IELTS or TOEFL: Why the Choice Is Crucial
- An overview of the two exams
- Section-by-section comparison
- How widely is each exam recognized? A country-by-country and university-by-university look
- IELTS / TOEFL score conversion table
- Our verdict: how to choose
IELTS or TOEFL: Why the Choice Is Crucial
If you plan to pursue higher education in an English-speaking country, you will almost certainly need to prove your English proficiency. The two most widely recognized exams worldwide are the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language). But which one should you take? This guide helps you make the right choice based on your profile and where you want to study.
An overview of the two exams
The IELTS
The IELTS is jointly developed by the British Council, IDP Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. It comes in two versions: IELTS Academic (for higher education and skilled migration) and IELTS General Training (for immigration and vocational training).
- Format: paper-based (or computer-based at IELTS on Computer centers)
- Duration: about 2 hours 45 minutes
- Score: Band Score from 0 to 9 (in half-band increments)
- Validity: 2 years
- Fee: around €245–265 in France
The TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL iBT is developed by ETS (Educational Testing Service). It is taken exclusively on a computer.
- Format: fully computer-based, at an authorized test center
- Duration: about 2 hours (since the 2023 redesign)
- Score: 0 to 120 points (4 sections, each scored 0 to 30)
- Validity: 2 years
- Fee: around €245 in France
Section-by-section comparison
Reading
IELTS: 3 long academic texts, 40 questions, 60 minutes. The texts cover a wide range of topics (science, history, culture). Question types include matching headings, true/false/not given, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank.
TOEFL: 2 academic texts, 20 questions, 35 minutes (since 2023). The focus is on academic topics typical of American universities. All questions are multiple choice.
Which suits you? If you prefer multiple choice, go for the TOEFL. If you handle a variety of question types well and read quickly, the IELTS will suit you.
Listening
IELTS: 4 sections of audio recordings (monologues and conversations), 40 questions, 30 minutes. A range of accents: British, Australian, American and others. You can take notes while you listen.
TOEFL: Academic lectures and conversations, 28 questions, 36 minutes. American accents only. The questions test detailed comprehension and inference.
Which suits you? If you are used to American English, the TOEFL will feel more natural. If you are more familiar with British English, the IELTS may be more accessible.
Speaking
IELTS: A face-to-face interview with a human examiner, 11–14 minutes. It has 3 parts: an introduction and personal questions, a short talk on a given topic (with 1 minute to prepare), and a more in-depth discussion. You are assessed holistically by a human examiner.
TOEFL: All your answers are recorded, 16 minutes. 4 tasks: 1 independent task (giving your opinion) and 3 integrated tasks (you combine reading and/or listening with speaking). Responses are scored by AI and human raters.
Which suits you? Candidates who are comfortable with conversation and thinking on their feet often prefer the IELTS. Those who like to prepare for structured formats tend to favor the TOEFL.
Writing
IELTS: 2 tasks. Task 1 (20 min): describe a graph, table or diagram. Task 2 (40 min): an opinion or discussion essay of at least 250 words. Total: 60 min.
TOEFL: 2 tasks. Integrated task (20 min): read a passage, listen to a lecture and write a summary. Writing for an Academic Discussion task (10 min): respond to an academic discussion by adding your own point of view. Total: 30 min.
Which suits you? TOEFL Writing is generally considered easier because the topics are more predictable and the format is shorter. IELTS Task 1 (describing graphs) can catch you off guard if you haven’t prepared for it.
How widely is each exam recognized? A country-by-country and university-by-university look
United Kingdom
The IELTS is widely preferred in the UK. Virtually all British universities accept it, and many prefer it. The typical minimum score is 6.0 or 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 or 6.0 in each skill). Oxford and Cambridge generally require 7.0–7.5.
United States
American universities treat the two exams as equivalent. The TOEFL was long the standard, but IELTS Academic is now universally accepted. Typical minimum TOEFL score: 80 (top universities: 100+). IELTS: 6.5 (top universities: 7.0+).
Canada
Both are accepted. For English-speaking universities: IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+. For Canadian immigration, the IELTS is often preferred.
Australia
The IELTS dominates in Australia. Typical minimum score: 6.5 overall. For medicine or law programs: 7.0–7.5.
Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia
Both are accepted for English-taught programs. An IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90 is generally enough.
IELTS / TOEFL score conversion table
This conversion is approximate and was established by ETS:
- IELTS 9.0 ≈ TOEFL 118-120
- IELTS 8.5 ≈ TOEFL 115-117
- IELTS 8.0 ≈ TOEFL 110-114
- IELTS 7.5 ≈ TOEFL 102-109
- IELTS 7.0 ≈ TOEFL 94-101
- IELTS 6.5 ≈ TOEFL 79-93
- IELTS 6.0 ≈ TOEFL 60-78
For further reading, see also: How to Prepare for the IELTS Exam
Our verdict: how to choose
- Choose the IELTS if: you are mainly applying to universities in the UK, Australia or Canada; you prefer a speaking test with a human examiner; you are comfortable with a range of English accents.
- Choose the TOEFL if: you are mainly applying to universities in the United States; you prefer a fully computer-based format; you are comfortable with American academic English and multiple-choice questions.
- Take both if: you are applying to several countries; you have the time (the two are easy to prepare for at the same time); you want to maximize your chances.
Conclusion
Neither the IELTS nor the TOEFL is objectively “better”: it all depends on your destination, your profile and how you learn best. The best way to choose is to take a practice test for each. Our Your Dream School advisors help you prepare for the IELTS or TOEFL and build it into your overall application strategy.
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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