IELTS vs TOEFL: Which English Test for University? (2026)

Students applying to English-speaking universities face an early, consequential choice: IELTS or TOEFL? Both are accepted at thousands of universities worldwide, both are valid for 2 years, and both cost roughly the same. But they differ in format, question style, and the skills they emphasise — and the right choice depends on your strengths, weaknesses, and target universities. This article walks through the differences in detail and gives you a practical framework for deciding.

Quick verdict

If you’re applying mainly to UK/Europe: IELTS. If you’re applying mainly to the US: TOEFL. If you’re applying to a mix: pick the format that plays to your strengths.

1. The fundamentals

Both IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT test four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Both take about 2 to 3 hours. Both are recognised at thousands of universities worldwide.

Key differences in a glance:

• Administrator: IELTS is run by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. TOEFL is run by ETS.
• Speaking format: IELTS is face-to-face with a human examiner. TOEFL is spoken into a microphone and graded by a combination of human and automated scoring.
• Scoring scale: IELTS uses 0–9 (with half-points). TOEFL uses 0–120 (sum of four 0–30 sections).
• Test length: IELTS is slightly longer (~2h 45min) compared to TOEFL (~2h after 2023 updates).
• Question style: IELTS has more varied and open-ended question types. TOEFL is more standardised, mostly multiple choice.

2. Reading comparison

IELTS Reading:

• 60 minutes, 40 questions, 3 long passages
• Variety of question types (true/false/not given, matching headings, sentence completion, multiple choice)
• Passages drawn from academic journals, books, and newspapers
• Covers a range of topics

TOEFL Reading:

• 35 minutes, 20 questions, 2 passages
• Almost exclusively multiple-choice questions
• Passages are academic and from textbook-style sources
• Questions often test inference, vocabulary, and reading for detail

Which is harder?

• IELTS has more variety in question types, which can confuse students unfamiliar with formats like “true/false/not given”
• TOEFL is longer in reading time per question but more uniform in question style
• Students who prefer multiple choice usually find TOEFL reading easier
• Students who like variety and are strong at inference usually find IELTS reading more natural

3. Listening comparison

IELTS Listening:

• 30 minutes, 40 questions, 4 sections
• Section 1: Everyday conversation (e.g., booking a hotel)
• Section 2: Monologue on a familiar topic
• Section 3: Academic conversation between 2+ speakers
• Section 4: Academic lecture
• Wide variety of accents: British, Australian, American, Canadian
• Audio is played once only

TOEFL Listening:

• About 36 minutes, 28 questions
• 3–4 academic lectures and 2–3 conversations (student/professor, student/staff)
• Mostly American accents with some Canadian and British
• Audio is played once only
• Note-taking is encouraged

Which is harder?

• IELTS has more accent variety, which can challenge students used to American English
• TOEFL lectures are longer and require sustained note-taking
• Students comfortable with American English often find TOEFL listening easier
• Students who want variety usually prefer IELTS

4. Writing comparison

IELTS Writing:

• Task 1 (20 minutes, 150 words): Summarise a chart, graph, or diagram
• Task 2 (40 minutes, 250 words): Essay on a general academic topic
• Assesses: task achievement, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical accuracy
• Task 2 is worth more than Task 1

TOEFL Writing:

• Task 1 (20 minutes, Integrated): Read a passage, listen to a lecture, then write a summary comparing them
• Task 2 (10 minutes, Academic Discussion): Respond to a student’s question in an academic discussion format (replaced the old 30-minute independent essay in 2023)
• Assesses: task development, coherence, language use, mechanics

Which is harder?

• IELTS Task 1 requires interpreting visual data, which some students find challenging
• TOEFL Task 1 requires strong reading and listening synthesis
• TOEFL’s 2023 changes made the writing section shorter and arguably easier
• Students with strong visual interpretation skills often find IELTS Writing easier
• Students who prefer synthesising text and audio often prefer TOEFL

5. Speaking comparison

IELTS Speaking:

• 11–14 minutes, face-to-face with a human examiner
• Part 1: Interview questions about familiar topics (4–5 min)
• Part 2: Long turn — you speak on a given topic for 1–2 minutes after 1 minute of preparation
• Part 3: Discussion of abstract topics related to Part 2 (4–5 min)
• Assesses: fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, pronunciation

TOEFL Speaking:

• 16 minutes, 4 tasks spoken into a microphone
• Task 1: Independent speaking on a personal topic (45 seconds)
• Tasks 2–3: Integrated tasks combining reading, listening, and speaking (60 seconds each)
• Task 4: Summary of an academic lecture (60 seconds)
• Assesses: delivery, language use, topic development

Which is harder?

• IELTS Speaking feels more natural because it’s a conversation with a human
• TOEFL Speaking can feel awkward because you’re speaking into a microphone with strict time limits
• Students with social anxiety may find TOEFL’s microphone format easier (less intimidating than facing an examiner)
• Students who are conversational English speakers usually prefer IELTS
• The overall difficulty is similar; it’s about format comfort

6. Scoring comparison

IELTS scoring:

• Each section scored 0–9 (half-points)
• Overall score is the average of four section scores
• Most universities require an overall score + minimum per section

IELTS to TOEFL equivalents (approximate):

• 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

University minimums often map between tests:

• Oxford: IELTS 7.5 (7.0 per section) ≈ TOEFL 110 (25 per section)
• LSE: IELTS 7.0 (6.5 per section) ≈ TOEFL 100
• Harvard: IELTS 7.0+ ≈ TOEFL 100+

7. Cost and logistics

IELTS cost: €200–€330 depending on location and format
TOEFL cost: €200–€320 depending on location and format

Test centre availability:

• IELTS: Very widely available, including in smaller cities
• TOEFL: Also widely available, typically in larger cities and educational hubs
• Both are available in most countries

Online options:

• IELTS Online: Available in many countries but accepted by fewer universities than traditional IELTS
• TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Widely accepted by most universities

Results turnaround:

• IELTS: 3–5 days for computer-delivered, 13 days for paper
• TOEFL: About 6 days

8. Acceptance at universities

Most universities accept both tests, but there are preferences.

UK universities:

• IELTS is the historical standard
• TOEFL is accepted by most but not all UK universities
• Visa requirements: IELTS UKVI is required for certain visa types

US universities:

• TOEFL has been the historical standard
• IELTS is now accepted at virtually all US universities
• Both are treated equally for admissions

European universities (non-UK):

• Most accept both
• Bocconi, IE, HEC, and similar: both accepted
• Dutch, German, and Nordic universities: both accepted

Australian and Canadian universities:

• Both accepted at nearly all universities
• IELTS is historically more common for Australian student visas

Always check each target university’s specific policy. Some universities list minimum scores only for one test, which can influence your choice.

9. How to choose based on your strengths

Choose IELTS if you:

• Are more comfortable in face-to-face spoken English than speaking into a microphone
• Like varied question types rather than pure multiple choice
• Are strong at interpreting visual data (graphs, charts)
• Prefer slightly more open-ended writing tasks
• Have exposure to multiple English accents
• Are applying primarily to UK, Europe, Australia, or New Zealand

Choose TOEFL if you:

• Prefer digital, standardised testing
• Are more comfortable with multiple-choice questions
• Are applying primarily to the US
• Prefer a shorter, more compact test (since 2023 updates)
• Are more comfortable speaking alone than with another person
• Want the Home Edition option

Neither test plays heavily to a particular type of student — both are designed to be fair. The decision often comes down to which format feels more natural to you.

10. How to decide: a 5-step framework

Step 1: List your target universities.
If they all clearly prefer one test, pick that one.

Step 2: Check section minima.
If one test lets you hit the overall score more easily because it has a more forgiving section minimum, pick that one.

Step 3: Consider your format comfort.
If you hate speaking into microphones, IELTS is better. If you hate face-to-face oral exams, TOEFL is better.

Step 4: Take a sample of both.
Do 30 minutes of each test format (samples available online) and see which feels more natural.

Step 5: Commit and prepare.
Don’t switch back and forth. Pick one, prepare fully, and take it. Switching costs weeks of preparation.

11. Common mistakes in choosing

Mistake 1: Picking based on reputation rather than research.
“TOEFL is the US test” is outdated. Most US universities now accept IELTS.

Mistake 2: Picking based on which your friends took.
Your friends’ strengths aren’t the same as yours.

Mistake 3: Ignoring format comfort.
Speaking into a microphone versus talking to a human feels very different. Match your comfort.

Mistake 4: Taking both “just in case.”
Usually a waste of time and money. Pick one and prepare well.

Mistake 5: Underestimating the preparation difference.
Some materials work for both tests, but each has specific question types that require targeted practice.

12. FAQ

Which test is easier?
Neither is definitively easier. It depends on your individual strengths and which format suits you.

Can I take both tests?
Yes, but it’s usually unnecessary.

Do universities prefer one over the other?
Most accept both equally. UK universities may lean slightly toward IELTS; US universities may lean slightly toward TOEFL, but both are widely accepted.

Which has more test centres?
IELTS has slightly more test centres globally, but TOEFL is widely available.

Can I switch tests if my first attempt is poor?
Yes, but be aware that the preparation doesn’t fully transfer.

Is the Home Edition accepted by top universities?
TOEFL Home Edition: widely accepted
IELTS Online: less widely accepted; check each university’s policy

Do I need to send scores from a specific institution?
Scores must come directly from the test provider, not from you. Universities will not accept scores forwarded by students.

How long should I prepare?
4–12 weeks depending on your starting level and target score.

13. Your decision action plan

1. List your target universities and check their English requirements
2. Note any preferences or test-specific minima in their policies
3. Take sample sections of both tests online
4. Compare formats with your personal comfort
5. Pick one test and commit
6. Build a preparation plan
7. Register for the test with plenty of lead time
8. Track practice scores to ensure you’re on target
9. Send scores directly to target universities after the test

Still unsure which test to take? Book a free strategy call and we’ll help you make the right choice based on your strengths, weaknesses, and target universities.

Related articles:

• English Language Tests for University: IELTS & TOEFL
• IELTS Band Scores Explained: University Requirements
• Top Universities IELTS & TOEFL Requirements
• How to Score 100+ on the TOEFL

Author

About Adam Girsault

With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam has over 10 years of experience in education and student mentoring. Passionate about helping students achieve their academic dreams, he co-founded Your Dream School to guide students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.

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